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Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers, 1875-1983
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ferguson, Thomas Stuart
- Title
- Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers
- Dates
- 1875-1983 (inclusive)18751983
- Quantity
- 0.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- ACCN 1350
- Summary
- The Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers (1875-1983) deal with the archaeology and historicity of the Book of Mormon and other questions concerning Mormon origins. Ferguson was a California attorney who devoted much effort to either prove or disprove the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Thomas Stuart Ferguson (1915-1983) received his B.A. in 1937 and his LL.B. in 1942, both from the University of California. He worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1941 to 1945, and then, after his admittance to the California State Bar, he opened a private law practice in 1946. By avocation, Thomas Ferguson was an amateur archaeologist, especially as it related to the claims of the Book of Mormon. He was a co-founder of the Itzan Society, whose purpose was to encourage investigation into the geographical references from the Book of Mormon. Ferguson also founded the New World Archaeological Foundation (NWAF) in 1952, and served as its president from 1952 to 1961, when it was attached to Brigham Young University. After that, he served as BYU-NWAF secretary until his death in 1983. Ferguson wrote three books, "Great Message of Peace and Happiness," "One Fold and One Shepherd," and "Cumorah--Where?" He co-authored a fourth, "Ancient America and the Book of Mormon" with Milton R. Hunter. In addition, Ferguson wrote a paper entitled "Joseph Smith, Mormon Prophet, and American Archeology," in 1952. For a biographical study of Ferguson's life (with an emphasis on his work in Book of Mormon Archaeology), see the book, "Quest for the Gold Plates: Thomas Stuart Ferguson's Archaeological Search for the Book of Mormon."
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers (1875-1983) deal with the archaeology and historicity of the Book of Mormon and other questions concerning Mormon origins.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Correspondence and Personal papersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Correspondence
Correspondence with M. Wells Jakeman, Milton R. Hunter, Omer C. Stewart, James D. Bales, and LDS First Presidency.
|
1948-1958 |
| 1 | 2 | Correspondence
Correspondence with Omer C. Stewart and Harold ("Hal") H. Hougey.
|
1960-1961 |
| 1 | 3 | Correspondence
Correspondence with Milton R. Hunter, Aziz S. Atiya, Hugh Nibley, Ariel L. Crowley, and Leonard H. Lesko.
|
1967-1968 |
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence
Correspondence with Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Jim Boyack, Wesley P. Walters, Harold ("Hal") H. Hougey, Charles Fitzgearl, Lord Robert Barclay, and Carol Balding.
|
1970-1972 |
| 1 | 5 | Correspondence
Correspondence with George F. Carter, Harold ("Hal") H. Hougey, John L. Sorenson, Harold W. Lawrence, John W. Fitzgerald, and J. D. Cerchione.
|
1975-1977 |
| 1 | 6 | Correspondence
Correspondence with Sandra Tanner and James D. Still.
|
1979 |
| 1 | 7 | Correspondence
Correspondence with Rosemary Brown, Robert L. Brown, Burt Stride, Jerald and Sandra Tanner, and Thomas A. Lee Jr.
|
1980-1981 |
| 1 | 8 | Correspondence
Correspondence with Robert M. Carmack, Jeanne Engerman, Carol Armstrong, Sharon A. Baumgardner, Kirk Holland Vestal, James Martin Cluff, and Thomas Milton Tinney.
|
1982 |
| 1 | 9 | Correspondence
Correspondence with Ronald O. Barney, Emily A. Ross, and William M. Powell.
|
1976-1983 |
| 1 | 10 | Ronald O. Barney, Meeting with Ferguson |
1983 |
| 1 | 11 | Patriarchal Blessing |
1930 |
| 1 | 12 | Research Notes on Sidney Rigdon |
1983 |
| 1 | 13 | "Written Symposium on Book of Mormon Geography" |
1975 |
| 1 | 14 | Joseph Smith Papyri |
|
| 1 | 15 | John W. Rigdon, "Early History of the Mormon Church" |
|
| 1 | 16 | Ferguson Family Diary |
1951-1968 |
| 1 | 17 | Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton, "Mormon Experience" and Harry M. Beardsley, "Joseph Smith," |
|
| 1 | 18 | Mark F. McKiernan, "Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness" |
1971 |
| 1 | 19-21 | Joseph Welles White, "The Influence of Sidney Rigdon" |
1947 |
| 1 | 22 | W. Wyl [Wilhelm, Ritter Von Wymetal], "Joseph Smith, the Prophet" |
1886 |
| 1 | 23 | Daryl Chase, "Sidney Rigdon" |
1931 |
| 1 | 24 | Alanson Wilcox, "History of the Disciples of Christ" |
1918 |
| 1 | 25 | Henry K. Shaw, "Buckeye Disciples" |
1952 |
| 1 | 26 | A. S. Hayden, "Early History of the Disciples" |
1875 |
| 1 | 27 | E. L. Kelley and Clark Braden, "Public Discussion" |
1884 |
| 1 | 28 | Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Critical Look" and Lyndon W. Cook, "William Law" |
|
| 1 | 29 | Klaus Bauer, "Breathing Permit of Hor" |
1968 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Egyptian language--Papyri
Personal Names
- Ferguson, Thomas Stuart--Archives
Form or Genre Terms
- Correspondence
- Manuscripts for publication
- Notes
Titles within the Collection
- Book of Mormon--Criticism, interpretation, etc
- Book of Mormon--Geography
Finding aid created by Elizabeth Rogers
2004 (last modified: 2020)
