Charles W. Nibley family papers, 1851-1999

Overview of the Collection

Title
Charles W. Nibley family papers
Dates
1851-1999 (inclusive)
Quantity
15 boxes, (6 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 256
Summary
This collection contains Charles W. Nibley's correspondence, financial and personal papers, as well as speeches.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Charles W. Nibley was born February 5, 1849, near Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of James and Jean Wilson Nibley. When Nibley was five years old, his family sailed to the United States and lived with relatives in Rhode Island for five years. In 1860 the Nibley family purchased oxen and a wagon and traveled to the Utah Territory to live with fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Nibley family had converted to the Church in 1844). Upon arriving in the Utah Territory, they settled in present-day Wellsville where Nibley began working as a clerk in the village store. In 1866 Nibley moved to Brigham City where he worked transporting salt to mines in southern Idaho and co-owned a general store and hotel with Morris Rosenbaum. In 1869 he married his first wife, Rebecca Neibaur.

In 1877 Nibley was called by the Church of Jesus Christ to serve as a missionary in England, where he preached for two years. After completing his missionary work, Nibley returned to Logan, Utah, and became the manager of the United Order Lumber Company (a church-owned company). Ten months after his return from England, Nibley married his second wife, Ellen Ricks. Nibley provided separated houses on Logan's Center Street for each wife.

In 1882 Nibley was elected to the office of Logan City alderman. Ten days after his election, the Edmunds Act passed (this act made the practice of polygamy illegal and punishable by law), which prompted Nibley to resign from office and go into hiding. In the spring of 1885, Nibley moved Ellen and their son to remote Paris, Idaho, to avoid federal marshals who had been hunting for polygamists in the Cache Valley area. That summer in Paris, Nibley met and married his third wife, Julia Budge, the daughter of Nibley's former mission president.

On November 13, 1885, Nibley was arrested by federal marshals outside of Paris and was transported to Salt Lake City to await trial. In Salt Lake City, Nibley escaped from his captors and fled back to Paris, Idaho. For the next three years, Nibley evaded federal marshals. In 1888 Nibley arranged (through a friend, Fred Turner) to have himself arrested in Logan, tried for unlawful cohabitation before Judge Goodwin, and then acquitted. Prior to the trial, Nibley's friend secretly paid Judge Goodwin $150 to render a judgment in favor of Nibley. Nibley was tried and acquitted.

In 1889 Nibley moved to Oregon to work with David Eccles and George Stoddard in the lumber and railroading business. As a result of this job and other business ventures, Nibley became increasingly wealthy.

In 1907 Nibley was called by the Church to serve as the presiding bishop (an office that oversaw the financial workings of the entire Church), a position he held for the next eighteen years. During his time, the Church did away with tithing scrip and he placed the Church on a strict cash payment basis. He also was influential in getting the Church to build the Hotel Utah in downtown Salt Lake City. In 1925 Nibley was called to serve as the second councilor to Heber J. Grant, president of the Church.

Charles W. Nibley died December 11, 1931, and was buried in the Logan Cemetery.

Ellen Jane Ricks Nibley was born March 30, 1856, in Farmington, Utah Territory, the daughter of Joel and Sarah B.F. Ricks. Three years later, Ellen's family moved north and settled in present-day Logan. In 1874 Ellen received a graduation certificate after studying telegraphy. Later that year she found work in Mendon at the telegraph office, where she stayed until 1880. (Ellen also taught school during this time period.) In 1875 Ellen was called by Brigham Young to serve as president of the newly formed Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association.

During the spring of 1880, she met Charles W. Nibley, who she married March 30, 1880, in the Salt Lake City Temple. She became Charles's second of three wives and she resided in Logan. They had five children that lived to adulthood: Joel (1881), Preston (1889), Edna (1890), Florence (1894), and Nathan (1899).

In 1885 Charles took Ellen to remote Paris, Idaho, in order to evade federal marshals who were hunting for polygamists. During this period, Ellen was often alone because Charles' business ventures took him elsewhere and he had to hide from federal marshals when he was home. In 1895 Ellen moved back to Logan. From 1902 until her death, Ellen served as a temple worker in both the Logan and Salt Lake City Temples. Ellen died in Logan on February 1, 1935.

Charles W. Nibley Jr. was born April 7, 1872, in Brigham City, Utah Territory, to Charles W. and Rebecca Neibaur Nibley. In 1895 Nibley was called by the Church of Jesus Christ to serve as a missionary in the eastern United States, where he served for two years. On September 28, 1898, he married Marie Ollie Thatcher in the Logan Temple. They later had five children that lived to adulthood. Nibley died October 19, 1959, in Los Angeles, California.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains the papers of Charles W. Nibley and his family. This collection contains Nibley's correspondence (1878-1931), financial and personal papers, as well as speeches by and about Nibley. The Nibley family papers consist of an Ellen Ricks Nibley diary (1903-1934), four of Charles W. Nibley Jr.'s missionary diaries (1895-1897), family correspondence, family history and genealogy papers, oral history interviews conducted by Ken Godfrey with the Nibley family during 1997 and 1999, a family heirloom, and Nibley family books.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Charles W. Nibley family papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Charles W. Nibley family papers USU_COLL MSS 256, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 256, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged by topic and date.

Processing Note

Processed in June of 2005. Reprocessed in 2024 to de-acidify, rehouse, and repair torn items.

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by various members, descendants, and friends of the Charles W. Nibley family during the period of 1997 to 2005.

Related Materials

The Nibley Family Photograph Collection PO315.

USU Special Collections and Archives contains additional materials that are connected to the C.W. Nibley family businesses, and these items are housed as part of COLL MSS 238. These items include Bd Ms 11: Sumpter Valley Railroad Company Stock Register (1891-1910), Bd Ms 25-26: Oregon Lumber Company Stock Registers (1904-1933), and Bd Ms 30-31 & 94: Eccles Lumber Company papers (1889-1921).

Future Additions

This list is a working inventory. USU Special Collections & Archives continues to receive material from the Nibley family that will be added to this inventory.

Bibliography

Christensen, Michael E., "Charles W. Nibley: A Case Study of Polygamy," Journal of Mormon History , 1980.Sorenson, Gerri Waters, "The Bishop's Second Wife: The Life and Diary of Ellen Ricks Nibley," USU MA Thesis, 2001 (call # 920 N512-So).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Outgoing correspondence of C. W. Nibley, business and legal documents, and poetry., 1879-1935Return to Top

1 box, 40 folders
Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Letters sent to Julia Budge
1879-1880
1 2
Letters sent to Julia Budge Nibley
1894-1896
1 3
Letters sent to Julia Budge Nibley
1897-1900
1 4
Letters sent to Julia Budge Nibley
1901-1924
1 5
Letters sent to Julia Budge Nibley
1925
1 6
Letters sent to Julia Budge Nibley
1929-1931
1 7
Letter sent to CW Nibley, Jr.
1879
1 9
Letters sent to Luther Howell
1920-1930
1 10
Letter sent to Margaret Meldrum
1921
1 11
Letters sent to Anna Nibley (Bullen)
1925-1928
1 12
Letter sent to Barbara Nibley
1927
1 13
Letters sent to Charles Nibley Bullen
1930-1931
1 14
Letters sent to Ellen Ricks Nibley
1925-1931
1 15
Letter sent to Hugh Nibley
1924
1 16
Letters sent to Julia Nibley (Howell)
1897-1931
1 17
Letter sent to eight Nibley daughters
1925
1 18
Letter received from James Farley
1938
1 19
Letter received from Joseph F. Smith
1895
1 20
Letter received from eight Nibley daughters
1925
1 21
Letter to Julia Budge Nibley from R. Nibley
1898
1 22
Letter to Julia Budge Nibley from Joseph F. Smith
1910
1 23
Letter to Preston Nibley from Melvin J. Ballard
1935
1 24
Unidentified letters
1883
1 25
Receipt for $15,000 from C. W. Nibley to Brigham Young College for Nibley Hall
1908
1 27
Warranty deeds to Rebecca N. Nibley and Julia Budge Nibley
undated
1 28
$1,000,000 gold note concerning the Amalgamated Sugar Company
1916
1 29
Birthday celebration dinner menus for C. W. Nibley
1913-1916
1 30
Birthday celebration dinner menus for C. W. Nibley
1917-1918
1 31
Birthday celebration dinner menus for C. W. Nibley
1923
1 32
Birthday celebration dinner menus for C. W. Nibley
1924-1925
1 33
Birthday celebration dinner menus for C. W. Nibley
1926-1928
1 34
Church dinner menus
1918-1922
1 35
"Chimes from Ell's Belles," A collection of poetry written by Alex Nibley for birthday parties.
Illustrated by Richard Nibley. Forward by Hugh Nibley.
undated
1 38
List of those who sent flowers to C. W. Nibley's funeral
undated
1 39
Thank you card for expressions of sympathy from C. W. Nibley family
undated
1 40
Note to William B. Preston from CW Nibley
1880-1889
4 6
Letters sent to Heber J. Grant
1921
4 7
Legal documents concerning the Amalgamated Sugar Company
undated
4 8
Poetry and short stories written by Alex Nibley
undated
4 9
Resolution of Respect for C. W. Nibley
undated

Articles and speeches by and about C. W. Nibley and Nibley Park, Salt Lake City, 1900-1980Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Logan Temple Lecture Typescript
undated
2 2
Articles written by C. W. Nibley
1910-1928
Box Folder
2 2
"Attention Voters!"
1900
2 2
"Greetings from the First Presidency"
undated
2 2
"The Mormon Finance System," Improvement Era
1913 July
2 2
"The Perfect Law of Liberty," Liahona; The Elder's Journal
1910 January 29
2 2
"A Message from the First Presidency"
1930
2 3
"Testimony of Presiding Bishop Charles W. Nibley", Liahona; The Elder's Journal
1918 November 26
2 3
"Tithing: A Discourse"
1927 October 9
2 3
"Reminiscences of President Joseph F. Smith," Improvement Era
1919 January
2 3
"Political Economy"
undated
2 3
"Sister States"
undated
2 4
Biographical sketch of C. W. Nibley
undated
4 10
Articles about C. W. Nibley
1932-1980
Box Folder
4 10
"A Great Man Called", The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star
1932 January 14
4 10
"President Charles W. Nibley: An Appreciation", The Relief Society Magazine
1932 January
4 10
"Bishop Nibley"
(Unknown author)
undated
4 10
"Bishop C. W. Nibley", Vision & Faith of the Latter-day Saints
undated
4 10
"President Charles W. Nibley", Book of Testimonies.
undated
4 10
"Charles W. Nibley", The Bee of the Salt Lake Rotary Club
undated
4 11
"Greatness in Men: President Charles W. Nibley", Improvement Era
1932 December
4 11
"Charles W. Nibley", Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia
undated
4 11
"Charles W. Nibley"
(Unknown author)
undated
4 11
"Charles W. Nibley: A Case Study of Polygamy",Journal of Mormon History
1980
4 11
"Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah-1862"
undated
2 7
Materials concerning Nibley Park
undated

Nibley Family Papers, 1851-1928Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 2
Ellen R. Nibley Speech to the Sons of Pioneers, Cache State
1916
3 4
Ellen R. Nibley diary
(photocopy)
1903-1934
3 5
Ellen R. Nibley tithing receipts
undated
3 6
"Julia Budge Nibley", by Julia Nibley Howell and "Julia Budge Nibley", by Suza Young Gates
undated
3 7
Funeral service program of Julia Budge Nibley and media responses to her death
1938
3 8
James Nibley family record
1851
3 9
Jean Wilson Nibley, papers
undated
3 10
Nibley family in Lothian, Scotland
undated
3 12
Ann Hyer Budge, papers
undated
3 13
Florence Nibley Hatch, papers
undated
3 14
Julia Nibley Howell, papers
undated
3 15
Anna Nibley Bullen, papers
undated
3 16
Hugh W. Nibley, papers
undated
3 17
Reid Nibley, papers
undated
3 18
Photocopied photographs of Charles W. Nibley with General Authorities of the LDS Church
undated
3 19
Photocopied photographs of the Nibley family
undated
3 20
Photocopied photographs of the Nibley family
undated
4 1
Nibley family group records and history
(record of temple work)
undated
4 2
Items from a Nibley family scrapbook
(photocopied)
1920-1935
4 3
Items from a Nibley family scrapbook, continued
(photocopied)
1920-1935
4 4
Items from a Nibley family scrapbook, continued
(photocopied)
1920-1935
4 12
Sarah Fiske Allen, papers
undated
4 13
Biographical information on Julia Budge Nibley
undated
4 14
List of Nibley manuscript items held by the Utah State Historical Society
undated
4 15
Nibley family scrapbook
(photocopy)
1930-1950
5 1
Correspondence
(primarily between CW Nibley II and III)
1923-1924
5 2
Correspondence
(primarily between CW Nibley II and III)
1929-1931
5 3
Newspaper clippings about C. W. Nibley
undated
5 4
Family history of James Nibley
undated
5 5
Misc papers; Nibley chronology, and train passes
undated
6
Charles W. Nibley, Jr.'s missionary diaries, eastern United States
1895-1897
Box
6
Volume 1
1895-1896
6
Volume 2
1896
6
Volume 3
1896-1897
6
Volume 4
1897
Folder
7 1
Photocopy of CW Nibley, Jr.'s missionary diaries, Vol. 1
undated
7 2
Photocopy of CW Nibley, Jr.'s missionary diaries, Vol. 2
undated
7 3
Photocopy of CW Nibley, Jr.'s missionary diaries, Vol. 3
undated
7 4
Photocopy of CW Nibley, Jr.'s missionary diaries, Vol. 4
undated
7 5
Biographical information on Ellen Ricks Nibley
undated
7 7
CW Nibley genealogy/temple work
undated
7 8
List of Nibley manuscript items held by the LDS Church Archives
undated
7 10
Nibley family correspondence
1977-1997
8 2
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 3
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 4
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 5
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 6
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 7
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 8
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 9
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 10
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 11
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 12
Nibley family scrapbook continued
(photocopy)
undated
8 13
Funeral program for David E. Robinson
1970
8 14
Papers concerning the CW Nibley Scholarship Fund
undated
8 15
Invitations for CW Nibley's 150th Birthday Celebration
1999
8 16
Papers about the CW Nibley's Center Street Logan home
undated
8 17
"Early Arts and Crafts of the West," Daughters of Utah Pioneers
1940 April
8 18
"Mormon Colonization in the West," Daughters of Utah Pioneers
1941 April
book
14 1
Funeral service of Mrs. Rebecca N. Nibley
1928
14 2
Ellen R. Nibley diary
1903-1934
14 3
"In Memorandum of Charles W. Nibley"
(handwritten book of tributes to Nibley from various officials and friends)
1932
15
Articles and newspaper clippings about and by C.W. Nibley
Box
15
"President Brigham Young," Deseret News
Given as an address on KSL Radio June 3, 1928
1928 June 9

Oral History Interviews with the Nibley family, 1997-1999Return to Top

Conducted by Ken Godfrey and others.

Container(s) Description Dates
Typescripts
Box Folder
9 1
Interview release forms
undated
9 2
List of questions asked by interviewers
undated
9 3
Complied recollections of CW Nibley by his grandchildren
undated
9 4
Group interview, Bob Nibley, George Cannon, and Betty Jean Sage
1999
9 5
Bullen, Charles W.
1998
9 6
Cannon, Charles
1999
9 7
Hatch, Eastman
1997
9 8
Howell, Richard
1997
9 9
Johnson, Nan
1999
9 10
Murdoch, Lucy
1999
9 11
Meldrum, Nibley
1997
9 12
Nibley, Hugh
1998
9 13
Nibley, James
1998
9 14
Nibley, Jeff (and Loch Grant)
1998
9 15
Nibley, Preston
1998
9 16
Nibley, Reid
1999
9 17
Nibley, Robert
1997
9 18
Richards, Barbara
1999
9 19
Stringham, Teddy
1999
9 20
Whitney, Horace
1997
Box
10
Cassette Recordings of oral history interviews with the Nibley family
Conducted by Ken Godfrey and others
1997-1999
Box cassette
10 1
Interview with Richard Howell
July 12, 1997
10 2
Interview with Bill & Lucy Murdoch
May 17, 1997
10 3
Interviews with Robert Nibley, Jeff Nibley, Charles Cannon, Barbara Richards
June 21, 1997
10 4
Lucy Murdoch
May 14, 1999
10 5
Interview with Charles Cannon, Jeff Nibley, Loch Grant
10 6
Untitled
10 7
Hugh Nibley, Kenneth Godfrey, Elva M. P. Morgan, Nell Raymond, and others
10 8
James Nibley interviewed by Heidi Jo Beck, Portland, OR
October 26, 1998
10 9
Interview with Bob Nibley, George Cannon
10 10
Interview with Bob Nibley, George Cannon
This tape will have playback issues. It should not be played unless it has been looked at by a preservation specialist.
10 11
Interview with Jeff Nibley, Loch Grant
10 12
Interviews with Nibley Meldrum, Horace Whitney
May 17, 1997
10 13
Nan Johnson, Orem, UT
December 5, 1998
10 14
Barbara Nibley Richards
10 15
Reid Nibley, Tape 1
1999
10 16
Reid Nibley, Tape 2
1999
10 17
Interview with Charles William Bullen
June 11, 1998
10 18
Lucy Murdock
10 19
Interview with Eastman Hatch
June 5, 1997
10 20
Teddy Stringham
March 6, 1999
10 21
Preston Nibley interviewed by Kenneth Godfrey
1998

Family heirloom, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
11
CW Nibley's clothing brush
undated

Books that belonged to various Nibley family members, 1900-1934Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box book
12 1
Bartlett, John, Familiar Quotations
Little, Brown, & Company, Boston
1914
12 2
Deseret Sunday School Songs
Deseret Sunday School Union
1909
12 3
Book of Mormon
Deseret News Printers & Publishers
1900
12a 1
The Nibley Family, Reminiscences, Charles W. Nibley
Stevens & Wallis Inc.
1934
12a 2
Latter-day Saint Hymns
Deseret Book Company
1927
12a 3
Carlyle, Thomas, Past and Present Chartism and Sartor Resartus
Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York (contains a personal inscription by CW Nibley to Moses Thatcher)
undated
13 1
Rix, Guy S., History and Genealogy of the Ricks Family
Skelton Publishing Co. Salt Lake City
1908
13 2
Christensen, Michael E., "The Making of a Leader; A Biography of Charles W. Nibley to 1890" University of Utah Dissertation
(contains handwritten corrections by Nibley family)
1978
13 3, c. 1
Hicks, J.L., The Oregon Lumber Company and Sumpter Valley Ry
Browning Photo Company, Portland, OR
1897
13 3, c. 2
Hicks, J.L., The Oregon Lumber Company and Sumpter Valley Ry
Browning Photo Company, Portland, OR
1897

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Mormon Church--Utah--History.
  • Mormons--Utah--History
  • Polygamy--Utah--History.

Geographical Names

  • Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--History.
  • Logan (Utah)--History.