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Sterling B. Talmage papers, 1878-1955
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Talmage, Sterling B. (Sterling Booth), 1889-
- Title
- Sterling B. Talmage papers
- Dates
- 1878-1955 (inclusive)18781955
- Quantity
- 1.5 linear feet, (2 boxes)
- Collection Number
- ACCN 0724
- Summary
- The Sterling B. Talmage papers (1878-1955) consist of correspondence, articles, and books on theological and scientific issues, principally on dating the age of the earth, geology, and LDS Church attitudes toward evolution. Correspondents include James E. Talmage, Joseph Fielding Smith, and John A. Widtsoe. Included are articles and drafts of articles. Also included are some materials by and about James E. Talmage. Sterling B. Talmage was a teacher, geologist, and writer. He was the son of LDS Church apostle James E. Talmage.
- 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
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Sterling B. Talmage papers contain a variety of writings on theological and scientific issues, including correspondence, newspaper articles, and books. Many of the documents are photocopies. The primary author is Sterling B. Talmage, but other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) are also represented. Also included are biographical documents regarding James E. Talmage, and apostle of the LDS Church until the 1930's. Sterling B. Talmage (1889-1956), son of James E. Talmage, was a teacher, geologist, and writer. He was a constant critic of what he considered to be theological dogmatism. As a geologist, Sterling B. Talmage was critical of the religious theory that the earth is seven thousand years old, and much of this collection deals with questions regarding the earth's age. Other subjects addressed in these writings include evolution and the reliability of science. Some writings by James E. Talmage are also included. The first box contains correspondence with three prominent leaders in the LDS Church: James E. Talmage, Joseph Fielding Smith, and John A. Widtsoe. Also included is general correspondence on a variety of issues. The second box contains articles authored by Sterling B. Talmage and others, including rough and final drafts of manuscripts on scientific and theological issues. Also included are some writings (1878-1933) by and about James E. Talmage including academic transcripts, newspaper articles, and an article published in the Improvement Era.
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
I: CorrespondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1-2 | James E. Talmage Correspondence |
1931-1932 |
| 1 | 3-4 | Joseph Fielding Smith Correspondence |
1934-1936 |
| 1 | 5 | "An Open Letter to Elder Joseph Fielding Smith," Rough Draft
Authored by Sterling B. Talmage and includes written notes, suggestions, and corrections by James E. Talmage. See June 1931 correspondence between Sterling B. Talmage and James E. Talmage for more information.
|
|
| 1 | 6 | "An Open Letter to Elder Joseph Fielding Smith," Final Draft
Also includes a related letter to the First Presidency of the LDS Church, Heber J. Grant and his Counselors.
|
|
| 1 | 7-8 | John A. Widtsoe Correspondence |
1934-1939 |
| 1 | 9-13 | General Correspondence |
1933-1955 |
| 1 | 14 | Correspondence with Dr. C. Fred Wilcox
Contains two letters on one piece of paper. The document is very fragile.
|
1939 |
II: WritingsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 1 | Howard S. Bennion, "Is the Earth Millions of Years Old?"
Newspaper article with notes and comments by Sterling B. Talmage.
|
|
| 2 | 2-3 | Howard S. Bennion, "Is the Earth Millions of Years Old?"
Published in two parts in the Deseret News.
|
1934 |
| 2 | 4-7 | Sterling B. Talmage, "Can We Dictate God's Times and Methods?"
Written in response to Howard S. Bennion's article "Is the Earth Millions of Years Old?" Includes rough and final drafts as well as the published article as it appeared in the Deseret News.
|
1934 |
| 2 | 8-9 | Howard S. Bennion, "Further Observations On the Age of the Earth"
Published in two parts in the Deseret News in response to Sterling B. Talmage's article, "Can We Dictate God's Times and Methods?"
|
1934 |
| 2 | 10 | Sidney B. Sperry, "What Shall We Then Believe?"
Published in the Deseret News commenting on the discussion between Sterling B. Talmage and Howard S. Bennion.
|
1934 |
| 2 | 11 | Sterling B. Talmage, "Whom Shall We Believe? A Correction," Early Drafts
Early drafts of a response to Sidney B. Sperry's article "Whom Shall We Then Believe?"
|
1934 |
| 2 | 12 | Sterling B. Talmage, "Who Shall We Then Believe?" Final Draft |
1934 |
| 2 | 13 | Marie K. Nash, "Earth Renewed as Paradise" |
1934 |
| 2 | 14 | Dudley Joseph Whitney, "The Fiat Creation of the Universe" |
1934 |
| 2 | 15 | Dudley Joseph Whitney, "The Age of the Earth" |
|
| 2 | 16 | Frank Clay Cross, "Sleuthing for Ancient Man in America" |
1934 |
| 2 | 17 | A. C. Boyle Jr., "Romance of the Dinosaurs" |
1936 |
| 2 | 18 | Sterling B. Talmage, "Earth Relations: Their Fundamentals" |
1937 |
| 2 | 19-20 | Sterling B. Talmage, "Another Fact Above Them"
Includes several drafts. See 2 March 1936 letter to John A. Widtsoe for more information.
|
|
| 2 | 21-22 | Sterling B. Talmage, "Is Evolution a Faith Promoting Principle?"
See 17 July 1934 letter from John A. Widtsoe for more information.
|
|
| 2 | 23 | "Can Science be Faith Promoting?"
Notes by Sterling B. Talmage.
|
|
| 2 | 24-26 | Sterling B. Talmage, "Can Science be Faith Promoting?"
Unpublished manuscript divided into three parts. Possibly intended as a source for a series of study manuals for the LDS Church. See 23 March 1939 letter from John A. Widtsoe for more information.
|
|
| 2 | 27 | Religious Articles by Sterling B. Talmage
Includes one Cumorah's Southern Messenger article and two Improvement Era articles.
|
1934-1939 |
| 2 | 28 | Writings by Sterling B. Talmage |
1934-1940 |
| 2 | 29 | James E. Talmage, The Earth and Man |
1931 |
| 2 | 30 | James E. Talmage Miscellaneous
Includes notes taken at Brigham Young Academy, 1878-1879, academic transcripts, 1933, and an Improvement Era article, "Prophecy as a Forerunner of Science--an Instance," 1904
|
1878-1933 |
| 2 | 31 | James E. Talmage, Newspaper Articles
Articles authored by and written about him. Includes the front page Deseret News announcement of his death.
|
1922-1933 |
| 2 | 32 | Bibliography of James E. Talmage |
|
| 2 | 33 | Benjamin L. Miller, "Memorial of Dr. James E. Talmage" |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Evolution--Religious aspects--Latter Day Saint churches
- Geological time
Personal Names
- Smith, Joseph Fielding, 1876-1972
- Talmage, James E. (James Edward), 1862-1933
- Talmage, Sterling B. (Sterling Booth), 1889---Archives
- Widtsoe, John Andreas, 1872-1952
Form or Genre Terms
- Articles
- Correspondence
- Drafts (documents)
Finding aid created by Brett W. Myers.
1996 (last modified: 2019)
