Oliver Lee Robinson diary [photocopy], 1854-1858

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Robinson, Oliver Lee, 1833-1886
Title
Oliver Lee Robinson diary [photocopy]
Dates
1854-1858 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.25 linear feet, (1 box)
Collection Number
MS 0024
Summary
The Oliver Lee Robinson diary (1854-1858) is a photocopy of Robinson's journal. In addition to a family record, the journal contains the activites of Robinson as a settler in Utah with an account of an Indian attack on Fort Limhi in Idaho, February 1857. The journal closes with the arrival of Johnston's army in Utah, July 1858.
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

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Oliver Lee Robinson (1833-1886) was born in July 1833 in up-state New York. He became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was eight. He was baptized by Joseph Smith at Nauvoo, Illinois. When the Latter-day Saints were driven out of Illinois, he joined the movement to Utah and entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1848 when he was fifteen years old. He was sent on two settlement missions which both lasted only a few months. His first was to Ft. Limhi, Washington Territory (Idaho), in 1857 which was interrupted by an Indian attack. His second was in 1868 to Muddy, Utah, but ended a few weeks after he had moved his family there. He was later sent as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission in 1876. While serving, his first wife died; he returned to mission headquarters to find daily letters written about her failing health. He was known to be an excellent builder and a good musician. He married three wives and had several children. He died in August 1886 from appendicitis.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Oliver Lee Robinson diary (1854-1858) consists of a photocopy of the original journal. The journal spans the years 1854-1858 and although each entry is very brief, they document four critical years in Utah history as they happened in everyday life. Robinson was beginning a family and building a home in the first part of the journal. An interesting occurrence mentioned is his rebaptism, part of the so-called "Mormon Reformation" when many Latter-day Saints were rebaptized. He mentions his mission to Fort Limhi during the winter of 1857-1858 and the attack on the fort that February. The last parts concern the move of the Latter-day Saints south with the approch of Johnston's army and finding out that it was safe to return. Among the people listed in the journal are Robinson's family: Joseph Robinson, Joseph Lee, Samuel Brown, Mary Lee, Nathan Robinson, Mary Brown, Luke Carpenter, Lana Birnes, Anna Carpenter, Lemuel Wood, Rebecca Tupper, Zepheniah Wood, Ebenezer Robinson, Joseph Lee Robinson, Mary Wood, Lucy Miller, Anna Stratford, Joseph Oliver Robinson, Anna Eliza Robinson, Lucy Maria Robinson, Loren Jay Robinson, Oliver LeGrand Robinson, Edgar Lee Robinson, George Frederic Robinson, Charles Lewis Robinson, Lucy Adelia Robinson, Eugene Delacy Robinson, Mary Lucette Robinson, Joseph Edwin Robinson, Alice Almira Robinson, James Henry Robinson, Sarah Jane Robinson, Anna Amelia Robinson, Hellen A. Robinson, Lilliam Estelle Robinson, and Ester Jeffs. Other persons mentioned in the journal (besides LDS General Authorities) are: Charles Bassett, John Bernard, Adelia Burdick, H. Burk, Cartoos (Shoshone Indian), E. T. Clark, Brother Clement, James Cummings, F. Durfey, Brother Earl, J. Gene, John Giling, L. S. Gleason, Brother Grover, Brother Haights, Milton Hammond, J. Hess, W. H. Hockings, H. Judd, Brother Lemmons, A. M. Lyman, Richard Margetts, George McBride, A. Daniel Miller, Jacob Miller, James T. Miller, William Perkins, Andrew Quily, Rocky Kay, A. Ross, Thomas S. Smith, William Smith, William J. Smith, Hascal V. Shurtliff, Lewis H. Shurtliff, Alan Tayler, Green Tayler, Levi Tayler, William Tayler, Fountain Welch, James D. Wilcox, and L. Young.

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

Processing Note

Processed by Lisle G. Brown in 2003.

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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Latter Day Saints--Diaries
  • Shoshoni Indians--Missions
  • Utah Expedition, 1857-1858

Geographical Names

  • Salt Lake City (Utah)--Social life and customs--Sources

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries

Finding aid created by Lisle G. Brown.
2003 (last modified: 2019)

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