Archives West Finding Aid

The John T. Edward papers (1897-1989) holds two diaries by Edward (1867-1959); two pieces of correspondence written to Edward; and a single biography of Edward and his wife, Lizzie Thomas Edward (1866-1936). Three pieces of correspondence, housed in folder 1, were written by family members to Edward while he served a proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Scotland from 1897 to 1899. Two diaries, covering the period August 1897 through April 1899, are in folders 2 and 3 and document Edward's experiences while on this mission, during which he was a companion to David O. McKay, a future president of the LDS Church. The red pencil annotations in the diaries were made by John E. Carr, Edward's nephew. The August 1897 diary also has typed travel instructions for Edward and other missionaries pasted inside the front cover, the text of a tract distributed in Scotland by the Anti-Mormon League is written on the final pages, and 1898 news clippings regarding Mormon response to the Spanish-American War, cigarette production, "Loss of Life In War," and the appointment of Willard Young (a Utahn) as a "Major of volunteers" with the War Department. The November 1897 diary also held a photograph of "two happy missionaries" pasted on the page following the final, April 28, 1899, entry. However, the identity of the missionaries is not provided, and it appears that the photograph was taken in the 1930s. The original photograph has been transferred to the Multimedia Section of the Manuscripts Division, and a photocopy placed in the original location. The biographical writings on Edward and his wife, housed in folder 4, were written by John E. Carr. This document, a photocopy, refers to photographs in the original publication, but these were not provided to the library. Folder 5 holds miscellaneous news clippings regarding various Edward family members and other individuals. John T. Edward also worked as a butcher in Salt Lake City.