Dawn House papers, 1825-1997

Overview of the Collection

Creator
House, Dawn
Title
Dawn House papers
Dates
1825-1997 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 linear feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
ACCN 1839
Summary
The Dawn House papers (1825-1997) contain correspondence, articles, articles of agreement, notes, magazine excerpts, religious/political cartoons, symposium materials from Brigham Young University (BYU), court materials, an essay House wrote concerning the McLellin papers, and news clippings primarily regarding the Mark Hofmann case. Dawn House is news editor of The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper. She has been nominated for Pulitzer Prizes for stories on the Mark Hoffman case and polygamy in Utah.
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

Dawn House (b. 1947), formerly known as Dawn Tracy, served as a reporter for the Daily Herald located in Provo, Utah, from 1975-1983. She later became a reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune from 1983-1992. She was nominated by The Salt Lake Tribune twice for the Pulitzer Prize: in 1986 for her stories on the Mark Hofmann forgery and murder scheme, and in 1999 for a series on polygamy investigative stories. House began working as the news editor for The Salt Lake Tribune in 1992 and is currently working in that position. She also received a Bachelor of Arts degree from BYU in 1970 in communications.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Dawn House papers (1825-1997) contain correspondence, articles, articles of agreement, notes, magazine excerpts, religious/political cartoons, symposium materials from Brigham Young University (BYU), court materials, an essay House wrote concerning the McLellin papers, and news clippings primarily regarding the Mark Hofmann case. The majority of the collection regards the Mark Hofmann forgery and murder cases which took place in Utah. In 1986, House was assigned to cover stories on the White Salamander letter. This letter is a document regarding the foundation of the Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The White Salamander letter presents the idea that a white salamander, instead of an angel, spoke to the LDS Church founder Joseph Smith Jr. Mark Hofmann forged certain LDS Church documents regarding the White Salamander letter and sold them to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (RLDS Church) and the LDS Church.

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

Acquisition Information

Gift of Dawn House in 2001.

Separated Materials

See also the Dawn House photograph collection (P0800) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Note

Processed by Kate Kimball and Elizabeth Rogers in 2002.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Related Materials

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

General MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Correspondence
1825-1997
1 2
Dawn House, Article Excerpts and Notes
1986
1 3
James B. Allen, "History and Faith"
1 4
Articles of Agreement
This folder contains a photocopy of the manuscript that Mark Hofmann transcribed in 1983.
1880
1 5
The Autograph Collector's Magazine
1986
1 6
Brigham Young University, Symposium Materials
1987
1 7
Cartoons
1 8
Coordinated Financial Services, Court Materials
1985
1 9
William G. Hartley, "Faith and History Discussion"
1987
1 10
John Heinerman, "Mark Hofmann and the Mormon Manuscript Bombings: Fraud and Deceit in a Religious Context"
1 11
Marvin S. Hill, "Richard L. Bushman-Scholar and Apologist"
1 12-14
Mark Hofmann, Materials
These folders contain district court materials, a copy of "Mormon Manuscripts," and copies of photographs taken while Hofmann was on trial.
1981-1987
1 15
Rhett S. James, Articles
1985-1986
1 16
"The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri"
1 17
LDS Church, Statements and News Releases
1985
1 18
Robert Lindsey, "The Mormons: Growth, Prosperity and Controversy"
1986
1 19-20
William McLellin, "Correspondence and Articles"
1851-1988
1 21
Mormon Polygamy, Excerpt
1 22
Russell M. Nelson, "Truth and More"
1985
1 23
Salt Lake City Messenger
1985-1987
2 1
The Salt Lake Tribune, Articles
1991-1995
2 2
George D. Smith, "A Response to Ronald W. Walker and Dean C. Jessie"
1985
2 3
"A Stone in a Hat"
2 4
Sunstone
1986
2 5
Text Excerpts
1980
2 6
Traughber Family, Genealogical Records
2 7
Wesley P. Walters, "1826 Trial Recovered"
2 8
Wesley P. Walters, "Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N.Y., Court Trials"
1977
2 9
Louis C. Zucker, "Joseph Smith as a Student of Hebrew"
2 10-18
News Clippings
1982-1997
2 19
Miscellaneous
1987
2 20
"The Discovery of the McLellin Collections"
This folder consists of an essay Dawn House wrote concerning the McLellin papers. It recounts the story of the papers of William E. McLellin, an early Mormon apostate, and their relationship to the Mark Hofmann case in 1986.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Forgery of manuscripts--Utah--Facsimiles
  • Forgery of manuscripts--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Latter Day Saints--Manuscripts--Forgeries
  • Polygamy--Religious aspects--Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
  • Religion and the press--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Trials (Forgery)--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Trials (Murder)--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Women journalists--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives

Personal Names

  • Harris, Martin, 1783-1875--Forgeries
  • Hofmann, Mark--Trials, litigation, etc.
  • House, Dawn--Archives
  • McLellin, William E. (William Earl)--Forgeries

Corporate Names

  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--Doctrines--Forgeries

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business correspondence
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Criminal court records
  • Editorial cartoons
  • Research notes