Archives West Finding Aid
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Brigham Young financial records, 1859-1882
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
- Title
- Brigham Young financial records
- Dates
- 1859-1882 (inclusive)18591882
- Quantity
- 5.5 linear ft., (30 volumes)
- Collection Number
- UUS_COLL MSS 042
- Summary
- The collection consists of 30 manuscript volumes (24 in original holograph and 6 in photocopy). In addition to detailing Brigham Young's personal financial affairs, the records also contains an almost comprehensive account of his actions as Trustee-In-Trust of the Mormon Church; in essence they are financial records of the LDS Church from 1859-1877. The ledgers show that little distinction was made in accounting between properties of the Mormon Church and Brigham Young's personal business interests. The 23 other account books include daybooks for the Brigham Young Store in the Beehive House; employee pay registers; carding books; checkbooks (one covering Young's railroad construction contract in Echo and Weber Canyons in 1859); and various memoranda from Brigham Young's Barn and the Globe Bakery. A major series consists of receipt books showing expenses for the Gardo House in 1882 and receipts for payment of rents to the Brigham Young estate 1879-1882. Other financial papers consist of original invoices for purchases from ZCMI (1869-1875); invoices and accounts of the B.K. Tannery; deeds and land transfers 1852-1873, including plats of the site of the Ogden Union Depot. Miscellaneous items of special interest: the "Memoranda for Tabernacle at Centerville Ward," "Inventory of the B.Y. Store, January 1866," "Accounts due Brigham Young, October 1866," and a series of "Military Orders and Inventories, July 16, 1857 to September 18, 1863."
- 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
-
Restrictions
Open to public research.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Ledger C originally written in the Deseret Alphabet; translation available.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The financial records of Brigham Young (1801-1877) comprise Manuscript Collection 42 in the Department of Special Collections and Archives, Merrill Library, Utah State University. The collection consists of 30 manuscript volumes (24 in original holograph and 6 in photocopy). The original holographs of the photocopied volumes are in the Manuscripts Department, Lee Library Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Until 1968, all of the volumes were in the possession of a great granddaughter of Brigham Young. In that year Brigham Young University acquired Ledgers D, E, F, from her. Subsequently, by purchase and gift, in 1976 and 1977, Utah State University obtained Ledger C, the checkbook, the receipt books, and photocopies (in 6 volumes) of Ledger D, E, and F. In 1979, Utah State University acquired the remaining books and three boxes of original invoices, deeds, bills of sale and of lading, etc.
In addition to detailing Brigham Young's personal financial affairs, the records also contains an almost comprehensive account of his actions as Trustee-In-Trust of the Mormon Church. In essence they are financial records of the LDS Church from 1859-1877. Despite the fact that from April 1873 to September 1, 1875, George A. Smith replaced Young as Trustee In-Trust, it appears that the accounts were still entered in Young's ledgers.
The Ledgers, the heart of the collection, show that little distinction was made in accounting between properties of the Mormon Church and Brigham Young's personal business interests. The 1859 opening date for Ledger C effectively disprove Leonard Arrington's contention that the mingling of records was due to church efforts to subvert the financial provisions of the 1862 Anti-Bigamy Act which limited the Church to $50,000 worth of real estate.* (an interesting sidelight to life in Utah in 1859 is that Ledger C is written in the Deseret Alphabet).
In addition to the Ledgers, Collection 42 contains 23 other account books, including daybooks for the Brigham Young Store in the Beehive House, Employee Pay Register, Carding Books, Checkbooks (one covering Young's railroad construction contract in Echo and Weber Canyons in 1859), and various memoranda from Brigham Young's Barn and the Globe Bakery. A major series consists of receipt books showing expenses for the Gardo House in 1882 and receipts for payment of rents to the Brigham Young estate 1879-1882.
The financial papers consist of original invoices for purchases from ZCMI (1869-1875), invoices and accounts of the B.K. Tannery, the deeds and land transfers 1852-1873, including plats of the site of the Ogden Union Depot. Miscellaneous items of special interest: the "Memoranda for Tabernacle at Centerville Ward", "Inventory of the B.Y. Store, January 1866", "Accounts due Brigham Young, October 1866", and a series of "Military Orders and Inventories, July 16, 1857 to September 18, 1863".
* Leonard J, Arrington, "The Settlement of the Brigham Young Estate, 1877-1879," Pacific Historical Review, XXI, pp 2-4. See also note 11, p. 4.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
CopyrightIt is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Brigham Young Financial records must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Credit LineBrigham Young financial records, 1859-1882. (COLL MSS 042). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Department.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Collection arranged numerically by assigned book number.
Location of Originals
Location of OriginalsOriginals of Ledgers D, E, and F: Manuscripts Department, Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Separated Materials
Separated MaterialsManuscript volumes removed from the Brigham Young Financial Records Collection for separate processing: Journal of the Deseret Currency Association, February 22, 1858 to January 30, 1869; Journal of the Deseret Dramatic Association, 1855 to 1865.
Acquisition Information
Until 1968, all of the volumes were in the possession of Patience Thatcher, a great granddaughter of Brigham Young. In that year Brigham Young University acquired Ledgers D, E, F, from her. Subsequently, by purchase and gift, in 1976 and 1977, Utah State University obtained Ledger C, the checkbook, the receipt books, and photocopies (in 6 volumes) of Ledger D, E, and F. In 1979, Utah State University acquired the remaining books and three boxes of original invoices, deeds, bills of sale and of lading, etc.
Location of Originals
Originals of Ledgers D, E, and F: Manuscripts Department, Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Ledger "C', 1859 - 1862Return to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Book 1
Original holograph volume in black ink on blue paper. Initial entries were written in the Deseret Alphabet and re-transcribed at a later date into the Latin Alphabet. Trustee-in-Trust accounts date between May 20, 1859 to August 30, 1862. The general inclusive dates for Brigham Young's personal accounts are 1859 to 1862, with one entry as early as 1857 and a few final transactions as late as 1868 and 1869.
Ledger "D", 1862 - 1864Return to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Book 2-3
Photocopy (in two volumes) of original holograph in the Manuscripts Department, Brigham Young University. Trustee in-Trust accounts generally date 1862-1864 with inclusive dates for scattered entries between November 20, 1861 and July 20, 1864. Young's personal accounts date from 1862 to 1864 with a very few entries as early as 1861.
Ledger "E", 1864 - 1870Return to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Book 4-6
Photocopy (in three volumes) of original holograph at Brigham Young University. Trustee in-Trust Accounts date from August 24, 1863 to April 28, 1871. Personal entries generally date between 1863 and 1870, with one entry in 1862 and many in 1876, the year Brigham Young transferred to others property previously held in his name (see page 259). Since entries are as late as 1879, and refer to the settlement of the Young Estate.
Ledger "F", 1870 - 1877Return to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Book 7
Photocopy of original holograph at Brigham Young University. Inclusive dates for the Trustee in-Trust accounts are September 4, 1870 to August 13, 1877 (sixteen days before Young's death). Personal business entries are generally between 1870 and 1877 with a few as early as 1868 and many as late as 1879 and the settlement of the Young estate.
Brigham Young's Orders (checkbook), 1868 - 1869Return to Top
Container(s): Box 5, Book 8
Original printed forms with check stubs filled-in. Orders were signed by Brigham Young, Jr. Inclusive dates are July 18, 1868 to January 22, 1869 and seem to cover Young's expenses incurred on the Sharp and Young U.P.R.R. contract in Echo and Weber Canyons.
Daybook, Brigham Young Store, 1862 August 18 - 1863 May 26Return to Top
Container(s): Box 5, Book 9
Original holograph volume. Entries show folio number were accounts were transferred to main ledgers. 241 pp.
Day Book, Brigham Young Store, 1863 November 23 - 1864 August 18Return to Top
Container(s): Box 5, Book 10
240 pp. Holograph volume.
Brigham Young's Employee Pay Register, 1873 July - 1875 OctoberReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 5, Book 11
116 p. Lists employees and enterprise where employed. Weekly work schedule, pay per day, total pay in cash, Co-op orders, orders for cloth and provisions, and sigmature of person receiving pay.
Carding Book, 1859Return to Top
Container(s): Box 5, Book 12
Pages not numbered. Accounts and memoranda and daybook entries of Brigham Young's carding mill. Back of volume contains memoranda regarding carding from as early as 1848, including an agreenent with "A.Norton," March 1848. Other accounts not identified, but seen to be payments to carding machine employees.
Carding Book, 1860Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 13
Holograph volume.32 cm. 255 p. Pages 1-85 daily carding accounts. Pages 85-195 blank. Pages 196-255 carding machine expense.
Brigham Young's Barn Accounts, 1856Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 14
Holograph. Leather notebook. Pages not numbered; seems to include payments in kind to employees.
Globe Bakery. Memoranda, 1866Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 15
Holograph. Leather notebook. Pages not numbered. Back pages are in Danish and show list of members of Danish Choir: "Der danske Sangchors Regnskalsbog, organiseret den 27 de Octbr 1863."
Daily Memoranda, 1861 October 10 - 1862 June 14, (?)Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 16
Black Leather. Pages not numbered. Daily Memoranda, possibly for Brigham Young Store.
Receipt Book. Gardo House Expenses, 1882 January 16 - 1882 March 27Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 17
Receipt Book. Gardo House Expenses, 1882 August 28 - 1882 October 16Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 18
Promissary Note Book, UndatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 19
Book of blank notes dated "18-," probably used as drafts by Brigham Young prior to the establishment of banks in Utah Territory.
Receipt book, 1879 October 1 - 1879 Noverber 1Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 21
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1880 April 1 - 1880 April 13Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 22
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1880 June 1 - 1880 July 1Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 23
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1880 October 1 - 1880 November 1Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 24
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1881 February 1 - 1881 March 9Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 25
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1881 April 1 - 1881 May 1Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 26
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1881 December 1 - 1882 January 2Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 27
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1882 April 1 - 1882 May 1Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 28
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1882 November 1 - 1882 November 27Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 29
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
Receipt book, 1882 December 1 - 1882 December 19Return to Top
Container(s): Box 6, Book 30
Receipts for payments of rents to the Estate of Brigham Young.
ZCMI Miscellaneous Papers and Accounts, 1869-1870Return to Top
Container(s): Box 7, Folder 23
Receipts for payments, orders of Brigham Young for furniture, purchases by ZCMI, statement of dividends (1869, 1870)
Brigham Young Misc. Purchase and Invoices, 1873Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 1
Smoot & Co. Inventory, 1867Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 2
Contents of boxes apparently shipment for Provo Woolen.
Eldredge & Clawson vouchers, 1866Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 3
Credited to Disbursing Account.
Brigham Young Orders and Misc. Accounts, UndatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 4
Memoranda for Tabernacle at Centerville Ward, UndatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 5
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1: Deed
William Glover to David Candland lot 5 Block 78, Salt Lake City.
|
1852 September 4 | ||
2: Certificate for payment of Surveyor's fees
lots 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Block 104 Manti City by Brigham Young and lot 1 Block 8
Big Field Survey 282 acres.
|
1853 January 5 | ||
3: Land Certificate
Brigham Young, Blocks 1 to 56 enclosure, Plat D, Salt Lake City.
|
1856 Febuary 7 | ||
4: Deed
Frederick Froerer to William Deft, S 1/2 acre, lot 4, Block 83, Salt Lake
City.
|
1857 February 28 | ||
5: Deed
Chandler Hotbrook to Brigham Young, lot 3, Block 20, Five Acre Plot, Salt Lake
County.
|
1857 December 11 | ||
6: Land Certificate
Land Claim of Brigham Young to lots 1,2,3,4, Block 1 to 56, Plat D, Salt Lake
City.
|
1859 November 24 | ||
7: Deed
Isaac Chmse to Brigham Young, lot 6, Block 14, Bigfield 5 Acre Plat, Salt Lake
City.
|
1859 December 2 | ||
8: Deed
Elijah Averett to Brigham Young, Block 7, Big Field north of Manti.
|
1860 September 29 | ||
9: Deed
Joseph E. Johnson to Brigham Young. Lot 8, Block 83, Plat A, Salt Lake
City.
|
1861 November 20 | ||
10: Deed
Isaac Brockbank to Robert A. Russell. SW corner, lot 5, Block 69, Plat A, Salt
Lake City.
|
1862 November 12 | ||
11: Land Certificate
Land Claim of Brigham Young and Frederick Kester, lot 150, Big Cottonwood
Survey, Salt Lake County.
|
1863 March 14 | ||
12: Assignment
John A. Wakeham and Mariah S. Durfie to Brigham Young, piece of ground 5 rods
square in the North West Corner of lot 8, Block 74, Plat A
|
1873 June 13 | ||
12a: Salt Lake City Letter
LeGrand Young to Judge E.H. Smith re: assignment on property June 14,
1873.
|
1874 June 14 | ||
13: Notice
Tax Assesment for John Wakeharn.
|
1873 June 14 | ||
14: Misc., undated note, Williams to
Young
Re: receipt of deep.
|
Undated | ||
15: Misc., fragment list of deeds
Young Property.
|
1864(?) | ||
16: Misc., fragment list of deeds
To Trustee in-Trust.
|
1873 | ||
17: Map, "Plot of lands sold out of Forrest Farm to
Pratts and others" |
Undated | ||
18: Map, Plat of Warm Springs area &
bathhouses, showing old city wall, etc. J.W. Fox |
Undated | ||
19: Map, Sects 25, 36, TP 6 N, 2 West; 30 to 31, TP
6 N 1 West. West of Ogden |
Undated | ||
20: Map, "1710 acres preempted at Ogden and
transferred to Brigham Young Senior." |
Undated |
Trustee-in-Trust Orders for, 1870 June 22 - 1872 July 10Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 7
Timber Bills and Orders , UndatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 8
City Creek Saw Mill Timber Orders:
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1: Label from original files |
Undated | ||
2: "Bill of Lumber for Mrs. Ogdon," |
1855 November 15 | ||
3: "Bill Joice Joists for New Barn," |
1856 July 23 | ||
4. : "Bill of Timber for B. Young's New Barn," |
1856 August 4 | ||
5: "Bill of Timber for Gates Small," |
1856 August 19 | ||
6. : "Bill of Timber for Small doors for New Barn," |
1856 August 27 | ||
7: "Bill of Timber for Doors of Lower Posts, New
Barn," |
1856 September 1 | ||
8: "Bill, Timbers for Gates for Tithing Office," |
1856 October 2 | ||
9: "Bill of Timber for Gates," |
1856 October 15 | ||
10: "Bill, Timber for New Barn," |
1857 May 16 | ||
11: "Bill of Timber for Master Cog Wheel for Dr.
Richards Mill, Farmington," |
1857 September 24 | ||
12: "Bill, Lumber for B. Young's Tannery," |
1858 October 25 | ||
13: "Bill, Timber, Adjoined for tannery," |
1858 October 25 | ||
14. : "Bill Sent to Chas. Decker for Chase's Mill," |
1859 June 21 | ||
15. : Saw Mill Daybook fragment |
1860 May 19 - 1860 December 15 | ||
16: "Bill of Timber for Chase's New Mill," |
Undated | ||
17: "Bill, Timber for Shurtleff's House," |
Undated | ||
18: List of White Pine "for President Young's Shop," |
Undated |
Military Orders and Inventories, 1857 July 16 - 1863 September 18Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 9
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1: Orders on B. Young on W.S. Godbe (14 pieces)
|
1861 | ||
2: Orders on B.Young on E. Ellsworth (9 pieces)
|
1859 | ||
3: Order on E.R.Young to card 30 lbs. wool (1 piece)
|
1860 May 26 | ||
4: Order on W.E.Wilcox, $15 (1 piece)
|
1858 August 17 | ||
5: Order on W.E.Wilcox (1 piece)
|
1858 September 9 |
Brigham Young Store, 1866 JanuaryReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 12
Inventory of Stock on hand of Brigham Young's Private Store.
Deseret Theological Institute Tickets, UndatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 14
Brigham Young' s Wheat Account, 1858 October - 1859 JuneReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 15
Salt Lake Theater, F.A. Mitchell Account, 1872 June 28 - 1872 August 15Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 17
Accounts, J. W. Cummings, Empire Mill-Deseret Mills, 1869-1870Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 19
Accounts, J. W. Cummings, Empire Mill-Deseret Mills, 1971 July - 1971 DecemberReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 20
Accounts, J. W. Clamming, Empire Mill-Deseret Mills, 1871 January - 1871 JuneReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 21
Accounts, J. W. Cummings, Empire Mill-Deseret Mills, 1872Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 22
Bill of Goods bought for Brigham Young by H.B. Clawson, 1868Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 23
B.K. Tannery, Feramotz Little Accounts, 1859, 1863, 1865Return to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 25
Scratch Paper, Blotters, etc., from Brigham Young MSS , UndatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10, Folder 32
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Deseret alphabet--Specimens.
- Mormon Church--Presidents--Archives.
- Mormon Church--Finance.
- Mormon Church--History--19th century.
- Mormons--Colonization.
- United orders (Mormon Church)
Personal Names
- Young, Brigham, 1801-1877--Archives.
Corporate Names
- B.K. Tannery (Salt Lake City, Utah)--History.
- Beehive House (Salt Lake City, Utah)--History.
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--Archives.
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--Finance.
- City Creek Saw Mill (Salt Lake City, Utah)--History.
- Gardo House (Salt Lake City, Utah)--History.
- Globe Bakery (Salt Lake City, Utah)--History.
- Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution--History.
Geographical Names
- Utah--Economic conditions--19th century.
- Utah--History.
- Utah--Religion--19th century.
- Utah--Social life and customs--19th century.