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Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers, 1875-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ferguson, Thomas Stuart
Title
Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers
Dates
1875-1983 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.5 linear feet
Collection Number
ACCN 1350
Summary
The Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers (1875-1983) deal with the archaeology and historicity of the Book of Mormon and other questions concerning Mormon origins. Ferguson was a California attorney who devoted much effort to either prove or disprove the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
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
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Biographical Note

Thomas Stuart Ferguson (1915-1983) received his B.A. in 1937 and his LL.B. in 1942, both from the University of California. He worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1941 to 1945, and then, after his admittance to the California State Bar, he opened a private law practice in 1946. By avocation, Thomas Ferguson was an amateur archaeologist, especially as it related to the claims of the Book of Mormon. He was a co-founder of the Itzan Society, whose purpose was to encourage investigation into the geographical references from the Book of Mormon. Ferguson also founded the New World Archaeological Foundation (NWAF) in 1952, and served as its president from 1952 to 1961, when it was attached to Brigham Young University. After that, he served as BYU-NWAF secretary until his death in 1983. Ferguson wrote three books, "Great Message of Peace and Happiness," "One Fold and One Shepherd," and "Cumorah--Where?" He co-authored a fourth, "Ancient America and the Book of Mormon" with Milton R. Hunter. In addition, Ferguson wrote a paper entitled "Joseph Smith, Mormon Prophet, and American Archeology," in 1952. For a biographical study of Ferguson's life (with an emphasis on his work in Book of Mormon Archaeology), see the book, "Quest for the Gold Plates: Thomas Stuart Ferguson's Archaeological Search for the Book of Mormon."

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Content Description

The Thomas Stuart Ferguson papers (1875-1983) deal with the archaeology and historicity of the Book of Mormon and other questions concerning Mormon origins.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

Processing Note

Processed by Elizabeth Rogers in 2001.

Separated Materials

The photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (PO564).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Correspondence and Personal papers

    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with M. Wells Jakeman, Milton R. Hunter, Omer C. Stewart, James D. Bales, and LDS First Presidency.

      Dates: 1948-1958
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with Omer C. Stewart and Harold ("Hal") H. Hougey.

      Dates: 1960-1961
      Container: Box 1, Folder 2
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with Milton R. Hunter, Aziz S. Atiya, Hugh Nibley, Ariel L. Crowley, and Leonard H. Lesko.

      Dates: 1967-1968
      Container: Box 1, Folder 3
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Jim Boyack, Wesley P. Walters, Harold ("Hal") H. Hougey, Charles Fitzgearl, Lord Robert Barclay, and Carol Balding.

      Dates: 1970-1972
      Container: Box 1, Folder 4
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with George F. Carter, Harold ("Hal") H. Hougey, John L. Sorenson, Harold W. Lawrence, John W. Fitzgerald, and J. D. Cerchione.

      Dates: 1975-1977
      Container: Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with Sandra Tanner and James D. Still.

      Dates: 1979
      Container: Box 1, Folder 6
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with Rosemary Brown, Robert L. Brown, Burt Stride, Jerald and Sandra Tanner, and Thomas A. Lee Jr.

      Dates: 1980-1981
      Container: Box 1, Folder 7
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with Robert M. Carmack, Jeanne Engerman, Carol Armstrong, Sharon A. Baumgardner, Kirk Holland Vestal, James Martin Cluff, and Thomas Milton Tinney.

      Dates: 1982
      Container: Box 1, Folder 8
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Correspondence

      Correspondence with Ronald O. Barney, Emily A. Ross, and William M. Powell.

      Dates: 1976-1983
      Container: Box 1, Folder 9
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Ronald O. Barney, Meeting with Ferguson
      Dates: 1983
      Container: Box 1, Folder 10
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Patriarchal Blessing
      Dates: 1930
      Container: Box 1, Folder 11
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Research Notes on Sidney Rigdon
      Dates: 1983
      Container: Box 1, Folder 12
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: "Written Symposium on Book of Mormon Geography"
      Dates: 1975
      Container: Box 1, Folder 13
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Joseph Smith Papyri
      Container: Box 1, Folder 14
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: John W. Rigdon, "Early History of the Mormon Church"
      Container: Box 1, Folder 15
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Ferguson Family Diary
      Dates: 1951-1968
      Container: Box 1, Folder 16
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton, "Mormon Experience" and Harry M. Beardsley, "Joseph Smith,"
      Container: Box 1, Folder 17
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Mark F. McKiernan, "Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness"
      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box 1, Folder 18
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Joseph Welles White, "The Influence of Sidney Rigdon"
      Dates: 1947
      Container: Box 1, Folder 19-21
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: W. Wyl [Wilhelm, Ritter Von Wymetal], "Joseph Smith, the Prophet"
      Dates: 1886
      Container: Box 1, Folder 22
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Daryl Chase, "Sidney Rigdon"
      Dates: 1931
      Container: Box 1, Folder 23
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Alanson Wilcox, "History of the Disciples of Christ"
      Dates: 1918
      Container: Box 1, Folder 24
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Henry K. Shaw, "Buckeye Disciples"
      Dates: 1952
      Container: Box 1, Folder 25
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: A. S. Hayden, "Early History of the Disciples"
      Dates: 1875
      Container: Box 1, Folder 26
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: E. L. Kelley and Clark Braden, "Public Discussion"
      Dates: 1884
      Container: Box 1, Folder 27
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "Critical Look" and Lyndon W. Cook, "William Law"
      Container: Box 1, Folder 28
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers
    • Description: Klaus Bauer, "Breathing Permit of Hor"
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box 1, Folder 29
      Location: Correspondence and Personal papers

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Egyptian language--Papyri

Personal Names

  • Ferguson, Thomas Stuart--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Notes

Titles within the Collection

  • Book of Mormon--Criticism, interpretation, etc
  • Book of Mormon--Geography

Finding aid created by Elizabeth Rogers
2004 (last modified: 2020)

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