Archives West Finding Aid

The Frederick Kesler papers (1829-1985) consist of record books, daybooks, diaries, newspaper clippings, printed materials, photographs, books, and personal artifacts. Kesler's early years were spent in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Click here to view the digitized items from the collection. He was part of the first half-centry of Utah history and his lifetime spanned nearly a century of pioneer life. He has recorded day-to-day events during most of this period and has ammassed a valuable LDS Church and Utah history collection.

Kesler began building mills in 1835 and upon his arrival in Utah was immediately set to work by Brigham Young to construct mills for the territory. His talents in building mills and the machinery to operatte them are attested to by the variety and number he built in the first ten years of his residence in Utah Terriroty. A nail factory, button machine, flouring mills, sawmills, sugar works, irom works, carding machine, smut machine (for cleaning wheat), oil mills, and numerous others were built upon request. His role as a mill builder made him a man of great economic importance. He mentions many of the mills in his diaries, but no detailed records or diagrams have been located.

Among the more unusual and valuable items in the collection is a half-page of the original Book of Mormon manuscript (14th Chapter of the First Book of Nephi) which was presented to Mr. Kesler by Joseph Summerhays in 1884. It was removed from the cornerstone of the Nauvoo House in 1882. General Joseph Smith's Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, 1844; two different invitations to a "Pic-Nic Party" in Big Cottonwood Canyon, 24 July 1857; an address by Brigham Young entitled "A Series of Instructions and Remarks," given at a Special Coucil in the Tabernacle 21 March 1858; revelations of Orson Hyde and John Taylor; and correspondence that includes letters from Joseph Smith and Brigham Young are among the valuable items.

A chest, constructed by Frederick Kesler, contained these records and is part of the gift to the University. A beautifully bound book housed in a specially built compartment in the record chest, contains Frederick Kesler's autobiography and his family genealogical records.

There are daybooks, partriarchal blessings, and an address book of Kesler family heads (thirteen books), dating from 1837 to 1899 and twelve diaries written between 1857 and 1899.

The correspondence contains personal letters from relatives and friends over a period of sixty years as well as letters from LDS church leaders.

In the file of Frederick Kesler's personal papers there are biographical materials, tributes, records of his church appointments and ordinations, geneological records, his will, and an account of his record chest and its contents.

An additional file contains invitations, theater programs, certificates, contracts, receipts, tax notices, land agreements, recipes, and tithing and temple records.

Artifacts belonging to Mr. Kesler and kept in the record chest include two beautiful canes, a Nauvoo Legion sword and scabbard, gold writing pens, and a tintype of Kesler in his Legion uniform, and a daguerreotype of Kesler in civilian dress. In order to view these items, please schedule an appointment with the Manuscripts Curator by calling 801-585-3076.

A microfilm of Frederick Kesler papers owned by Huntington Library has been secured for inclusion in this collection. The Huntington Library collection contains correspondence from several people, but is mainly concerned with the divorce suits Kesler's wives, Emeline and Abigail, filed against him. Some of the letters are from Brigham Young who sanctioned the divorces and set the amount of financial settlement.

In the account and daybooks in this collection are found more than in the diaries, the full extent of Frederick Kesler's genius. These daybooks were kept during the period of his greatest productivity, before the accident that permanently crippled him, and list in more detail the mills and machinery he built and for whom.

As mentioned previously, the record chest constructed by Frederick Kesler in 1889 was part of the gift to the University. This is a utilitarian piece, designed to securely contain records, books, and other objects. Despite its not being designed as a piece of furniture, its proportions are excellent and give a sense of strength and security without massiveness.

Several features of construction mark this as the work of a skilled craftsman, but not a cabinetmaker. The chest reflects well the background and purpose of its maker. Refinishing and restoring the chest were done in Western Americana in 1972 by Dr. W. W. Newby, professor of biology, emeritus, Univesity of Utah. It now houses some of the Kesler papers and memorabilia.