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Sterling B. Talmage papers, 1878-1955

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Talmage, Sterling B. (Sterling Booth), 1889-
Title
Sterling B. Talmage papers
Dates
1878-1955 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
ACCN 0724
Summary
The Sterling B. Talmage papers (1878-1955) consist of correspondence, articles, and books on theological and scientific issues, principally on dating the age of the earth, geology, and LDS Church attitudes toward evolution. Correspondents include James E. Talmage, Joseph Fielding Smith, and John A. Widtsoe. Included are articles and drafts of articles. Also included are some materials by and about James E. Talmage. Sterling B. Talmage was a teacher, geologist, and writer. He was the son of LDS Church apostle James E. Talmage.
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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Content Description

The Sterling B. Talmage papers contain a variety of writings on theological and scientific issues, including correspondence, newspaper articles, and books. Many of the documents are photocopies. The primary author is Sterling B. Talmage, but other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) are also represented. Also included are biographical documents regarding James E. Talmage, and apostle of the LDS Church until the 1930's. Sterling B. Talmage (1889-1956), son of James E. Talmage, was a teacher, geologist, and writer. He was a constant critic of what he considered to be theological dogmatism. As a geologist, Sterling B. Talmage was critical of the religious theory that the earth is seven thousand years old, and much of this collection deals with questions regarding the earth's age. Other subjects addressed in these writings include evolution and the reliability of science. Some writings by James E. Talmage are also included. The first box contains correspondence with three prominent leaders in the LDS Church: James E. Talmage, Joseph Fielding Smith, and John A. Widtsoe. Also included is general correspondence on a variety of issues. The second box contains articles authored by Sterling B. Talmage and others, including rough and final drafts of manuscripts on scientific and theological issues. Also included are some writings (1878-1933) by and about James E. Talmage including academic transcripts, newspaper articles, and an article published in the Improvement Era.

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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

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jeff Keller in 1982 and Betty Stokes in 1995.

Processing Note

Processed by Brett W. Myers in 1996.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • I: Correspondence

    • Description: James E. Talmage Correspondence
      Dates: 1931-1932
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1-2
      Location: I: Correspondence
    • Description: Joseph Fielding Smith Correspondence
      Dates: 1934-1936
      Container: Box 1, Folder 3-4
      Location: I: Correspondence
    • Description: "An Open Letter to Elder Joseph Fielding Smith," Rough Draft

      Authored by Sterling B. Talmage and includes written notes, suggestions, and corrections by James E. Talmage. See June 1931 correspondence between Sterling B. Talmage and James E. Talmage for more information.

      Container: Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: I: Correspondence
    • Description: "An Open Letter to Elder Joseph Fielding Smith," Final Draft

      Also includes a related letter to the First Presidency of the LDS Church, Heber J. Grant and his Counselors.

      Container: Box 1, Folder 6
      Location: I: Correspondence
    • Description: John A. Widtsoe Correspondence
      Dates: 1934-1939
      Container: Box 1, Folder 7-8
      Location: I: Correspondence
    • Description: General Correspondence
      Dates: 1933-1955
      Container: Box 1, Folder 9-13
      Location: I: Correspondence
    • Description: Correspondence with Dr. C. Fred Wilcox

      Contains two letters on one piece of paper. The document is very fragile.

      Dates: 1939
      Container: Box 1, Folder 14
      Location: I: Correspondence

  • II: Writings

    • Description: Howard S. Bennion, "Is the Earth Millions of Years Old?"

      Newspaper article with notes and comments by Sterling B. Talmage.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 1
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Howard S. Bennion, "Is the Earth Millions of Years Old?"

      Published in two parts in the Deseret News.

      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 2-3
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sterling B. Talmage, "Can We Dictate God's Times and Methods?"

      Written in response to Howard S. Bennion's article "Is the Earth Millions of Years Old?" Includes rough and final drafts as well as the published article as it appeared in the Deseret News.

      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 4-7
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Howard S. Bennion, "Further Observations On the Age of the Earth"

      Published in two parts in the Deseret News in response to Sterling B. Talmage's article, "Can We Dictate God's Times and Methods?"

      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 8-9
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sidney B. Sperry, "What Shall We Then Believe?"

      Published in the Deseret News commenting on the discussion between Sterling B. Talmage and Howard S. Bennion.

      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 10
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sterling B. Talmage, "Whom Shall We Believe? A Correction," Early Drafts

      Early drafts of a response to Sidney B. Sperry's article "Whom Shall We Then Believe?"

      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 11
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sterling B. Talmage, "Who Shall We Then Believe?" Final Draft
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 12
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Marie K. Nash, "Earth Renewed as Paradise"
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 13
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Dudley Joseph Whitney, "The Fiat Creation of the Universe"
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 14
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Dudley Joseph Whitney, "The Age of the Earth"
      Container: Box 2, Folder 15
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Frank Clay Cross, "Sleuthing for Ancient Man in America"
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 16
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: A. C. Boyle Jr., "Romance of the Dinosaurs"
      Dates: 1936
      Container: Box 2, Folder 17
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sterling B. Talmage, "Earth Relations: Their Fundamentals"
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box 2, Folder 18
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sterling B. Talmage, "Another Fact Above Them"

      Includes several drafts. See 2 March 1936 letter to John A. Widtsoe for more information.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 19-20
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sterling B. Talmage, "Is Evolution a Faith Promoting Principle?"

      See 17 July 1934 letter from John A. Widtsoe for more information.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 21-22
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: "Can Science be Faith Promoting?"

      Notes by Sterling B. Talmage.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 23
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Sterling B. Talmage, "Can Science be Faith Promoting?"

      Unpublished manuscript divided into three parts. Possibly intended as a source for a series of study manuals for the LDS Church. See 23 March 1939 letter from John A. Widtsoe for more information.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 24-26
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Religious Articles by Sterling B. Talmage

      Includes one Cumorah's Southern Messenger article and two Improvement Era articles.

      Dates: 1934-1939
      Container: Box 2, Folder 27
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Writings by Sterling B. Talmage
      Dates: 1934-1940
      Container: Box 2, Folder 28
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: James E. Talmage, The Earth and Man
      Dates: 1931
      Container: Box 2, Folder 29
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: James E. Talmage Miscellaneous

      Includes notes taken at Brigham Young Academy, 1878-1879, academic transcripts, 1933, and an Improvement Era article, "Prophecy as a Forerunner of Science--an Instance," 1904

      Dates: 1878-1933
      Container: Box 2, Folder 30
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: James E. Talmage, Newspaper Articles

      Articles authored by and written about him. Includes the front page Deseret News announcement of his death.

      Dates: 1922-1933
      Container: Box 2, Folder 31
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Bibliography of James E. Talmage
      Container: Box 2, Folder 32
      Location: II: Writings
    • Description: Benjamin L. Miller, "Memorial of Dr. James E. Talmage"
      Container: Box 2, Folder 33
      Location: II: Writings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Evolution--Religious aspects--Latter Day Saint churches
  • Geological time

Personal Names

  • Smith, Joseph Fielding, 1876-1972
  • Talmage, James E. (James Edward), 1862-1933
  • Talmage, Sterling B. (Sterling Booth), 1889---Archives
  • Widtsoe, John Andreas, 1872-1952

Form or Genre Terms

  • Articles
  • Correspondence
  • Drafts (documents)

Finding aid created by Brett W. Myers.
1996 (last modified: 2019)

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