Archives West Finding Aid

This section of the collection contains proposals, early titles, drafts, suggested revisions, and completed manuscripts of Linda Sillitoe and Allen Roberts' book, Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders. A bound manuscript of Robert Lindsey's A Gathering of Saints and photocopies of Steven Naifeh and Gregory Smith's The Mormon Murders complete this section. These materials represent the three major books written on the bombings. In addition to providing a better understanding of the bombings, these papers supply an interesting view of diverse approaches to, and perceptions of, the surrounding events.

This second section contains photocopies of articles and other papers which provide background information on Mormon history and issues. Since Mormonism is tied closely to the events surrounding the bombings and the lives of the people involved, an understanding of the culture makes them more comprehensible. Most of this part of the collection consists of writings by various authors on the origin, history, and doctrine of the Mormon church. The authors are diverse in beliefs and perceptions. Materials in this section provide highly subjective views. Articles in boxes 5 and 6 are filed alphabetically by author, or, in a few instances, title or subject, depending on the information available. Some of the issues addressed in the articles found in boxes 5 and 6 include blood atonement, polygamy, the Book of Mormon, and magic in Mormon history. Box 7, which holds materials relating specifically to the origins of the Mormon church, is arranged alphabetically by title.

The third section consists of papers collected by Sillitoe and Roberts which relate to criminal activities. Information on polygraph tests, homicide, forgery, and parenting styles and religion as they relate to crime is provided. Box 9 is a general collection of criminal psychology articles, box 10 contains books and articles relating specifically to forgery, and boxes 11 and 12 contain copies of Mark Hofmann's own forgeries, as well as information from many sources relating to the documents with which he dealt. Folder 16 in box 12 may be of particular interest, as it includes papers which provide a detailed overview of Hofmann's work as a forger. As was the case in section II, box 9 contains papers which present subjective views on these topics.

The fourth section (boxes 13-24) includes local and national press coverage of the documents and bombings, and notes from information-gathering interviews done by the authors. Much of the interview information is sensitive, and all reports reflect the subjective realities of those being interviewed. Interview notes in boxes 14-22 are organized alphabetically and chronologically, according to the systems used by each of the authors. Box 23 contains notes on specific subjects. However, there is overlap as many of the notes in the other boxes also relate to these subjects. Box 24 includes investigative information other than interview notes. Correspondence, press releases, financial and school related information, and time lines of events in the lives of Mark Hofmann, Steven Christensen, and Kathy Sheets are contained in this box.

Boxes 25-29 contain materials relating to events that happened after the bombings. Papers on Hofmann's preliminary trial, plea bargain, hearing before the Board of Pardons, and police investigative information are included in box 25. Boxes 26 and 27 contain the bound manuscripts of Hofmann's interviews with prosecutors, as well as other materials relating to his forging of money and of the "Oath of a Freeman." Box 28 includes articles written by Allen Roberts, a paper presented at a Sunstone symposium by Linda Sillitoc, and transcripts of a symposium held at Brigham Young University. Box 29 contains materials related to the book itself, correspondence, and book listings.