Open to public research.
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Permission to publish material from the Moses Thatcher Sr. papers must be obtained from the
The materials that comprise this collection were donated to USU Special Collections & Archives by Leora Thatcher between the years of 1972 and 1976.
Moses Thatcher Sr. papers, 1866-1923 (COLL MSS 22). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives department.
Moses Thatcher was born February 2, 1842 in Sangamon County, Illinois the tenth child of Hezekiah Thatcher and Alley Kitchen Thatcher. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (historically referred to as Mormons), in 1847, Thatcher's family traveled westward across the plains until arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. In 1849, the Thatcher family moved to California in connection with the Gold Rush. Six years later Thatcher and some of his family returned to Utah. By 1860, Thatcher had taken up residence in the newly settled community of Logan, Utah Territory, and began a career as a businessman. During the 1860/1861-year, Thatcher attended the University of Deseret (now University of Utah).
From 1866 to 1868, Thatcher served as a missionary in England for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon completion of his missionary labors, Thatcher returned to Logan and renewed his business ventures. Some of his business endeavors and positions included, serving as the director and secretary of Utah Northern Railroad Company (1870-1877), superintendent of the Logan ZCMI (1870-1879), co-founder of Cache County's first bank; the Thatcher Brothers Banking Company in 1883, and Trustee of the Brigham Young College in Logan (1877-97).
Thatcher was also highly involved with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1879, he was ordained as a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. Some of his duties as an apostle included overseeing the church's interests in northern Mexico. During the 1880s, he organized, supervised, and purchased land for the Church colonization of northern Mexico. During the 1890s, Thatcher returned to Logan and became active with the Utah Democratic Party. In 1896, Thatcher was expelled from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles because of a "difference in opinions" and "misunderstanding" between quorum members concerning his political and religious views. Thatcher died in Logan in 1909.
For further information on Moses Thatcher Sr. see: Godfrey, Kenneth W., "Moses Thatcher in the Dock: His Trials, The Aftermath, and His Last Days,"
This collection contains the papers of Moses Thatcher Sr. and his family spanning the period of 1866 to 1923. This collection contains Moses Thatcher Sr.'s diaries (in photocopy form, original diaries are in the possession of Brigham Young University), correspondence, papers concerning his family, and other papers. His diaries document his missionary service in Great Britain from 1866 to 1868, his presidency of the Cache Stake from 1878 to 1881, his ordination as a Church apostle in 1879, and his work concerning the opening of the Mexican Mission for the Church and the beginnings of Church colonization in northern Mexico. Other items included are Thatcher's two correspondence letter books (1888-1890 and 1902-1903), a Memoranda Book (1879-1880) which contains information about his work in Mexico, and a family scrapbook. This collection also contains the missionary diaries of Moses Thatcher Jr. (in photocopy form) spanning the period of 1891-1892, Moses Thatcher Jr.'s papers concerning his studies at the Logan Brigham Young College, various biographical sketches, and other papers concerning family affairs. The Moses Thatcher Sr. family photo album was removed and has been reassigned as part of the Thatcher family photograph collection (P0036)
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich later donated a letter from Moses Thatcher in September 2011.
Arranged topically and chronologically.
Moses Thatcher Sr. (Coll Mss 244)
Thatcher Family Papers
Thatcher Brothers Banking records
George W. Thatcher papers
George Thatcher Business Papers (Coll Mss 135)
Thatcher Brothers Banking Company Safety Deposit boxes (Coll Mss 175)
William B. Preston Papers (Coll Mss 268)
Thatcher Family Photograph Collection
Thatcher Milling & Elevator Photograph Collection (P0169)
Thatcher Opera House Band Photograph Collection (P0195)
Thatcher Brothers Banking Company Photograph Collection (P0230)
Harriet A. Thatcher Preston Photograph Collection (P0248)
Original at Brigham Young University, English Mission.
Original at Brigham Young University.
Original at Brigham Young University. Contains diaries "No. 1" (August 1, 1878- May 1879) and "No. 2" (July 20, 1879- December 31, 1879). "No. 1" is largely devoted to church matters, organization of various branches of the Board of Trade, YMMIA, work of Thatcher as Stake President. After April 1879 when Thatcher is ordained to the apostolate, diary is full of central church concerns. Much on the death of his father. "No. 2" deals with the opening of his Mexican Mission. First pages record blessings on him and (p. 73) a "revelation" to his first wife regarding plural marriage.
Original at Brigham Young University. Journal "No. 3". Mexican Mission. Pages in the back of the journal contain lists of letters sent, mission funds, baptisms, etc.
Mexican mission, description, antiquities, Spanish language, LDS translations, etc.
Mexican colonies, Council of Twelve Apostles, Thatcher's business interests, especially Oneida Mercantile Union. Much on internal Mormon matters.
Business affairs, major correspondence re: Mexico, Democratic party, family. Church matters almost wholly absent.
removal of Moses Thatcher, Sr., from the Apostolate.
Probably made when Thatcher was ordained an LDS Apostle. Smaller copy appears in Whitney's History of Utah, II:277.
Lists the sealings of Moses Thatcher to his wives and Hezekiah Thatcher to his children.
A life sketch with considerable elaboration on the circumstances of her plural marriages to Joseph Smith and Heber C. Kimball. Possibly the ms from which Andrew Jenson published her testimony regarding plural marriage in Historical Record, VI (May 1887), pp. 229-230.
Largely copied from the biography in Tullidge's Histories, v. II.
Brigham Young University, 1958.
Original in possession of Leora Thatcher. English Mission.
Original in possession of Leora Thatcher. English Mission.
Original at Brigham Young University.
Submitted to the Governor's Review Committee, Utah Historic Sites Survey, by A..J. Simmonds, July 29, 1971.
Sarah Catherine Hopkins (Thatcher). 7 3/3 x 12 1/4" hd. vol.
Probably Moses Thatcher Jr.