View XML QR Code

George D. Smith papers, 1825-2009

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Smith, George D. (George Dempster), 1938-
Title
George D. Smith papers
Dates
1825-2009 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.5 linear feet, (1 box)
Collection Number
ACCN 0677
Summary
The George D. Smith papers (1825-2009) contain essays, symposium presentations, letters, and othe items relating to central and controversial questions in LDS history and belief.
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
Return to Top

Biographical Note

George Dempster Smith Jr. (b. 1938), a New York City native, earned a B.A. at Stanford University, and later an M.B.A. from New York University. In 1981 he co-founded Signature Books, whom he has served as president and publisher. He has participated on the national advisory boards of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and Sunstone magazine. His writing have been published in both of these periodicals as well as The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal, The Journal of Mormon History, Free Inquiry, and elsewhere. Besides An Intimate Chronicle: The Journals of William Clayton, Smith has edited Faithful History: Essays on Writing Mormon History and Religion, Feminism, and Freedom of Conscience: A Mormon/Humanist Dialogue, and contributed to The Word of God: Essays on Mormon Scripture.

Smith is also president of Smith Research Associates, which he founded in 1985. The Association has, independently and in association with Signature Books, published numerous works in the field of Mormon studies.

Return to Top

Content Description

The George D. Smith papers (1825-2009) contain essays, symposium presentations, letters, and othe items relating to central and controversial questions in LDS history and belief.

Materials in folders 1-9 deal with Book of Mormon authenticity and B. H. Roberts. Folders 10-20 deal with LDS polygamy and theology. Folders 6 and 18 contain material purportedly dating to the early nineteenth century, but are now known to be Mark Hofmann forgeries. Folder 13 contains an early version of Gary James Bergera's essay, "Joseph Smith and the Hazards of Charismatic Leadership."

Return to Top

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.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by George D. Smith in 1997 and 2002.

Donated by George D. Smith (box 1, folder 22) in 2009.

Processing Note

Processed by Kirk A. Watson in 2003.

Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2013.

Related Materials

See also the Mormonism collection (ACCN 0858) and the B. H. Roberts papers (MS 0106) located in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: "Looking at the Book of Mormon"
    Dates: 1979
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: "The Nineteenth Century Background of the Book of Mormon"
    Dates: 1983
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: "Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon," with Letter to Edward Ashment
    Dates: 1984
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: "Book of Mormon 'Wordprints' Reexamined"
    Dates: 1981
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: "The Book of Mormon as Seen in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism"
    Dates: 1992
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Phone Conversation with Mark K. Allen
    Dates: 1981
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Lucy Mack Smith Letter, 1829 [forgery]
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: George D. Smith, Letter about the Book of Mormon
    Dates: 1981
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: "Isaiah Updated"
    Dates: 1982
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: "B. H. Roberts as Book of Mormon Apologist and Critic"
    Dates: 1997
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Introductory Notes, "Book of Mormon Questions"
    Dates: 1984
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: Journal of James E. Talmage
    Dates: 1922
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Journal of James H. Moyle
    Dates: 1932
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Michael Coe, Letter to George D. Smith
    Dates: 1980
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Richard S. MacNeish, Letter to George D. Smith
    Dates: 1980
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: "Concerns about Mormon Authenticity"
    Dates: 1981
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: "Mormon Plural Marriage"
    Dates: 1991
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
  • Description: "Nauvoo Roots of Mormon Polygamy"
    Dates: 1994
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11
  • Description: Richard P. Howard, "Changing RLDS Resonse to Mormon Polygamy" with Imogene D. Goodyear's Response
    Dates: 1983
    Container: Box 1, Folder 12
  • Description: Gary James Bergera, "Joseph Smith in His Final Years"
    Container: Box 1, Folder 13
  • Description: "Concepts of Deity: A Brief Overview from Yahwist Writings to the Mormon Jehovah-Is-Jesus Doctrine"
    Dates: 1987
    Container: Box 1, Folder 14
  • Description: "The Freedom to Inquire"
    Dates: 1997
    Container: Box 1, Folder 15
  • Description: Statements from Smith regarding being the recipient of the Alice Paul award and ERA
    Dates: 1982
    Container: Box 1, Folder 16
  • Description: William E. McLellin, Letter to Joseph Smith DI
    Dates: 1872
    Container: Box 1, Folder 17
  • Description: Joseph Smith, Letter to Josiah Stowell, 1825 [forgery]
    Container: Box 1, Folder 18
  • Description: Digging Agreement, 1825 [forgery]
    Container: Box 1, Folder 18
  • Description: Dean C. Jessee, "Authentication of [forged] 1830 Martin Harris Letter"
    Container: Box 1, Folder 18
  • Description: Marvin Hill, "Joseph Smith's First Vision Story"
    Dates: 1981
    Container: Box 1, Folder 19
  • Description: "Plural Marriage During the Life of Joseph Smith"
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box 1, Folder 20
  • Description: "Pre-teen to Plural Wife: How Joseph Smith Cultivated Young Women for Plural Marriage"
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box 1, Folder 20
  • Description: "How Joseph Smith Found Thirty Women to Become his Plural Wives and How this Changed his Life"
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box 1, Folder 20
  • Description: News Clipping
    Dates: 2004
    Container: Box 1, Folder 21
  • Description: Review of Nauvoo Polygamy by William D. Morain
    Dates: 2009
    Container: Box 1, Folder 22

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Latter Day Saints--Polygamy
  • Polygamy

Personal Names

  • Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
  • Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844--Magic practices

Form or Genre Terms

  • Articles
  • Correspondence
Loading...
Loading...