Albert Carrington papers, 1847-1887
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Carrington, Albert, 1813-1889
- Title
- Albert Carrington papers
- Dates
- 1847-1887 (inclusive)18471887
- Quantity
- 1.75 linear feet
- Collection Number
- MS 0549
- Summary
- The Albert Carrington papers (1847-1887) contain diaries, correspondence, and other documents that recount Carrington's life and dealings with his family, mission, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), business, school, politics, and other aspects of his life.
- Repository
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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
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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
Historical Note
Although Albert Carrington (1813-1889) was born in Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont, only a few miles from the birthplace of Joseph Smith, he did not meet the Prophet until 1844, only a few days before his martyrdom. A graduate of the Dartmouth College class of 1833 (graduated in 1834), Carrington taught school and studied law in Pennsylvania, later moving to Wisconsin where he was engaged in lead mining at the time of his conversion to the Church. His fine education and legal training enabled him to be of great service to the people of Utah. Soon after his arrival in 1847, Carrington was elected Salt Lake City clerk, historian, and postmaster. He was chairman of the committee which drafted the constitution for the Provisional State of Deseret and an officer in that state government. After the territorial government was organized, he served in the legislature. He helped survey the Great Salt Lake and was for eight years editor of the Deseret News.
Carrington rendered valuable service to the Church both in Utah and abroad as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and an assistant counselor to President Brigham Young. Four times during the period from 1868 to 1882 he served two-year terms as president of the European Mission. In 1872 he journeyed throughout Europe and Asia Minor with George A. Smith of the First Presidency, fellow apostle Lorenzo Snow, and others under assignment from President Brigham Young. In March 1873 in Palestine the group held a solemn worship service on the Mount of Olives in which they, as Orson Hyde had done thirty-two years before, dedicated that land to the return of the Jews.
Because of his close association with Brigham Young (he had served as his secretary for over twenty years), Carrington was appointed one of the administrators of President Young's estate when he died in 1877. The settling of the huge and complex estate was a long and involved process because of the large number of heirs and the difficult relationship between personal and Church property held by President Young. At one point the three administrators, Albert Carrington, George Q. Cannon, and Brigham Young Jr., as well as President John Taylor, were sentenced to prison by an anti-LDS judge in connection with the settlement of Church property. All but President Taylor served three weeks of the sentence before the decision was reversed by a higher court.
Albert Carrington's service to the Church ended four years before his death. In November of 1885, he was tried by his fellow apostles, found guilty of adultery and excommunicated. Two years later he was rebaptized and died a member of the Church.
Content Description
The Albert Carrington papers (1847-1887) contain a collection of diaries that have been a part of the University of Utah library for many decades. These are all original documents and consist of letters, notes, certificates, deeds, financial accounts, tax records, receipts, and a few printed sheets. Because of the value of many of these documents, they have been photocopied for use by researchers.
The diaries, which are located in the first two boxes, cover the period from 1847 to 1886. Most have many blank pages and very sketchy information on his activities.
Boxes 3 and 4 contain the correspondence of Carrington and other documents. The family letters are mostly letters which he sent home to his wives and children while serving as president of the European Mission. Also included at the end of box 4 are various notes and transcriptions made by Carrington's great-granddaughter, Mirra Jacobs Bird, and a biography written by Steven H. Heath, a professor at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
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.
Administrative Information
Return to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
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Diaries
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Description: DiaryDates: 1847Container: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Tithing Account and Odometer NotesDates: 1848-1851Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: DiaryDates: 1849Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: Diary, Trip to FillmoreDates: 1851Container: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Memorandum BookDates: 1851-1854Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Law PracticeDates: 1854Container: Box 1, Folder 6
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Description: Diary, Notes of Trip to Salmon RiverDates: 1857Container: Box 1, Folder 7
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Description: Memorandum BookDates: 1859-1880Container: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: DiaryDates: 1868-1873Container: Box 1, Folder 9-11
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Description: Diary, Palestine Trip
Includes transcript of the period from 15 January to 28 May 1873.
Dates: 1873Container: Box 2, Folder 1 -
Description: DiaryDates: 1873-1876Container: Box 2, Folder 2-3
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Description: Account BookDates: 1875-1877Container: Box 2, Folder 4
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Description: DiaryDates: 1878-1886Container: Box 2, Folder 5-7
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Description: NotesContainer: Box 2, Folder 8
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Correspondence
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Description: Albert Carrington Family CorrespondenceDates: 1847-1882Container: Box 3A, Folder 1-13
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Description: Letters to Citizens of Missouri
This folder also includes a report to Brigham Young and Willard Richards, 23 January 1852, and correspondence for John B. Bell, J. M. Bernhisel, Albert Carrington, William Clayton, George W. Groo, W. H. Hooper, William Hooper, Orson Hyde, Pope C. Kirkpatrick, Joe McKnight, Mary Preston, W. B. Phillips, L. W. Powell, G. Ramsden, George Sims, Daniel H. Wells, Wilford Woodruff, and Brigham Young.
Dates: 1850-1887Container: Box 3A, Folder 14 -
Description: Correspondence
These folders include family correspondence, and correspondence for Albert Carrington, Maria Carrington, John R. Fretwell, Samuel F. M. Fretwell, Sarah Fretwell, J. B. Garber, W. H. Hooper, Isaac Stevens, and George E. Tingle.
Dates: 1849-1882Container: Box 3B, Folder 15-16 -
Description: Family CorrespondenceDates: 1850-1876Container: Box 3B, Folder 17
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Description: Correspondence
This folder contains correspondence for W. G. Delony, Albert Carrington, John W. Gunnison, and W. W. Phelps.
Dates: 1852-1854Container: Box 3B, Folder 18 -
Description: Isabella Carrington and Albert Carrington CorrespondenceDates: 1848-1865Container: Box 3B, Folder 19-20
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Description: Rhoda Miria Carrington and Albert Carrington CorrespondenceDates: 1850-1855Container: Box 3B, Folder 21
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Description: Correspondence
This folder includes correspondence for Hiempsall Call, Albert Carrington, Albert Carrington's niece M. I. L., Emma B. Carrington, Ben and Jane Joven, Valentine Rock, Charles W. Sawyer, Jane Sawyer, Asa Saxton, Z. Snow, and J. W. Woods.
Dates: 1851-1888Container: Box 3B, Folder 22
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Correspondence and Documents
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Description: Correspondence
These folders contain an order telling Carrington to explore the Lake Sevier region and get acquanted with the Indians, a "Sketch of a trip to Pauvan Valley (Fillmore)," a "Report of the Committee for Locating the Site for the Seat of Government of Utah Territory," an "Abstract of Carrington's chain work of G. S. Lake & Eight of its Isles," "Chaining of Salt Lake Survey," Triangulation lines, and notes about fruits. This folder also contains correspondence for Spencer F. Baird, Albert Carrington, H. B. Clawson, Joseph Henry, John S. Newberry, D. U. Wells and Brigham Young.
Dates: 1852-1857Container: Box 4, Folder 1-4 -
Description: Mission Correspondence and Documents
This folder contains Carringtons authorizaion as president of the European Mission, Instructions for President Albert Carrington, Mission blessings, and Carringtons Release as Mission President.
Dates: 1868-1882Container: Box 4, Folder 5 -
Description: Carrington's Funeral Preparations
This folder contains Albert Carrington's burial lot purchase certificat, will, charges for coffin, washing, dressing, shaving body, hearse, and grave, and nine letters of those receiving $664 from Carrington's estate. There are also correspondence for Zebulon, Aunt Sarah, Erastus B. Snow, J. M. C. Young, and "My Dear Children."
Dates: 1865-1889Container: Box 4, Folder 6 -
Description: Transfer Deeds and Correspondence
This folder contains transfer deeds for John M. Bernhisel, Albert Carrington, Calvin S. Carrington, Levi E. Riter, Charles B. Robbins, George A. Smith and Bathsheba W. Smith, Daniel H. Wells, and Brigham Young. This folder also contains correspondence for Albert Carrington, Hever C. Kimball, Daniel H. Wells, and Brigham Young.
Dates: 1854-1886Container: Box 4, Folder 7-8 -
Description: Various Certificates and Passport
This folder contains Certificate as Code Commissioner, High Priests' Quorum certificate, Membership certificate in Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society, Mission certificate, Certificate as director of Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institutuion, Certificate as executor of Brigham Young's Estate, and Power of Attorney.
Dates: 1852-1887Container: Box 4, Folder 9 -
Description: Certificates of ElectionsDates: 1853-1880Container: Box 4, Folder 10-14
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Description: W. W. Phelps List of Code Names, Authorization to Purchase Font of Deseret Alphabet, and Recipe for RheumatismContainer: Box 4, Folder 15
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Description: Tithing RecordsDates: 1878-1880Container: Box 4, Folder 16
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Description: Tax DocumentsDates: 1892-1896Container: Box 4, Folder 17
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Description: Financial AccountsDates: 1865-1890Container: Box 4, Folder 18
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Description: ReceiptsDates: 1874-1891Container: Box 4, Folder 19
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Description: Miscellaneous
This folders contain "The Wandering Refuge," a notice to Carrington to avoid Illinois while traveling, Utah Territorial District Court Announcement, a resolution made upon Daniel B. Carrington's death, biographical notes, a roster for Dartmouth College Classes of 1833, The Daily Union Vendette, an Act to Incorporate Irrigation Companies, and the Third Judicial District of Utah Territory summons. These folders also contain correspondence for Albert Carrington, Clampitt, and S. F. Jones.
Dates: 1851-1879Container: Box 4, Folder 20-21 -
Description: Notes by Mirra Jacobs BirdContainer: Box 4, Folder 22-24
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Description: Steven H. Heath, "Biographical Sketch of Albert Carrington"Container: Box 4, Folder 25
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Description: "A New Map of the State of California, the Territories of Oregon and Utah, and the Chief Part of New Mexico"Dates: 1853Container: Box 4, Folder 26
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Description: Dartmouth College Graduation Certificate
This certificate is in Latin.
Container: Box 4, Folder 27
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Latter Day Saints--Apostles
- Latter Day Saints--Missions--England
- Stansbury Expedition (1849-1850)
Personal Names
- Carrington, Albert, 1813-1889--Archives
Form or Genre Terms
- Certificates
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Notes (documents)
