Collection on Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1926
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898
- Title
- Collection on Wilford Woodruff
- Dates
- 1807-1926 (inclusive)18071926
- Quantity
- 2.35 linear feet, (6 boxes and 2 microfilm reels)
- Collection Number
- MS 0373
- Summary
- The collection on Wilford Woodruff (1807-1926) contains a handwritten document by Woodruff regarding the successions of the Mormon Church Presidency, concerning Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt and their placement in line of succession of the LDS Church. Also included are copies of his journal as well as a revelation from 1877. Wilford Woodruff was the fourth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
- 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
Historical Note
Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898) was one of the most important record keepers in Mormon and early Utah History. His journal, which covers 1833-1898, is the best record for many of Joseph Smith's sermons. Born in Conneticut, Woodruff was in the saw-mill industry when he began a quest to find religion. He soon encountered the Mormon missionaries and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Within the decade he followed in the footsteps of those missionaries by serving missions in the Southern States, New England, and Great Britain. He was called as an apostle in 1839 and in eight years participated in the vanguard group that entered the Salt Lake Valley on 24 July 1847. He was responsible for helping with Mormon temple work and was the first President of the St. George Temple when it opened. He also supervised a good portion of the construction of the Salt Lake Temple and dedicated it when finished in 1893. He had five wives and thirty-three children. He succeeded John Taylor as LDS Church President in the midst of the Polygamy controversy. With Federal laws fracturing the Church, Woodruff officially ended polygamy in 1890. In the last years of his tenure as President he dealt with the LDS Church's financial difficulties and church-owned businesses being hit by the Panic of 1893. He died in San Francisco in 1898.
Content Description
The collection on Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898) contains a handwritten document by Woodruff regarding the successions of the Mormon Church Presidency, concerning Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt and their placement in line of succession of the LDS Church. Also included is a revelation of Wilford Woodruff from December 1877, two reels of microfilm which are of his original journals from 1833-1898, and two typed copies of extracts from his journal covering the years of 1834-1898.
Box 3 includes a letter written by Phebe Woodruff to Wilford Woodruff regarding Joseph Smith's sermon introducing baptizing for the dead; and a letter written by Edward Partridge, Jr. letter to Wilford Woodruff concerning a 4-day conference in Lanai (Hawaii.)
Click here to view digitized materials from the collection or visit ArchivesSpace for a container level list of digitized materials.
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
Arrangement
The collection was re-arranged intellectually to consolidate similar materials found in different series. The donations and the purchases remain physically separated as best as possible.
Location of Originals
Microfilm provided by the LDS Church Historian's Office, Salt Lake City, Utah in 1965.
Original diaries are located at the LDS Church Historical Department, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Guy Potter in 1973.
Box 1, folder 2 was purchased in 2016.
Box 2 was purchased from Anthony's Fine Arts and Antiques in 2017.
Box 3, folder 3 was donated by Mark and Melissa Holden in 2018.
Box 3, folders 1-2, 4-6 were donated by R. Tracy Rawle in 2018.
Boxes 4 and 5 source is unknown.
Box 6 was donated by R. Tracy Rawle in 2018.
Processing Note
Processed by Sharon Thorup in 1983.
Addenda processed by Betsey Welland in 2018.
Boxes 3-6 processed by Gina C Giang in 2026.
Related Materials
Most of the materials found in boxes 3-6 are digitized at the Wilford Woodruff collection, 1831-1905.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1: Correspondence
- Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letters signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Canaan (Conn.)
Includes undated letter.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1837 July 9 and undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 1 - Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Scarborough (Me.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1837 August 5Container: Box 4, Folder 2 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 and Webster, Eunice Hart Woodruff, 1821-1853 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Farmington (Conn.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1839 September 30Container: Box 4, Folder 3 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
New York (N.Y.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1839 October 23Container: Box 4, Folder 4 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
New Egypt (N.J.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1839 November 11Container: Box 4, Folder 5 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Liverpool (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 January 12Container: Box 4, Folder 6 - Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Montrose (Iowa).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 April 1Container: Box 4, Folder 7 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Manchester (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 July 8Container: Box 4, Folder 8 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Ilus Fabyan Carter, 1816-1888
Manchester (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 July 10Container: Box 4, Folder 9 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Manchester (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 July 14Container: Box 4, Folder 10 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Stoke-on-Trent (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 July 16Container: Box 4, Folder 11 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Herefordshire (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 August 10Container: Box 4, Folder 12 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
London (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 August 18Container: Box 4, Folder 13 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
London (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 August 22Container: Box 4, Folder 14 - Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letter to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Montrose (Iowa).
Includes transcript and "Lines on Sarah Emma's death.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 September 1Container: Box 4, Folder 15 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Manchester (England).
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 October 5Container: Box 4, Folder 16 - Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Six-page letter written in Lee County (Iowa) related to Joseph Smith's sermon introducing baptizing for the dead.
Dates: 1840 October 6Container: Box 3, Folder 3 - Description: Carter, Ezra, 1773-1869, Moulton, Freedom, 1808-1857, Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885, and sisters autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Scarborough (Me.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1841 January 10Container: Box 4, Folder 17 - Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Scarborough (Me.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1841 March 27Container: Box 4, Folder 18 - Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Scarborough (Me.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1841 April 18Container: Box 4, Folder 19 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
New York (N.Y.)
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1841 May 24Container: Box 4, Folder 20 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Farmington (Conn.)
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1846 March 12Container: Box 4, Folder 21 - Description: Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885 autograph letter signed to Ezra Carter, 1773-1868
Cambridgeport (Mass.).
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1849 February 23Container: Box 4, Folder 22 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885
Beaver Harbour, New Brunswick.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1849 July 14Container: Box 4, Folder 23 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter signed to Phebe Wittemore Carter, 1807-1885Dates: 1849 July 24Container: Box 4, Folder 24
- Description: Partridge, Edward, Jr., 1833-1900 to autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Two-page letter written from Lanai (Hawaii) describing "conference of foreign Elders."
Dates: 1856 April 17Container: Box 3, Folder 4 - Description: Woodruff, Henry Lewis, 1852-1941 autograph letter signed to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Macon (Ga.).
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1892 December 2Container: Box 5, Folder 1 - Description: Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898 autograph letter to "Editor Deseret News" [Joseph J. Cannon, 1877-1945]Dates: approximately 1897Container: Box 6, Folder 1
2: Documents and printed materials
- Description: Announcements
Woodruff family reunion [printed].
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1897Container: Box 5, Folder 2 - Description: Conference report
Temperance Hall, Preston, Lancashire (England).
Handwritten by William Clayton, 1814-1879 and conducted by Heber C. (Heber Chase) Kimball, 1801-1868.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 April 15Container: Box 6, Folder 2 - Description: Funeral program of Wilford Woodruff
Program for the funeral of the fourth Prophet of the LDS Church, Wilford Woodruff. A short biographical sketch is followed by the full program that lists the hymns sung by the Tabernacle Choir, the order of procession and the various committees that were organized for the occasion and their members.
Dates: 1898Container: Box 1, Folder 2 - Description: Handwritten document by Woodruff regarding the successions of the Mormon Church Presidency, concerning Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt and their placement in line of succession of the LDS Church
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator. Researchers may use the photocopy of the item located in box 1, folder 3, without an appointment.
Dates: 1861Container: Box 2 - Description: Handwritten document by Woodruff regarding the successions of the Mormon Church Presidency, concerning Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt and their placement in line of succession of the LDS Church [access copy]
Photocopy.
Dates: 1861Container: Box 1, Folder 3 - Description: Patriarchal blessing of Samuel Smith, 1807-1850
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Clarksville (Tenn.). # 657. Recorded, page 139, in small book.
Dates: 1807 June 11Container: Box 3, Folder 1 - Description: Report beginning "The legislative assembly met at the social hall at 10…"
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
The two-page report is almost entirely written in shorthand.
Dates: 1856 December 18Container: Box 3, Folder 5 - Description: Revelation concerning the Last DaysDates: 1877Container: Box 1, Folder 1
- Description: Stephen M. Farnsworth vision
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Four-page document written by John Smith, 1832-1911. Smith wrote" W." rather than "M."
Dates: 1870s or 1880'sContainer: Box 3, Folder 6 - Description: Temple recordsDates: 1876-1881Container: Box 5, Folder 3
- Description: Truth and seasons, volume 1, number 11
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Clipping entitled: "A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints in Missouri."
Signed by William Richards.
Dates: 1840 SeptemberContainer: Box 3, Folder 2
3: Genealogies (histories)
- Description: "A 'fragment' of the genealogy of the American branch of the Woodruff family" by Henry Lewis Woodruff, 1852-1941
Includes "circular letter."
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: undatedContainer: Box 5, Folder 4 - Description: "A list of Woodruffs"
From the Record of President Wilford Woodruff of Salt Lake City, Utah.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: undatedContainer: Box 5, Folder 5 - Description: "List of variations in spelling the family name Woodruff" by Henry Lewis Woodruff, 1852-1941
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Container: Box 5, Folder 6 - Description: "Thompson genealogy"
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Container: Box 5, Folder 7 - Description: "Wilford Woodruff genealogy"
Typewritten.
Related to Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898 family history.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: undatedContainer: Box 5, Folder 8 - Description: Woodruff, Ozem Thompson, 1804-1893
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Container: Box 5, Folder 9 - Description: Beginning "Great grandfather, Josiah Woodruff…"
Handwritten on the L.D.S. Historian's Office letterhead.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: approximately 1892-1893Container: Box 5, Folder 10 - Description: Beginning "Sara Ann Smith..."
Loose pages removed from a family Bible or book. Held together by blue string.
Written in ink and pencil.
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: after 1926Container: Box 5, Folder 11
4: Writings
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
- Description: Journal of Wilford Woodruff
Typed selections.
Dates: 1834-1898Container: Box 1, Volume 1-2 - Description: Journal of Wilford Woodruff [microfilm]Dates: 1833-1898Container: Reel 1
- Description: Journal of Wilford Woodruff [microfilm]Container: Reel 2
- Description: A song from Willford [sic] to Amasa Lyman by Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1834Container: Box 4, Folder 25 - Description: "Composition for amusement" by Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1832Container: Box 4, Folder 26 - Description: Lines on the death of an infant
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1831 March 7Container: Box 4, Folder 27 - Description: Lines on the death of Sara Emma Woodruff
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 28 - Description: "The past" by Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
Includes transcript.
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1832Container: Box 4, Folder 29 - Description: To the memory of Sarah Emma Woodruff by Margaret Thompson McMeans Adkins (Adkinson) Smoot, 1809–1884
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1840 July 17Container: Box 4, Folder 30 - Description: "Written on the death of Calvin Foss, a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints" by Wilford Woodruff, 1807-1898
This item is in the Reserve Collection. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator.
Dates: 1837Container: Box 4, Folder 31
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Latter Day Saint churches--History--Sources
- Latter Day Saints--Apostles--Diaries
- Latter Day Saints--Diaries
Personal Names
- Partridge, Edward, Jr., 1833-1900
- Woodruff, Phebe Whittemore Carter, 1807-1885
- Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898--Archives
Corporate Names
- Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society--Sources
Geographical Names
- Utah--History--Sources
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries
