Parley Parker Pratt (1802-1857) was born in New York state. During the Second Great Awakening he felt a need to become a Christian missionary. He soon encountered the new LDS movement and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He carried his missionary zeal into his new faith and later became an apostle in the LDS Church. He served several missions including missions in Canada, Britain, the Pacific Islands, and Chile. When the Saints moved to Utah he explored some of the surrounding areas and later built a toll road where I-80 runs today. He had a large family after joining the practice of polygamy and eventually had twelve wives and twenty-nine children. While returning from a mission in the Eastern States, he was murdered in 1857 in the state of Arkansas.
The Parley P. Pratt papers (1841-1895) contain correspondence as well as personal and family records of Pratt. Journals and correspondence of some of his wives and children are also in the collection. A list of Pratt family names and a family history scrapbook are included.
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.
All the original items have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used. Photocopies are available in the collection for research 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
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Processed by Lisa DeMille in 2002.
These folders contain photocopied versions for access purposes. The original items have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used.
Folder 1 contains the following correspondence:
Folder 2 contains the following correspondence:
Folder 3 contains the following correspondence:
Folder 3 contains the following correspondence:
The book records births, deaths, marriages and baptisms. This folder contains a photocopied version for access purposes. The original item has been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the item if being used.
This folder contains photocopied versions for access purposes. The original items have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used.
This folder contains a photocopied version for access purposes. The original item has been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the item if being used.
Part of the book contains journal writings, while the other part contains accounting expenses. This folder contains photocopied versions for access purposes. The original items have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used.
The correspondence in this folder includes the following: Nephi Pratt to "Dear Little Hannah" (1873) and Nephi Pratt to "Dear Neph" (1895). Included is a 2 page biographical sketch. This folder contains photocopied versions for access purposes. The original items have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used.
This folder includes a handwritten agreement (1882), between family members, to maintain a family record; Salt Lake land deed (circa 1872); "Plan of Salvation" diagram; and a list of names. This folder contains photocopied versions for access purposes. The original items have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used.
This folder contains genealogical charts, biographical sketches, news clippings and photographs regarding the Pratt family. The archives does not have the original materials located in this folder, only photocopies.