UUM_Accn1351.xml Inventory of the G. T. Harrison papers Harrison (G. T.) papers Finding aid created by Lisa DeMille, Jennifer Sessions, and Betsey Welland. J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections

2006 (last modified: 2019)
295 South 1500 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 Business Number: 801-581-8863 special@library.utah.edu https://lib.utah.edu/collections/special-collections/index.php
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-05-02. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections G. T. Harrison papers Harrison, G. T. (George Trevier), 1901-1995 ACCN 1351 25.50 linear feet 1802-2013 The G. T. (George Trevier) Harrison papers (1802-1994) are a collection of studies of LDS Church doctrine, Christianity, and some politics written and collected by G. T. Harrison, who in the inventory will be referred to as GTH. Once a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Harrison later became an atheist and continued his study of the history and theology of the LDS Church, as well as other Christian religions. He wrote several books, including Mormons Are Peculiar People, Mormonism Now and Then, And It Came to Pass, and That Mormon Book, all of which are included in this collection among many other books in which he made numerous notes. Much of the material in this collection focuses on controversial aspects of religion and politics, and includes several books, correspondence, notes, and articles. English .

George Trevier Harrison (1901-1995) was born in Provo, Utah, on the 15 May 1901. He was the son of George Arthur Harrison and Elbertie Mae West Harrison. His grandparents, William and Janett Gallacher Harrison, were early Mormon settlers.

When G. T. Harrison was fourteen he learned telegraphy and worked as a delivery boy for Western Union, and at fifteen he transmitted national electronic results. At sixteen, during World War I and with a shortage of trained adults, he accepted a management position at the Western Union's office in Burley, Idaho. Later he returned to Provo to attend BYU, where he became class president.

While attending BYU in 1917, Utah Railway Company hired G. T. Harrison as the chief telegrapher and joint agent for Utah Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad. He worked for the railroads for fifty years, retiring as a train dispatcher in 1967.

G. T. Harrison served a two-year LDS mission in England. Once an active member of the LDS Church and president of the Leed's Conference in England, he later directed his efforts toward more controversial aspects of religion and politics. After returning from the mission in 1926, G. T. Harrison saw socio-economic problems throughout Utah. He turned to a lifetime work of clarifying his own understanding and beliefs regarding religion. Often direct and controversial and he was eventually excommunicated from the LDS Church.

George T. Harrison died on the 13th of March 1995.

The G. T. Harrison papers (1802-1994) cover some of the studies and activities of his life. Many of the materials deal with more controversial aspects of religion and politics. Much of the collection contains correspondence, both personal and business in nature, including correspondence to editors and newspapers. This collection also includes several books which G. T. Harrison used in his studies, all of which have numerous thoughts and annotations provided by Harrison. The collection also contains several newspaper, magazine, and newsletter articles pertaining to various religious and political subjects; these also have Harrison's thoughts and annotations included in the margins. Other item of interest in this collection are Harrison's missionary diaries and scrapbooks.

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.

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.

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Boxes 1-6 (4 linear feet) were donated January 1993.

Boxes 7-35 (19.25 linear feet) were donated October 1998.

Box 37 was donated by Garth Harrison in 2013.

Processed by Jennifer Sessions in 2006.

Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2019.

A photograph was removed from this collection and place in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P1290)

 Harrison, G. T. (George Trevier), 1901-1995--Archives Latter Day Saint churches--Controversial literature Latter Day Saints--Missions--England Latter Day Saints--Missionary experiences--England Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Correspondence Manuscripts for publication Diaries Genealogies (histories) Certificates Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) Correspondence, Blessings, News Clipings, and Journal Missionary Correspondence and Instructions 1924-1926 1 1

Includes Harold G. Reynolds, Heber J. Grant, W. C. Spence, and James E. Talmage correspondence; as well as, the Minister's Certificate of G. T. Harrison.

 Missionary Correspondence 1926-1931 1 2

Includes James E. Talmage, L. Vernon Derrick, George and Alda Harrison, A. M. McClair, and Hugh J. Cannon correspondence.

 Correspondence 1929-1931 1 3

Includes A. W. Horsley, Benjamin Ward, James E. Talmage, and Heber J. Grant correspondence.

 Correspondence 1932-1934 1 4

Includes Rudger Clawson, Joseph Fielding Smith, and J. Golden Kimball correspondence.

 Correspondence and Patriarchial Blessings 1902-1934 1 5

Includes J. Golden Kimball, and Melvin J. Ballard correspondence; as well as, GTH and Alda L. Jackson patriarchial blessings.

 Correspondence 1933-1934 1 6

Includes Willis Carter, T. N. Taylor, Stewart (Stuart) Buchanan, Benjamin Knudsen, A. Ray Akins, George Muhlestein, C. Sterling Cluff, Reed Smoot, Carl Lausen, Elias S. Woodruff, Charles A. Callis, and Rudger Clawson correspondence.

 Correspondence 1934 1 7

Includes David O. McKay, George Albert Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Melvin J. Ballard, John A. Widstoe, and Richard R. Lyman correspondence.

 Correspondence and Complaints 1934-1968 1 8

Includes J. Reuben Clark, Jr, John H. Taylor, Samuel O. Bennion, John Wells, Miles L. Jones, LeRoy Tuckett, Joseph V. Ford, and Merl B. Grover correspondence.

 Correspondence 1928-1933 1 9

Includes First Presidency correspondence, as well as, Heber J. Grant, Arthur W. Horsely, Henry Mathis, John E. Petit, Stanley H. Edwards, Sidney Cluff, and Joseph M. Forsyth correspondence.

 Sharon Stake Presidency Correspondence 1935 1 10

Includes A. V. Watkins, S. H. Blake, Adelbert Bigler, and A. Ray Ekins correspondence.

 Correspondence and Statements Against GTH 1935 1 11

Includes Sharon Stake Presidency and High Council, and A. V. Watkins corrrespondence; as well as, Joseph V. Ford and T. Earl Foote statements against GTH.

 Excommunication of GTH and Correspondence 1928-1936 1 12

Includes A. V. Watkins, Axel F. Andreasen, E. R. Rasmuson, Mcillen Baldee, Frank W. Clements, and C. G. Patterson correspondence.

 Correspondence and Joseph Luff Song 1907-1935 1 13

Includes C. G. Patterson, Sylvester Earl, Mrs. E. Currliffe, J. B. Stone, J. V. Stone, Jack E. Micknight, Ray McGuire, C. M. Ivie, A. C. Gregerson, and W. A. Atwell correspondence.

 Correspondence and Blessings 1924-1935 1 14

Includes Walter P. Faber, Samuel Eastman, James E. Yates, and Louis S. Dunyon correspondence; as well as, blessings given to Delorma Clark and Nicholas G. Smith.

 Newspaper Clippings 1 15 GTH Journal 1920-1932 1 1 Correspondence and various papers Correspondence and various papers 1924-1983 2 1

Includes Charles A. Callis, Rudger Clawson, A. V. Watkins, Joseph Fielding Smith, Hugh B. Brown, Morris L. Reynolds, Henry D. Taylor, Milton R. Hunter, Bernard P. Brockbank, N. Eldon Tanner, Harold B. Lee, Ernest L. Wilkinson, Mark E. Petersen, Wayne Owens, Melissa L. Bridges, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Owens, Spencer W. Kimball, Marion G. Romney, Robert L. Eardley, Dee Jay Nelson, D. Arthur Haycock, Douglas Wallace, Hal Williams, Duane Price, John W. Fitzgerald, Ogden Kraut, Ezra Taft Benson, Kay Thoreson, Barbara Smith, Grant H. Mildenhall, Wesley P. Walters, Francis M. Gibbons, Hartman Rector, Boyd K. Packer, Marvin Ashton, Wendell Ashton, Bruce R. McConkie, T. Porter, Herbert W. Armstrong, Joseph Weless, Paul Richards, and Ed Decker correspondence.

 Correspondence and various papers 1930-1983 2 2

Includes Joseph Coe, Jospeh Smith, Albert DeLorma Clark, Hugh Nibley, J. O. Christensen, Richard E. Geib, William V. Wilson, John D. Lundberg, Richard M. Nixon, Noble M. Melencamp, Zora Gudmundson, Helen Weeks, Oleg Shibko, Ronald Reagan, Dyson Carter, Grant N. Mildenhall, Richard Townsend, Kent P. Jackson, Stephen D. Ricks, Paul Kurtz, Robert McDougall, Grant N. Mildenhall, Peggy Fletcher, John L. Smith, Rulon R. Fairbanks, Spencer W. Kimball, Richard S. Lemon, Francis M. Gibbons, Ed. Decker, W. T. Knight, and Wally Tope correspondence.

 Correspondence and various papers 1930-1985 2 3

Includes Edna Johnson, James R. Spencer, Ron Haworth, Donahue Show, Grant N. Mildenahll, Mario Cuomo, John Fitzgerald, Richard D. Lamn, Darrick Evenson, Clark Hawley, H. Bryan Richards, Alonzo A. Hinckley, Larry V. Lunt, Russell Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, James Kennedy, Robert McDougall, Rulon R. Fairbansk, Terry Wood, Mark Eubank, Aldine Benson, J. F. Parsons, George McGovern, Gerry Herbert, Walter F. Mondale, Bruce Lindsay, Russell Chandler, Charles M. Larson, James Lang, Richard D. Baer, W. T. Knight, Louise Stark, Marie and Charles Larsen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and L. Madelon Brunson correspondence.

 GTH, "And It Came to Pass" 2 4 Articles, Fliers and Personal Information "Some Bible Contradictions" 3 1 GTH Personal Information 1945-1979 3 2

Includes L. R. Taylor, Merl B. Grover, and Jake Garn correspondence.

 The Three Nephites 3 3 Anti-Mormon Fliers 3 4 "My Gods, My Gods, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Us?" 3 5 "The BOM is a Work of Fiction, or A Dessection of the Most Correct Book on Earth" 3 6 Examination for the Utah State Bar and Results 3 7 Letters to the Editors 3 8 Uncompleted--LDS Writings 3 9 Correspondence, Articles, and Publications "The Real Founder of Christianity--Paul" 4 1 "Help!! Moroni, Help!!" 4 2 Publications 4 3 Correspondence and Writings 1983-1993 4 4-22 Books Martin L. Bard, Peril of Faith 1982 5 1 Colonel Abbott Boone, Or Hypocritical New National Motto 1963 5 2 David M. Brooks, Necessity of Atheism 1933 5 3 Charlotte and Dyson Carter, Future of Freedom 1963 5 4 Fred C. Collier, Unpublished Revelations 1981 5 5 G. W. Foote and W. P. Ball, Bible Handbook 5 6 John A. Gerber, Psycho-Neurosis Called Christianity 1969 6 1 Andrew Hamilton, Those Amazing Mormons 1952 6 2 GTH, Mormons Are Peculiar People 1954 6 3 GTH, Mormonism Now and Then 1961 6 4 GTH Transcripts, Some Newspaper Articles and Correspondence Relative Thereto 1932-1934 6 5 GTH, That Mormon Book 1981 6 6 James Hervey Johnson, Superior Men 1949 6 7 Bibles and Annotations Holy Scriptures Translated and Corrected by the Spirit of Revelation 1927 7 1 King James Version (KJV) Bible with GTH Annotations 1903 7 2 KJV New Testament with GTH Annotations 1953 7 3 New Testament with GTH Annotations 7 4 Book of Mormon Editions with Annotations Book of Mormon 1924 8 1

This is a 1924 edition with annotations within the pages written by Harrison.

 Book of Mormon 1950 8 2

This is a 1950 edition with annotations within the pages written by Harrison.

 Triple Combination Edition 1903 8 3

This 1903 edition contains the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. It contains annotations within the pages written by Harrison.

 Triple Combination Edition 1965 9 1

This 1965 edition contains the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. It contains annotations within the pages written by Harrison.

 Books Book of Commandments for Government of Church of Christ reprint verbatim by Charles F. Putnam and Daniel Macgregor 10 1 Book of Commandments Photographic Reproduction 1961 10 2 Anthony W. Ivins, Relationship of Mormonism and Freemasonry 1934 10 3 Joseph B. Keeler, First Steps in Church Government 1906 10 4 H. Michael Marquardt, Study of the Book of Mormon in Two Parts 1978-1979 10 5 William McCarthy, Bible, Church, and God 1943 10 6 Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict 11 1 William Floyd, Mistakes of Jesus 1957 11 2 Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, Answers to Tough Questions 1983 11 3 E. Cecil McGavin, Mormonism and Masonry 1935 11 4 Alice Smith McKay, Examination of Some Prophecies of Early Founders of Mormonism Tanscript 1930 11 5 William A. Morton, Book of Mormon Pready References 1898 11 6 William A. Morton, Gems from the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants 1925 11 7 Rondo A. Murphy, Relativity of Knowledge 1976 11 8 Stanley W. Paher, If Thou Hadst Known 1978 12 1 Edwin F. Parry, Joseph Smith's Teachings 1922 12 2 Mark E. Petersen, Those Gold Plates! 1979 12 3 Calvin H. Rich, Some Differences in Faith 1930 12 4 John E. Remsburg, The Christ 12 5 John E. Remsburg, The Bible 13 1 Franklin D. Richards and James A. Little, A Compendium 1884-1925 13 2-3 Jabez Richardson, A.M., Monitor of Free-Masonry 13 4 B. H. Roberts, Book of Mormon Difficulties and Exposures 14 1-2 Steven L. Shields, Divergent Paths of the Restoration 1982 14 3 J.M. Sjodahl, Reign of Antichrist 1913 14 4 Willard J. Smith, Joseph Smith, Who Was He? 14 5 James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith 1924 15 1 Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism-Shadow or Reality? 1972 15 2 John A. Widtsoe and Franklin S. Harris, Jr., Seven Claims of the Book of Mormon 1937 15 3 Wilford C. Wood, Joseph Smith Begins His Work 1958 16 1 Wilford Woodruff, Leaves from My Journal 1882 16 2 BYU Studies 1969 16 3 Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 1968 16 4 The Elder's Reference 1913 16 5 Information on the Inspired Bible and Other Typescripts 1905-1935 16 6 Is the Bible Really the Word of God? 1969 16 7 Power for Living 1983 17 1 Psychological Tests for Authorship of BOM and other Typescripts 1912 17 2 Ready References 1917 17 3 A Uniform System for Teaching Investigators 1966 17 4 Watch Tower, Truth That Leads to Eternal Life 1968 17 5 Booklets and Pamphlets Booklets for Mormonism-Shadow or Reality? 1932-1973 17 6 Rare Pamphlets and Leaflets concerning Church Apostacy 1927-1934 17 7

Contains Kirk Arnold's Steady the Ark of God, and Latter-day Revelation - Exposed; M. E. Bigelow's Zion's Bondage and Redemption; Marion W. Brown's Three Important Letters; Chas W. Kingston's What Spirit are Ye of?; Jesse B. Stone's My Reply to Grant, or the Dirty Stove Pipe, My Reply to President Heber J. Grant's Conference Denials, The Mask of Mormonism - A Challenge, and An Event of the Underground Days; John Taylor and Wilford Woodroff's The Words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Four Revelations; Owen Woodruff's Our Manifesto; as well as The First Hundred Years, A Review, and Why?.

 Bound Pamphlets 17 8-9 Bound Pamphlets 18 1-2 Bound Miscellaneous Religious Pamphlets 19 1 Miscellaneous Loose Pamphlets 1923-1983 19 2 Loose Pamphlets 20 1 Awake! 1968 20 2 American Publishers Have Become Prostitutes! 1966 20 3 Bible Law on Money 20 4 Cure for Any Depression 1934 20 5 Discourse Photocopy 1873 20 6 Exommunication of a Mormon Church Leader 20 7 Follow the Living Prophet 20 8 Freeman Pamphlet, Five Speeches by Herbert Hoover 20 9 Looking For A Saint 20 10 Truth 1937 20 11 Where Does It Say That? 20 12 Garner Ted Armstrong, After Death then What? 1972 20 13 Herbert W. Armstrong, Plain Truth about Christmas 1970 20 14 Herbert W. Armstrong, Proof of the Bible 1958 20 15 Herbert W. Armstrong, What Will You Be Doing 1969 20 16 Lester E. Bush Jr., Spalding Theory Then and Now 1984 20 17 Sheldon Emry, Billions for the Bankers 20 18 W. H. Ferry, Caught on the Horn of Plenty 1962 20 19 GTH, Mormon Tithing 1934 20 20 GTH, Zion Prospers All Is Well 1935 20 21 Vernal Holley, BOM Authroship: A Closer Look 1983 20 22 Los Angeles Times, Mormon Articles 1983 20 23 Sterling M. McMurrin, Patterns of our Religious Faith 1959 20 24 Frank S. Morley, What We Can Learn 1954 20 25 George Milburn, Best Jokes About Preachers 1927 20 26 Elizabeth Rachel Cannon, Cities of the Sun 1910 20 27 Ben E. Rich, A Friendly Discussion 20 28 H.M.S. Richards Jr., Time For Translation 1963 20 29 Leo Sonderegger, American Medicine 20 30 James E. Talmage, The Lord's 10th 20 31 Diaries, Missionary Records, and Correspondence Diary of GTH 1924-1926 21 1-2 GTH Record of Missionary Labors and Related Materials 1924-1926 21 3 J. O. Christensen Correspondence 1954-1966 21 4 Janet Gardner Gallacher Biography and Correspondence 1869-1870 21 5 Mrs. M.S. Smart Correspondence 1954-1967 21 6 Jesse B. Stone Correspondence 1953-1957 21 7 Personal Correspondence 1956-1967 21 8 Correspondence Post Cards, Telegrams, and Undated Correspondence 1959-1969 22 1 Correspondence 1938-1979 22 2-5 Correspondence 1980-1993 23 1-3 Editor and Newspaper Correspondence 1944-1994 23 4 GTH Publication Correspondence 1964-1982 23 5 GTH Excommunication papers GTH Correspondence to Church Leaders and Excommunication 1930 24 1-2 Bar Examination Questions and Answers 1938 24 3 Manuscript Drafts 25 GTH's And It Came to Pass Manuscript 25 1-4 GTH's Mormons Are Peculiar People Manuscript 26 1 Mormons Are Peculiar People Correspondence 1943-1982 26 2-5 Mormons Are Peculiar People Miscellaneous papers 1954-1977 26 6 Account Book for Mormonism, Now and Then 1954-1982 26 7-8 GTH, And It Came To Pass Manuscript 27 1 GTH's Christianity Manuscript and papers 1966 27 2 George Arthur Harrison Biography Draft 1988 27 3 GTH, Help Moroni, Help! Manuscript 27 4 Publisher Information for Help Moroni Help 1979 27 5 If I Were A Mormon Manuscript 27 6 GTH, Mormonism Now and Then Advance Copy 1961 27 7 GTH Manuscript, Real Founder of Christianity 28 1 A Record of Human Slaves in Utah 28 2 GTH, Some Contradictions Found in the King James "Holy" Bible 28 3-5 GTH's That Mormon Book Manuscript 28 6 GTH Publication Notes and Statements 1972-1982 28 7 Periodicals, A-Z American Atheist Articles 1927-1989 29 1 Age of Reason Magazines and Pamphlets 1955-1968 29 2 American Rationalist Articles 1963-1987 29 3 Central Utah Journal Articles 1982-1983 29 4 Church and State Magazine Articles 1972-1977 29 5 The Churchman Magazine Articles 1985-1988 29 6 Christian Railroader and Railroad Evangelist Articles 1956 29 7 Daily Utah Chronicle Articles 1975-1978 29 8 Deseret News Articles 1931-1991 29 9 Dialogue 1966 29 10 Ensign Articles 1959-1989 29 11 Family Weekly Articles 1960-1967 29 12 Freethinker Magazine Articles 1963-1973 29 13 Life Magazine Articles 1956-1969 30 1 Life Science Articles 1968 30 2 Life with Lyndon Articles 1967-1968 30 3 Millennial Messenger Articles 1978 30 4 National Forum Articles 30 5 New York Times Articles 1968-1970 30 6 Newsweek Articles 1960-1978 30 7 Orem-Geneva Times Articles 1973-1990 30 8 Plain Truth Magazine Articles 1971-1978 30 9 Provo Herald Articles 1934-1994 30 10 Salt Lake Tribune Articles 1933-1994 30 11 Seattle Post-Intelligencer Articles 1985 30 12 Tiime Magazine Articles 1977-1988 30 13 Tomorrows World Magazine Articles 1970-1971 30 14 Train Dispatcher Articles 1967-1978 30 15 U.S. News and World Report Magazine Articles 1969-1979 30 16 Utah Christian Tract Society Newsletter 1971-1984 30 17 Utah Evangel Articles 1981-1991 30 18 Articles, Book Reviews, Poems and Notes Miscellaneous Articles 1856-1994 31 1-2 Book Reviews 1984 31 3 Poems 31 4 Handwritten Notes 31 5 Typed Notes Small Typed Notes 32 1 Typed Articles and Notes 32 2-3 Miscellaneous Typed Notes 32 4 Miscellaneous Notes and Articles Contradictions of the Bible Quotes 33 1 Garment Articles 33 2 Notes About Gods 33 3 Holiday Articles 33 4 LDS Conference Notes 1976-1980 33 5 Notes and Articles for Mormonism-Shadow or Reality? 1892-1987 33 6-7 Prophecies of Jesus Notes 33 8 Miscellaneous papers and Scrapbook Vernal Holley papers 34 1 Publishing Agreement for Founder of Christianity 1969 34 2 Waldemer P. Read, What Freedom Is Found in the Local Culture? 1962 34 3 Supreme Court of New York Summons 1958 34 4 Jesse B. Stone, Dilemmas of Mormonism Manuscript 34 5 Scrap Book with Notes 34 6 Miscellaneous 34 7 Scrapbooks 1945-1983 35 1-2 Large Scrapbook 36 1 William and Janet Harrison papers 1887-1944 36 2 Eleventh Annual National American Atheist Convention Poster 1981 36 3 "90 Years and More: Life History of George Trevier Harrison" 2013 37 1 Garth Harrison's Observations on His Father, G. T. Harrison 2013 37 2