THE JAMES D. STILL MORMON HISTORY COLLECTION (Accn 1591)

INVENTORY

University of Utah Marriott Library, Manuscripts Division

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The James D. Still Mormon History Collection (1834-1995) contains Still's research files on Mormon history, Oliver Cowdery in particular. The collection consists of Still's files acquired over his years of research. A large portion of his research concerns Oliver Cowdery, a leading figure in the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The articles, news clippings, correspondence, index and other research material pertaining specifically to Cowdery, his role as one of three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and his disassociation and later reassociation with the church are housed in box 1. Still also collected articles and news clippings on other notable LDS and RLDS (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) individuals, particularly those connected with the founding of these churches and associates of Cowdery, which are contained in box 2. Subject files housed in box 3 concern issues such as the writing of the Book of Mormon, The Book of Abraham, and the relationship between Masonry and the LDS Church. Along with the clippings and articles contained in the name and subject files, Still collected publications and books on LDS History. Full length publications and books (many of them photocopied) are in box 4, while shorter articles and essays are in box 5. Still also corresponded with and kept files on other writers of LDS Church history which are kept in box 6. Box 7 contains reference materials on libraries, historical sites and theses.

Still was born in 1940. Completely deaf, Still entered the South Dakota School for Deaf in Sioux Falls in 1947, where he remained until completing high school. In 1960, Still enrolled in Gallaudet College in Washington, DC, where he stayed for a year and a half. After a stint as a printer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he attended Northwest Technical Institute to take draftsman courses. While there, Still met missionaries from the LDS Church and was baptized into that church. After sixteen years of membership, his research into LDS Church history (The Book of Abraham in particular) lead him to give up his belief in the LDS Church. After writing and distributing an essay, "Why I Left the Mormon Church," Still was excommunicated on April 17, 1980. Still's interest in LDS Church history, however, did not waiver, and the files in the collection are the result of that interest. Several photographs of Still at LDS historical monuments and reproductions of pictures of individuals in LDS history have been moved to Manuscripts Division's Multimedia Section (P0685). The collection was donated by Still in June 1996. Size: 2.75 lin. ft.

Bx 1 - Oliver Cowdery

Fd 1 - Letters of Oliver Cowdery from Messenger and Advocate, 1834-1835

Fd 2 - Letters of Oliver Cowdery from The Saints' Advocate, 1879-1884

Fd 3 - Oliver Cowdery, Annie Lyman, and Polygamy, 1864-1872

Transcript of letters.

Fd 4 - Oliver Cowdery Letters, 1846 and 1977

Article and transcript of letters.

Fd 5 - "Early Scenes and Incidents in the Church," by Oliver Cowdery, 1899

Fd 6 - "Oliver Cowdery's Renunciation of Mormonism and His ‘Defense' for so Doing," 1937

Fd 7 - "Oliver Cowdery," by Heman Smith, 1910

Fd 8 - "Oliver Cowdery's Kirtland, Ohio, ‘Sketch Book,' by Leonard J. Arrington, 1972

Fd 9 - "Oliver Cowdery for the Defense," by C. M. Nielsen, 1943 and 1976

Fd 10 - "The First Church Romance in Independence," by Vida Elizabeth Smith, 1912

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Fd 11 - "‘We Believe. . . .' Development of the Articles of Faith," by John W. Welch and David J. Whittaker, 1979

Fd 12 - The Return of Oliver Cowdery to the LDS Church, 1851, 1884, 1968, and 1989

Fd 13 - "The Salt Lake Messenger" on Oliver Cowdery, 1985 and 1992

Fd 14 - Oliver Cowdery History of the Church, 1986

Fd 15 - Oliver Cowdery Monument and Life, 1911 and 1914

Fd 16 - Oliver Cowdery Monument, Obituary, Sunday School Lessons, 1911 and 1930

Fd 17 - Oliver Cowdery News Clippings and Notes, 1958, 1993, and Undated

Fd 18 - Oliver Cowdery Genealogy, 1911-1915

Fd 19 - Oliver Cowdery Pedigree, 1992

Fd 20 - Index for Oliver Cowdery, ca. 1992

Bx 2 - Name Files

Fd 1 - Emma Smith Bidamon's Letter, 1876

Fd 2 - Martin Harris, 1859 and 1955-1989

Fd 3 - Howard W. Hunter, ca. 1990

Fd 4 - Parley P. Pratt, 1937, 1990, and Undated

Fd 5 - Sidney Rigdon, 1900-1908 and 1970

Fd 6 - John Sexsmith, ca. 1992

Fd 7 - Alvin Smith, 1985 and 1987

Fd 8 - Joseph Smith: Egyptians, Book of Mormon, Etc., 1957 and 1973

Fd 9 - Joseph Smith, III, 1988

Fd 10 - Hosea Stout's Diary, 1848

Fd 11 - David Whitmer's Works, 1887 and 1942

Fd 12 - David Whitmer, 1881-1981

Fd 13 - John Whitmer, 1888

Fd 14 - Peter Whitmer, 1926-1989

Bx 3 - Subject Files

Fd 1 - Aaronic Priesthood Restoration, 1936-1979

Fd 2 - Book of Abraham, 1967, 1982, and 1990

Fd 3 - Historical Book of Mormon, 1923-1989

Fd 4 - The Writing of the Book of Mormon, 1921 and 1941

Fd 5 - Church Historians, 1935

Fd 6 - Cumorah-Land, 1929 and 1941

Fd 7 - Ensign of Liberty, 1847-1849

Fd 8 - Historical Church, 1902-1990

Fd 9 - Illusion, 1982

Fd 10 - Palmyra Notes, 1990 and Undated

Fd 11 - Free Masonry, 1992

Fd 12 - Mervin B. Hogan and Free Masonry, 1970 and Undated

Fd 13 - Asael C. Lambert Collection Register, Undated

Fd 14 - Free Masonry Articles by Asael Lambert, Undated

Fd 15 - Mountain Meadows Massacre, 1990 and 1993

Fd 16 - Pamphlets, Undated

"How to Witness to Mormons," by John L. Smith, and "Mormonism has Another Jesus."

Fd 17 - Quakers and the Ten Tribes of Israel, 1978

Fd 18 - Joseph Smith Vision of Moroni or Nephi, 1970 and 1992

Fd 19 - The Testimony of Three Witnesses, Undated -

Fd 20 - Three Witnesses, 1892, 1946, 1960, and 1971

Fd 21 - Urim and Thummim or "Seer Stone," 1960-1966

Bx 4 - Periodicals and Books

Fd 1 - BYU Studies, 1974 and 1982

Photocopies.

Fd 2 - "The Case Against Mormonism, Vol. 2," Undated

Fds 3-4 - The Evangel, 1993-1994

Fd 5 - Historical Record, 1888

Photocopies.

Fd 6 - Excerpts from Journal of Discourses, 1855 and 1859

Fd 7 - The Kingdom of God Restored, by William E. Berrelt, 1965

Photocopies.

Fd 8 - The Kingdom of God Restored, by Carter Eldredge Grant, 1955

Photocopies.

Fd 9 - Millennial Star, 1840-1890

Photocopies.

Fd 10 - New Witnesses for God, by B. H. Roberts, 1911

Photocopies.

Fd 11 - The Saints' Herald, 1884-1979

Photocopies.

Bx 5 - Articles and Essays

Fd 1 - "Book of Mormon Witnesses," by Heman C. Smith, 1911

Fd 2 - "A Critical Look," by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, 1967

Fd 3 - "History of Joseph Smith by His Mother," by Lucy Smith, 1902

Fd 4 - "Isn't One Wife Enough," by Kimball Young, 1954

Fd 5 - "Joseph Smith: Prophet, Seer, and Revelator," by David O. McKay, 1942

Fd 6 - "My Destiny," by James D. Still, 1993

Fd 7 - "Nauvoo Today," by John Zimmerman Brown, 1909

Fd 8 - "The Spalding Theory Then and Now," by Lester E. Bush, Jr., 1977

Fd 9 - "The Temple Lot Case," 1893

Fd 10 - "Trouble Enough: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon," by Ernest H. Taves, 1984

Fd 11 - "Why Mormonism is a Cult," 1985

Bx 6 - Mormon History Writers Files

Fd 1 - Richard L. Anderson, 1968-1992

Fd 2 - Wayne L. Cowdery, 1977 and 1993

Fd 3 - Thomas S. Ferguson, 1962-1985

Fd 4 - Mark Hofmann, 1980-1988

Fd 5 - Linda Newell and Valeen Avery, 1985-1992

Fd 6 - Jerald and Sandra Tanner, 1984 and 1992-1993

Fd 7 - Samuel W. Taylor, 1983-1995

Bx 7 - Reference Material

Fd 1 - Addresses for Libraries

Fd 2 - Acknowledgments

Fd 3 - Excerpts from Church Almanac, 1991-1992

Fd 4 - Excerpts from LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 1901

Fd 5 - Excerpts from LDS Reference Encyclopedia, by Melvin R. Brooks, 1960

Fd 6 - Missouri State Archives, 1993

Fd 7 - Near Death Experiences and Aliens, 1987 and 1993

Fd 8 - M. Wilford Poulson Collection, Brigham Young University, Undated

Fd 9 - Ray County, Missouri, 1984

Fds 10-11 - Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1992-1994

Fd 12 - Richmond Cemetery, Missouri, Undated

Fd 13 - - Theses at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Utah State University