James D. Still Mormon history collection, 1834-2010 Overview of the Collection Collector Still, James D. Title James D. Still Mormon history collection Dates 1834-2010 (inclusive) 1834 2010 Quantity 2.75 linear feet Collection Number Accn1591 Summary The James D. Still Mormon history collection (1834-2010) contains articles, clippings, correspondence, an index, and other research materials on Mormon history, particularly Oliver Cowdery, the writing of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham, and the relationship between Masonry and the 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: 801-581-8863 SPCreference@lists.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 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. Content Description The James D. Still Mormon history collection (1834-2010) contains Still's research files on Mormon history, Oliver Cowdery in particular. The collection consists of Still's files acquired over his years of http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 1
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. 7 contains reference materials on libraries, historical sites and theses. 8 contains a series of articles written by Still titled, " In Search of the Hollow Earth." Use of the Collection Restrictions on Use It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the James D. Still Mormon history collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator. Preferred Citation Initial Citation: James D. Still Mormon history collection, Accn 1591, [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah. Following Citations: Accn 1591. Administrative Information Acquisition Information es 1-7 were donated in 1996. 14 of 7 was donated in 2005. 8 was donated by James D. Still in 2010. Processing Note Processed by Tad Davies in 1996. Addendum processed by Sam Passey in 2005. Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2013. Separated Materials http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 2
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0685). Detailed Description of the Collection Oliver Cowdery, 1834-1993 1 1 1 Letters of Oliver Cowdery from Messenger and Advocate 1834-1835 2 Letters of Oliver Cowdery from The Saints' Advocate 1879-1884 3 Oliver Cowdery, Annie Lyman, and Polygamy Transcript of letters. 4 Oliver Cowdery Letters Article and transcript of letters. 1864-1872 1846-1977 5 Oliver Cowdery, "Early Scenes and Incidents in the Church" 1899 6 "Oliver Cowdery's Renunciation of Mormonism and His 'Defense' for so Doing" 1937 7 Heman Smith, "Oliver Cowdery" 1910 8 Leonard J. Arrington, "Oliver Cowdery's Kirtland, Ohio, 'Sketch Book,'" 1972 9 C. M. Nielsen, "Oliver Cowdery for the Defense" 1943-1976 10 Vida Elizabeth Smith, "The First Church Romance in Independence" 11 John W. Welch and David J. Whittaker, "'We Believe...' Development of the Articles of Faith" 1912 1979 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 3
12 The Return of Oliver Cowdery to the LDS Church 1851-1989 13 "The Salt Lake Messenger" on Oliver Cowdery 1985-1992 14 Oliver Cowdery History of the Church 1986 15 Oliver Cowdery Monument and Life 1911-1914 16 Oliver Cowdery Monument,Obituary, Sunday School Lessons 1911-1930 17 Oliver Cowdery News Clippings and Notes 1958-1993 18 Oliver Cowdery Genealogy 1911-1915 19 Oliver Cowdery Pedigree 1992 20 Index for Oliver Cowdery 1992 Name Files, 1859-1989 2 2 1 Emma Smith Bidamon's Letter 1876 2 Martin Harris 1859-1989 3 Howard W. Hunter 1990 4 Parley P. Pratt 1937-1990 5 Sidney Rigdon 1900-1970 6 John Sexsmith 1992 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 4
7 Alvin Smith 1985-1987 8 Joseph Smith: Egyptians, Book of Mormon, etc. 1957-1973 9 Joseph Smith, III 1988 10 Hosea Stout's Diary 1848 11 David Whitmer's Works 1887-1942 12 David Whitmer 1881-1981 13 John Whitmer 1888 14 Peter Whitmer 1926-1989 Subject Files, 1847-1993 3 3 1 Aaronic Priesthood Restoration 1936-1979 2 Book of Abraham 1967-1990 3 Historical Book of Mormon 1923-1989 4 The Writing of the Book of Mormon 1921-1941 5 Church Historians 1935 6 Cumorah-Land 1929-1941 7 Ensign of Liberty 1847-1849 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 5
8 Historical Church 1902-1990 9 Illusion 1982 10 Palmyra Notes 1990 11 Free Masonry 1992 12 Mervin B. Hogan and Free Masonry 1970 13 Asael C. Lambert Collection Register 14 Asael Lambert, Free Masonry Articles 15 Mountain Meadows Massacre 1990-1993 16 Pamphlets This folder contains "How to Witness to Mormons," by John L. Smith, and "Mormonism has Another Jesus." 17 Quakers and the Ten Tribes of Israel 1978 18 Joseph Smith Vision of Moroni or Nephi 1970-1992 19 The Testimony of Three Witnesses 20 Three Witnesses 1892-1971 21 Urim and Thummim or "Seer Stone" 1960-1966 Periodicals and Books, 1840-1994 4 4 1 BYU Studies 1974-1982 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 6
2 "The Case Against Mormonism, Vol. 2" 3-4 The Evangel 1993-1994 5 Historical Record 1888 6 Excerpts from Journal of Discourses 1855-1859 7 William E. Berrelt, The Kingdom of God Restored 8 Carter Eldredge Grant The Kingdom of God Restored 9 Millennial Star 10 B.H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God 11 The Saints' Herald 1965 1955 1840-1890 1911 1884-1979 Articles and Essays, 1893-1993 5 5 1 Heman C. Smith, "Book of Mormon Witnesses" 1911 2 Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "A Critical Look" 1967 3 Lucy Smith, "History of Joseph Smith by His Mother" 1902 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 7
4 Kimball Young, "Isn't One Wife Enough" 1954 5 David O. McKay, "Joseph Smith: Prophet, Seer, and Revelator" 1942 6 James D. Still, "My Destiny" 1993 7 John Zimmerman Brown, "Nauvoo Today" 1909 8 Lester E. Bush, Jr., "The Spalding Theory Then and Now" 1977 9 "The Temple Lot Case" 1893 10 Ernest H. Taves, "Trouble Enough: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon" 1984 11 "Why Mormonism is a Cult" 1985 Mormon History Writers Files, 1962-1995 6 6 1 Richard L. Anderson 1968-1992 2 Wayne L. Cowdery 1977-1993 3 Thomas S. Ferguson 1962-1985 4 Mark Hofmann 1980-1988 5 Linda Newell and Valeen Avery 1985-1992 6 Jerald and Sandra Tanner 1984-1993 7 Samuel W. Taylor 1983-1995 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 8
Reference Material, 1960-1994 7 7 1 Addresses for Libraries 2 Acknowledgments 3 Excerpts from Church Almanac 1991-1992 4 Excerpts from LDS Biographical Encyclopedia 1901 5 Melvin R. Brooks, Excerpts from LDS Reference Encyclopedia 1960 6 Missouri State Archives 1993 7 Near Death Experiences and Aliens 1987-1993 8 M. Wilford Poulson Collection, Brigham Young University 9 Ray County, Missouri 1984 10-11 Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1992-1994 12 Richmond Cemetery, Missouri 13 Theses at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Utah State University 14 Oliver Cowdery Research Notes 2005 Articles, 2001-2010 8 1 contains an article titled, " Why I Left the Mormon Church." Also included in this box is a series of articles titled, " In Search of the Hollow Earth." http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 9
Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Freemasonry--Religious aspects--mormon Church Mormon Church--History Personal Names : Cowdery, Oliver, 1806-1850 Form or Genre Terms : Articles Clippings Correspondence Indexes Titles within the Collection : Book of Abraham--Authorship Book of Mormon--Authorship Finding aid created by Tad Davies 1996 http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/cc-zero.shtml http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv32894 10