James W. Woods memoirs
Scope and Contents
Photocopied typescript of an autobiography. In 1882 when Woods was "upwards of eighty years of age" he was interviewed for several weeks probably by Edgar R. Harlan with a stenographer present who wrote down the conversations. These materials were later condensed and pertinent portions were woven into a narrative. As a lawyer in Iowa, Woods was involved in many legal actions of that state. Woods was hired by Joseph Smith (1805-1844) to serve as his counselor when he and his brother Hyrum (1800-1844) were arrested in June of 1844. He tried to negotiate bail for Joseph and Hyrum for their safety. Joseph told Woods "I will never live to see another sun" on the day he and Hyrum were murdered. Woods spoke to the people of Nauvoo, Illinois, to keep them from retaliating, brought the bodies of the two men back to Nauvoo, and delivered the personal effects of Joseph to his widow.
Dates
- 1882
Creator
- Woods, James Weston, 1810-1886 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from James W. Woods memoirs must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Lawyer of Iowa and Illinois.
Extent
1 folder (0.03 linear ft.) : 38 p.
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
Donated.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated.
Appraisal
19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts.
- Autobiographies
- Church Government
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Illinois -- History -- 1778-1865
- Iowa -- History
- Iowa -- Politics and government
- Latter Day Saints -- Illinois -- Nauvoo -- History
- Lawyers -- Iowa -- Biography
- Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History
- Smith, Hyrum, 1800-1844
- Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844 -- Assassination
- Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
- Title
- Register of James W. Woods memoirs
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Elisa Visick
- Date
- 2010 July 28
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States