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Reuben Gardner Miller papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 418

Scope and Contents

Collection contains Reuben Miller's diaries and daily business memoranda from 1838-1953. These include short daily or weekly notations of personal, financial, and church related activities. It also preserves much of his personal correspondence and a collection of genealogical data accumulated by him. Within the genealogy section are collected biographies of other Utah pioneers, some of whom are related to him. Some are first person accounts. Miller's correspondence reflects his feelings and experiences following excommunication from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although the reasons are not apparent from the documents, his attitude following this event was repentant and, apparently, he was later restored to full membership.

Dates

  • 1849-1953

Creator

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 Reuben Gardner Miller papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Reuben Gardner Miller (born 1861) was a Utah legislator, president of the Emery Stake for the Mormon Church, stock raiser, and organizer of the Eastern Utah Telephone Company.

Reuben Gardner Miller was born in 1861 in a log cabin in Millcreek, Utah. He was a descendant of Reuben Mill and Robert Gardner who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley as Mormon pioneers in the years 1847 and 1849.

On December 10, 1884 he married Anna Jane Winder in the Logan Temple. Seven sons and two daughters were born to this couple.

He spent his adult years in Price, Utah, where he raised stock and at the turn of the century organized the Eastern Utah Telephone Company. He served in the first and third sessions of the Utah Legislature, was elected Mayor of Price, Utah, and later served as county commissioner.

Miller devoted much time to service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mission service took him to the southern states during the years 1888-1890. He was a member of the Emery Stake Presidency for twelve years.

Extent

5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Diaries, correspondence, memoranda books, financial and genealogical records, biographical sketches, and miscellaneous papers. Diaries include mission labors in the Southern States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Biographical sketches are about parents, relatives, and friends including Mary Jane Gardner Miller, James R. Miller, Frank J. Taylor, E. J. Winder, Robert Gardner, and Reuben Miller.

Arrangement

Arranged into nine series: 1. Biographical sketches. 2. Mission papers. 3. Diaries. 4. Correspondence. 5. Daily memoranda books. 6. Business papers. 7. Genealogical papers. 8. Papers on Church service. 9. Miscellany.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSS418.xml

Appraisal

19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.

This collection is of value to the researcher in the field of early Utah history. It sheds light on business practices as well as daily living around 1900 in Utah. The family records and accounts will be valued by the genealogical researcher. Also, Miller gathered an assortment of religious brochures published by the L. D. S. Church in the early 1900's.

Separated Materials

A number of print items received with the collection were separated during processing. These items include "Take Heed", by Elder Charles A. Callis; "Universal Salvation;" "Baptism: The Birth of Water and of the Spirit", by Elder Orson F. Whitney; "Three Degrees of Glory", by Melvin J. Ballard; "The Divine Mission of Joseph Smith", by John A. Widtsoe; "Official Statement from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", issued June 17, 1933; "President Woodruff's Manifesto;" "Remarkable Visions of George Washington, Newman Buckley, S. M. Farnsworth, and C. D. Evans;" "Gospel Problems;" "Tithing;" "Youth the Promise of Christianity", by Stephen L. Richards; "Family Solidarity;" "Sermon by Brigham Young", delivered May 29, 1847; "Some Factors in the proposed Post-War International Pattern", by Hon. J. Reuben Clark, Jr.; "A Word of Warning;" "A Divine Ultimatum to Gentiles, Jews and Sinners;" "An Open Letter to Dr. James E. Talmage;" "Free Press? Free Speech? Free Trade? Free Love?;" "A Crazy World: Government: Price-Fixing versus Incorporated Price Freezing;" and "World Paralysis."

General

Unpublished register available in repository.

Processing Information

Processed; Dennis Rowley and Heidi Rudé; 1980.

Title
Register of Reuben Gardner Miller papers
Status
Completed
Author
Megan Furcini
Date
2011 March 21
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

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States