John L. Smith papers
Scope and Contents
Contains seven journals of John Lyman Smith, and other autobiographical manuscripts, as wells as a bound typescript volume of an autobiography/journal. The journals include accounts of persecutions in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, pioneering in Utah, Lyman's two missions to Europe, and his service as president of the Swiss-Italian and the Swiss-Italian-German missions. There is also a contemporary account of the cricket-and-seagull episode in Salt Lake in 1848, Lyman's service as a member of the Territorial Legislature off Utah, the St. George Temple dedication and his work in the temple, records of church work and meetings, including work with Lyman's brother, George A. Smith, in the Church Historian's Office, and attendance at the School of the Prophets. Also includes photocopies and a few originals of church and professional papers, correspondence, and family papers, including some of Lyman's father, John Smith (1781-1854), an earlier Latter-day Saint patriarch.
Dates
- 1792-1950
- Majority of material found within 1846-1900
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Originals restricted. Photocopies available for public use.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.
Biographical / Historical
John Lyman Smith (1828-1898) was born November 17, 1828, in Potsdam, New York, to parents Clarissa Lyman and John Smith (brother of Joseph Smith Sr.). He was an early pioneer and missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Smith lived in various places (Ohio, Illinois, and Utah) that have historical significance to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served two missions in Switzerland and Italy.
John Lyman Smith held various church callings (mission president, patriarch, etc.) and state positions, such as Justice of the peace and Utah Territorial Legislature. He married Augusta Bowen Cleveland on July 9, 1845, in Nauvoo, Illinois. They had eight children. He passed away on February 21, 1898, in St. George, Utah.
Extent
4 boxes (2 linear ft.)
1 half box (0.25 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged in two series: 1. John L. Smith journals, 1846-1895. 2. John L. Smith personal papers, church papers, and published articles, 1792-1950.
Custodial History
This collection was in the possession of BYU before 1960, prior to when donor records were retained by the department. The location of the originals of the items for which we only have photocopies is unknown. The items in this collection have been pulled together artificially, but there is some evidence that all the materials were originally donated together. While many of the other "patriarch" collections came from Eldred G. Smith, this one did not.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated before 1960.
Appraisal
19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.
Existence and Location of Copies
Photocopies of John L. Smith journals located in box 3 and box 4 folder 1, 2, and 4.
Processing Information
Processed; Chelsea McNeil; July 2020. XML inventory migrated.
Processing Information
Processed; Leanne Pierson; April 2022.
Processing Information
Processed; Darcee Barnes; April 1998.
- Biographies
- Certificates
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Apostles -- History
- Diaries
- Family histories
- Genealogies
- Germany -- History
- Italy -- History
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Europe -- History
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Italy -- History
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Switzerland -- History
- Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Utah -- History -- 19th century
- Latter Day Saints -- Illinois -- Nauvoo -- History
- Latter Day Saints -- Utah -- History
- Legal instruments
- Letters
- Missions and Missionaries
- Mormon Church -- Missions -- Swiss and Italian
- Mormon Church -- Missions -- Swiss, Italian, and German
- Photocopies
- School of the Prophets
- Smith, George Albert, 1817-1875
- Smith, John L. (John Lyman), 1828-1898 -- Archives
- Smith, John, 1781-1854
- St. George Temple (Saint George, Utah)
- Switzerland -- History
- Utah. Legislature
- Title
- Register of John L. Smith papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Leslie Evens
- Date
- 2011 November 16
- 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