Skip to main content

Sarah Oakey Sirrine collection

 Collection — Folder: 10
Identifier: MSS 8593

Scope and Contents

Contains letters, journals, photographs and other records related to families of James Oakey and George Warren Sirrine, founders of Paris and Dingle, Idaho, and Mesa, Arizona. Letters and journals provide great insight into life in these areas and the difficulties that arise from beginnings of settlements. Collection was compiled by Sarah Oakey Sirrine, daughter of James Oakey and daughter-in-law to George Warren Sirrine. Includes primarily originals, but also includes some transcriptions and photocopies. Dated 1834 to 1974.

Dates

  • 1834-1974

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 use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical History

Sarah Oakey Sirrine (1854-1942) was an early member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from England and pioneer in Dingle, Idaho.

Sarah Oakey was born March 31, 1854, in Nottingham, England to James Oakey (1817-1896) and Mary Cooper (1815-1893). As a youth in England, Sarah helped her father in his lace factory. Her family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while in England. The Oakey family kept the mission home for several years. When eight years old Sarah and her family emigrated to America to join the rest of the Saints in Utah. James, her father, remained behind a year and worked at his trade to pay for transportation and settle other affairs. The rest of the family sailed from Liverpool on April 23, 1862, the "John J. Boyd." The sailing was delayed when Sarah's twenty-year-old sister Mary came up missing, although she had run away to remain with an admirer in England. Eventually the ship would leave without her, and landed in New York harbor on June 2, 1862.

From New York the Oakey family traveled by boat and train to Florence, Nebraska, where they were assigned to the wagon company of John Grayham. While on the journey, Sarah's seventeen-year-old sister Lucy died of mountain fever just a few miles from Florence. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 1, 1862.

The family first stayed in the home of Charles C. Rich, an Apostle who they became acquainted with in England. They eventually built a dugout in Kaysville, Utah, and worked in the area until James arrived from England. Upon his arrival, the family was called to settle the valley around Bear Lake.

While living in the Bear Lake Valley, Sarah enjoyed school and the local choir. A few years after their arrival, the Oakey family moved to Dingle, being one of three families who lived there at the time.

On November 6, 1879 Sarah married George Edward Sirrine (1851-1908) in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah, and they had six children together, three of whom lived to maturity. They lived in Dingle, Idaho, for the majority of their lives, except for two years where they lived in Mesa, Arizona, where George's father, George Warren Sirrine (1818-1902), was one of the founders of that community. Sarah served faithfully in the Church, including many years of service the Primary Association.

Sarah Oakey Sirrine passed away on August 12, 1942.

Biographical History

Hazel Dawn Ream was born in Dingle, Idaho, on November 9, 1925, to Wesley and Mary Ream. She attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in clothing and textiles. She later went to New York University and earned her master's degree.

In New York City, she worked as a retail buyer. Later, after moving back to Provo, Utah, she married Jesse Duckworth Curtis in 1955. They had 4 children together. Throughout her life she served in numerous civic and church positions, including the first female president of the Granite School Board. She passed away May 15, 2016, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Biographical / Historical

Helen Mae Ream Bateman was born on March 15, 1920, in Bear Lake county, Idaho, to parents Mary Cooper Sirrine and William Wesley Crockett Ream. She graduated from Montpelier High School in 1937. She married James LaVar Bateman during World War II, and together they had five children. Helen Ream Batemean was the author of "Roots & Wings: A Book of Family Traditions," first published in 1986.

Extent

7 boxes (3.5 linear ft.)

2 oversize folders (0.06 linear ft.)

2 folders (0.02 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged in three series: 1. Helen Bateman collection of Sarah Oakey Sirrine manuscripts, 1840-1967. 2. Sarah Oakey Sirrine photographs and ephemera, 1834-1945. 3. Hazel Dawn Ream collection of Sarah Oakey Sirrine manuscripts, 1851-1974.

Custodial History

Donated by Helen, granddaughter of Sarah Oakey Sirrine, and her son Kim Bateman, in 2014 and 2015.

Donated by Helen and Hazel Dawn, granddaughters of Sarah Oakey Sirrine, in 2018 and 2019.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Helen and Kim Bateman; September 2014.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Additional materials donated; Kim Bateman; January 2015.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Additional materials donated; Helen Bateman and Hazel Dawn Ream; November 2018 and January 2019.

Appraisal

Utah and the Western American and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts collection development policy IV.a.i.1 and 4, November 2013).

Existence and Location of Copies

Transcription of materials located in Folder 10.

Processing Information

Processed; Ashleigh Wingate, volunteer processor, and Ryan K. Lee, curator; 2015.

Processing Information

Processed; Sadie Hutchinson; 2015.

Processing Information

Processed; Andy VanDomelen; 2019.

Processing Information

Processed; Jace Packer; 2020.

Title
Register of Sarah Oakey Sirrine collection
Status
Completed
Author
Ryan K. Lee
Date
2015 February 5
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