Skip to main content

Hyrum Gibbs Smith papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 804

Scope and Contents

Contains documents relating to the life of Hyrum Gibbs Smith. Materials discuss his role as the fifth Presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during 1912-1932, his education as a dentist during 1909-1910, and his personal life. Included are diaries, correspondence, realia, legal documents, and photographs. Materials were created in Salt Lake City, Utah and at the University of Southern California. Dated 1902-1976.

Dates

  • 1902-1976

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 the Hyrum Gibbs Smith papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.

Biographical History

Hyrum Gibbs Smith (1879-1932) was the Presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1912 until his death.

Hyrum Gibbs Smith was born on July 8, 1879 in South Jordan, Utah to Annie Hannah Maria Gibbs and Hyrum Fisher Smith. He was the great-grandson of Hyrum Smith, the brother of Joseph Smith, Jr. Soon after his birth his family moved to Idaho, where they stayed for four years before moving back to Utah, where he spent the rest of his childhood. He attended public school through eighth grade, then Brigham Young Academy for three years. Following his graduation he taught public school in Utah for seven years. On August 17, 1904 he married Martha Electa Gee, and the couple moved to California so that Smith could pursue a degree in dentistry at the University of Southern California. After his graduation in 1911 he was called back to Salt Lake City, Utah as the new Presiding Patriarch of the Church. He was set apart on May 9, 1912, and served until his death on February 4, 1912.

Extent

3 boxes (1.5 linear ft)

2 oversize boxes (1 linear ft)

Language of Materials

English

Other Finding Aids

Item-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/VMSS804.xml

Custodial History

Donated to Brigham Young University on March 8, 1991 by Eldred G. Smith and his sister, Cleone Isom. The donors are children of Hyrum Gibbs Smith, and the papers contained in this collection have remained in family possession since their creation.

An additional ten diaries were donated by E. Gary Smith, a son of Eldred G. Smith and grandson of Hyrum Gibbs Smith, on April 6, 2017.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Eldred G. Smith and Cleone Isom; 1991. Donated; E. Gary Smith; 2017.

Appraisal

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

Related Materials

This collection was originally part of the Joseph Smith Sr. family collection (Vault MSS 775), an umbrella title for the Hyrum Smith, John Smith, Hyrum Fisher Smith, and Hyrum G. Smith collections. It was separated into its own collection in December 2001.

Processing Information

Processed; Leslie Evans; 2011.

Processed; Elizabeth Kane, student manuscript processor, and Ryan K. Lee, curator; 2017.

Title
Register of Hyrum Gibbs Smith papers
Status
Completed
Author
Leslie Evens
Date
2011 November 17
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