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Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1999 - 2005

Administrative History

The Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History was a research institute at Brigham Young University responsible for facilitating the scholarly study of Mormon history campus-wide.

In 1999 the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History was renamed the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History. The purpose of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History was to pursue the scholarly study of the history, people, institutions, and culture of the Latter-day Saints. Faculty members taught courses in history, church history, and other disciplines related to their fields of expertise. The institute also provided limited support for research and publication to faculty. The Joseph Smith Papers Project was among the many research ventures undertaken by this institute. Institute directors included Ronald K. Esplin (2000-2003) and Jill Mulvay Derr (2003-2005). In 2005 most of the scholars employed by the institute were transferred to the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah to continue work on the Joseph Smith Papers Project Project. With their departure, the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History was abolished.

Citation:
BYU organizational history project, Mar. 8, 2012: Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History, 1999-2005; facilitate scholarly study of Mormon history; 1999 renamed from Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History; teaches courses in history, other disciplines of expertise, limited support for research and publication; initially developed the Joseph Smith Papers Project; research venture; directors, Ronald K. Esplin (2000-2003) and Jill Mulvay Derr (2003-2005); under direction of FHSS; 2005 transferred to LDS Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City, institute abolished)