Relief Society (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Corporate History
The Relief Society is the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which was initially led by Emma Hale Smith in Nauvoo, IL in 1842. During the group's existance, it has been an organization dedicated to providing lessons, activities, and service opportunities for the women of the Church in both a ward and stake setting.
The Relief Society was established by various women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sarah M. Kimball's house in Nauvoo, IL in 1842. After giving their constitution to Joseph Smith, they set up various presidencies within their wards/stakes and selected Joseph Smith's wife Emma to serve as the overall president of the Society.
Between Joseph Smith's martyrdom in 1842 and 1866, the Society fell into disarray under Brigham Young's leadership of the Church. While he did allow various female-led societies to assist in the Church's exodus to Utah to assist in midwifrey (The Female Council of Health) and in developing bonds with the Native Americans, the general involvement of the Relief Society in the Church was weak.
From 1866 on, Brigham Young and later leaders of the Church made more of a concerted effort to make sure that the Relief Society would play a more predominant role in the Church. Not only did he call a new General President of the Society to lead the group (starting with Eliza Snow), but he permitted the Society to create magazines, be more actively involved in the ward, etc. Through the group's involvement of the Church, they contributed to the Church's welfare program, strengthen homes during times of war, and became Red Cross units in wartorn nations in World War I and World War II. They also worked to prevent the passage of the Equal Rights Ammendment, established the Women's Research Center at BYU, and so on.
Citation:
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, via WWW, August 19, 2016 (Relief Society)Found in 22 Collections and/or Records:
Mary A. Porter papers on Relief Society, 2005, 1922-1971
Contains letters, notes, newspaper clippings, publications, and other material related to Porter's service in the Relief Society in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Materials date from between 1922 to 1971, with a single item from 2005.
Alice Louise Reynolds papers
Material contains Reynolds's handwritten correspondence from 1912 to 1937; diaries from 1924 to 1925, 1934, and 1937; lecture notes on English literature and European history from 1894; and autobiographical and miscellaneous notes from 1935 to 1938. The materials document the various aspects of Reynolds's career and life. The diaries were kept largely when Reynolds was travelling in Europe and the Middle East.
Louise Yates Robinson letter
Handwritten and signed letter, dated December 26, 1935, and addressed to "Sister Brailsford." Robinson thanks Brailsford for a picture she received as a Christmas present. Robinson also states she appreciates Brailsford's friendship.
Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith autobiography
Photocopy of a 260-page handwritten autobiography. Smith includes copies of correspondence and patriarchal blessings in her account. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1837, lived with the Mormons in Missouri and Illinois, married George Albert Smith in 1841, allowed him to take additional wives, came to Utah in 1849, and served as president of the Relief Society.
Belle S. Spafford letters
Letters to Ethel Taylor Sessions, Belle's friend. The first item is dated 12 Nov. 1937. The rest are from the 1950-1980 timeframe. Also included are newsclippings regarding Spafford, several of her talks, and one essay by an unidentified author. The letters deal largely with personal matters.
Celestia Marguerita Johnson Taylor papers
Contains Taylor's personal and family history, including photographs, letters, awards, certificates, stories, and two books. Materials also relate to Taylor's service on the general Relief Society board of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. Materials dated 1855-2014 (bulk, 1935-1983).
Helen Free VanderBeek papers
Emmeline B. Wells collection
Women's Research Institute correspondence, approximately 1978-1997
Contains correspondence related to the Women's Research Institute. Materials date from approximately 1978 to 1997.
Women's Research Institute files on the Church and women, approximately 1978-1997
Contains notes, correspondence, and other material related to the role of women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Materials date from approximately 1978 to 1997.