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Talmage, Merry May Booth, 1868-1944

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1868 - 1944

Biographical History

Merry May Booth Talmage (1868-1944) was an educator, suffragate, writer, editor in Utah and wife of the apostle James E. Talmage.

Merry May Booth Talmage was born on September 29, 1868 in Alpine, Utah to Richard Thornton and Elise Edge Booth. At the age of sixteen, she attended Brigham Young Academy. Soon after graduating, she began a brief teaching career in Kaysville, Utah, before being engaged to marry her former professor at BYA, James E. Talmage. The couple married on June 14, 1888 in Manti, Utah, and they had eight children together.

May was a teacher in Kaysville, Utah and part of several educational organizations, including serving as vice president of the first Free Kindergarten Association in Utah. She was involved in the suffrage movement, serving on the executive board for the Utah Territorial Woman's Suffrage Association. In 1893 she went to Chicago and delivered a paper to the World's Congress of Women, and in 1906 she attended the Trennial of the National Council of Women in Toledo, Ohio.

In 1892, May was called as aid to the general board of the Young Woman Mutual Improvement Association. She was active in committees within this organization and served as editor of the "Young Woman's Journal." In 1925, May accompanied her husband and two children to England where Elder Talmage served as president of the European Mission until 1928. While in Europe, May helped in organizing and assisting the women of the Church of the various countries there, as well as the missionaries throughout Europe.

Merry May Booth Talmage died on April 6, 1944 in Ogden, Utah.

Citation:
Familysearch, via WWW, May 3, 2017 (Merry May Booth, Born, September 29, 1868 in Alpine Utah; Father, Richard Thornton Booth; Mother, Elise Edge Booth; married, June 14, 1888 in Manti, Utah; husband, James E. Talmage; 8 children; died, April 6, 1944 in Ogden, Utah).

History of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S., from November 1869 to June 1910, 1911: p.--- (attended BYA at age 16; served as vice president of the Free Kindergarten Association; served on the executive board for the Utah Territorial Woman's Suffrage Association; in 1893 she went to Chicago and delivered a paper to the World's Congress of Women; in 1906 she attended the Trennial of the National Council of Women in Toledo, Ohio; in 1892, May was called as aid to the general board of the Young Woman Mutual Improvement Association; active in committees within this organization and served as editor of the "Young Woman's Journal")

UPB files, July 6, 2016 (brief teaching career in Kaysville, Utah; in 1925, May accompanied her husband and two children to England where Elder Talmage served as president of the European Mission until 1928; while in Europe, May helped in organizing and assisting the women of the Church of the various countries there, as well as the missionaries throughout Europe)

Findagrave via WWW, May 3, 2017 (Merry May Booth Talmage teacher in Kaysville, Utah; part of several educational organizations)

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Merry May Booth Talmage diary, 1887-1892

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1607 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Includes the original diary of May Booth Talmage, dated September 29, 1887-September 1892. Also includes a photocopy of the diary.

Dates: 1887-1892

Merry May Booth Talmage letters, 1890-1934

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1607 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of letters written to and from May Booth Talmage, dated October 11, 1890-July 9, 1934.

Dates: 1890-1934

James and May Booth Talmage family stories and recollections

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8858
Content Description A collection of stories and recollections about James and May Booth Talmage. Includes copies of signed letters from James E. Talmage to his granddaughters, both typed and handwritten from 1929-1933; and, memories of May and James Talmage by their granddaughters. Also includes a transcription of an interview with John R. Talmage by Shannon Howells prior to John's death in 2001, where he shares biographical information and memories of his parents. Also includes a typescript of an article about...
Dates: 1895-2001

James E. and Merry May Booth Talmage letters

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8324
Scope and Contents

Contains the correspondence between James E. Talmage and his wife Merry May Booth Talmage. The letters, written between 1891 and 1932, discuss family life, James's career, and personal travel.

Dates: 1891-1932

Merry May Booth Talmage papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 1607
Scope and Contents Collection of documents related to May Booth Talmage, wife of James E. Talmage. Includes the original personal diary she kept from 1887 to 1892. Also includes a photocopy of the diary. The majority of the collection is photocopies of personal and family correspondence from 1890 to 1934 exchanged between May and James Talmage and their children. Also includes correspondence with other family members, friends, colleagues, and Mormon Church members. Most of these items were written while May...
Dates: 1887-1934