Dates

• Existence: 1917 - 1999

Biographical History

Leonard J. Arrington (1917-1999) was an author and historian in Utah. He served as Church Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 to 1982.

Leonard James Arrington was born on July 2, 1917 in Twin Falls, Idaho. He aspired to be a farmer, as his parents were, and studied at the University of Idaho. He studied agricultural science in 1935, later changing to agricultural economics. He married Grace Fort in 1942. A year later, he served in World War II for the United States, where he was stationed in North Africa and Italy until 1946. He had three children: Susan, Carl, and James, who he wrote letters to often. He also wrote a variety of publications about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life. In 1972, he was appointed Church Historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in that calling until 1982. In 1982, his wife Grace died, and in 1983 Arrington was remarried to Harriet Ann Horne. He lived in Salt Lake City for the majority of his life.

Arrington passed away on February 11, 1999.

Citation:

His Orderville, Utah, 1954.

His Adventures of a church historian, c1998: CIP t.p. (Leonard J. Arrington) pub. info. (Leonard James Arrington)

W. W. Clyde, the builder, 1999: CIP t.p. (Leonard J. Arrington) p. ix (d. 02-11-1999)

Wikipedia, Dec. 9, 2010 (Leonard J. Arrington; Leonard James Arrington; b. July 2, 1917 in Twin Falls, Idaho; d. Feb. 11, 1999 in Salt Lake City, Utah; author, historian; Ph.D. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; served in U.S. Army, 1943-1946; member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; professor at Utah State University, 1946-1972; professor at Brigham Young University, 1972-1987; Church Historian for the Church, 1972-1982)

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: