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Kirkham, Francis W. (Francis Washington), 1877-1972

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1877 - 1972

Biographical History

Francis W. Kirkham (1877-1972) was an educator and businessman in Utah.

Francis Washington Kirkham was born in 1877 in Lehi, Utah. He is known as a prominent educator as well as the author of "New Witness for the Christ in America: Evidence of Divine Power in the 'Coming Forth' of the Book of Mormon." At the young age of fifteen, Kirkham studied business under James E. Talmage, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kirkham attended Brigham Young Academy; however, his studies were placed on hold for three years while he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand. His mission inspired him to write a grammar book to help new missionaries learn the Maori language. In 1901, Francis W. Kirkham was married in the Salt Lake City Temple to Martha Alzina Robinson. He also returned to Brigham Young Academy (BYU), graduating in 1904 as valedictorian. After graduating from BYA, Kirkham worked as a businessman in Canada for three years. He later attended the University of Michigan for his bachelors degree, following which he taught at Brigham Young University for two years. Francis W. Kirkham decided to enroll in law school at the University of Utah where he was in the law school's first graduating class. He continued his graduate studies at Stanford and went on to earn his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkley. For a period of time Francis W. Kirkham served as the president of the LDS Business College, the head of vocational education for the State of Utah and the superintendent of the Granite School District. While serving as the superintendent of the Granite School District he wrote the book "Educating all the Children of all the People." The book gained him national recognition and led to Kirkham being appointed the head of the New York City-based National Child Welfare Association. During his time in New York, Kirkham studeied the Book of Mormon in depth as he had greater access to resources within the area. He published a compilation of these works in 1937 entitled "Source Material on the Book of Mormon" which was the main basis for his book "A New Witness..." Kirkham later also worked as a manager for a Salt Lake City-based insurance company for several years. Francis W. Kirkham died in 1972.

Citation:
A new witness for Christ in America, the Book of Mormon, 1967:t.p. (Francis W. Kirkham)

Francis W. Kirkham papers, 1877-1972 (Francis W. Kirkham; educator and businessman)

FamilySearch, 14 July 2010 (Francis Washington KIRKHAM; b. 8 Jan 1877; d. 14 Sep 1972)

Ancestry.com, Nov. 19, 2010 (Francis W. Kirkham; Francis Kirkham; W. Francis Kirkham; Francis Washington Kirkham; b. Jan. 8, 1877 in Lehi, Utah; d. Sept. 14, 1972 in Salt Lake City, Utah; resident of Provo, Utah; farmer, canal builder, teacher; served as a missionary to New Zealand; taught at Brigham Young University)

Found in 21 Collections and/or Records:

Joseph J. Cannon letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305697]
Identifier: MSS SC 821
Scope and Contents

This autographed typewritten letter was written 14 February 1935 by Joseph J. Cannon, then President of the British Mission of the Mormon Church to Francis W. Kirkham, then Secretary to Chief Justice Hughes of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington D.C. The subject of this letter is Kirkham's son, Grant, who "determined" to leave his mission four months early, and Cannon's efforts to dissuade him.

Dates: 1935 February 14

J. Reuben Clark, Jr. letter to Francis W. Kirkham

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230323567]
Identifier: MSS SC 2383
Scope and Contents

Typewritten and signed letter dated March 15, 1960 and addressed to Francis W. Kirkham. Clark thanks Kirkham for a book sent to him which Kirkham wrote.

Dates: 1960 March 15

Sarah Fletcher Jones letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230324532]
Identifier: MSS SC 2529
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letters addressed to Francis W. Kirkham. They were written in Provo, Utah and were often signed with "Your Cincere & Affectionate friend." Jones signed her name both as "Sadie" and as "Sayde." The items are concerned with personal matters and happenings in Provo, Utah.

Dates: 1896-1898

Jonathan Golden Kimball letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230323559]
Identifier: MSS SC 2382
Scope and Contents

Typewritten and signed letter dated 31 Jan. 1900 and addressed to Francis W. Kirkham, Mormon author and businessman. Kimball extends Kirkham an honorable release for serving in an unnamed Mormon Church assignment.

Dates: 1900 January 31

Spencer W. Kimball letter to Francis W. Kirkham

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230324581]
Identifier: MSS SC 2495
Scope and Contents

Typewritten and signed letter dated 25 Feb. 1960 and addressed to Francis W. Kirkham. Kimball thanks Kirkham for sending him a copy of his book "A New Witness for Christ in America--Volume II." Kimball writes that he will read it and that he appreciates Kirkham's efforts.

Dates: 1960

Francis W. Kirkham correspondence

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230324599]
Identifier: MSS SC 2496
Scope and Contents

Typewritten and signed correspondence. Eight of the items were sent to Kirkham and one was sent by him. These items were to and from General Authorities and other leaders of the Mormon Church. The collection includes letters from Oscar A. Kirkham, A. Theodore Tuttle, Marvin J. Ashton, LeGrand Richards, S. Dilworth Young, and Reed Smoot. These persons thank Kirkham for sending them copies of his books.

Dates: 1915-1960

Francis W. Kirkham correspondence

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230321892]
Identifier: MSS SC 2352
Scope and Contents

Handwritten correspondence to and from Francis and to and from his wife, Zina Robinson Kirkham (died in 1941). The items deal largely with personal and family matters.

Dates: 1891-1911

Francis W. Kirkham diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 772
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries. Kirkham describes his early life before starting his diaries in 1893. In the first volume, Kirkham writes about his education. The volumes numbered 2 through 13 were kept when he was serving on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand. These items contain accounts of his daily activities and extensive comments on the customs of the Maori people of New Zealand. The fourteenth volume tells about the completion of Kirkham's schooling and...
Dates: 1893-1902

Francis W. Kirkham letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230322932]
Identifier: MSS SC 2376
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letter, on "Provo City, Utah" stationary, which is dated 10 Oct. 1900 and addressed to "Dearest Zina." The item was signed by "Francis" who is believed to have been Francis W. Kirkham. Francis writes to his "sweetheart" telling her of his activities at Brigham Young Academyin Provo, Utah.

Dates: 1900 October 10

Francis W. Kirkham letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230310531]
Identifier: MSS SC 1311
Scope and Contents

Four typed and signed letters by Mormon Church leaders Ezra Taft Benson (1943), Bruce R. McConkie (1960), LeGrand Richards (1958), and J. Reuben Clark (1948), addressed to Francis W. Kirkham in Utah. Benson mentions visiting a number of "cooperatives,' McConkie expresses appreciation for a book received, Richards talks about the gathering of the Jews to Israel, and Clark speaks of his intention to write a book on the life of the Savior.

Dates: 1943-1960

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  • Type: Collection X

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Subject
Letters 18
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 7
Material Types 7
Correspondence 6
Church Government 5