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Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson), 1855-1931

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1855 - 1931

Biographical History

Orson F. Whitney (1855-1931) was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a writer, poet, and editor.

Orson F. Whitney was born on July 1, 1855, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Horace K. Whitney and Helen Mar Kimball Whitney. As a young man, Whitney wanted to be an actor and he spent many hours preparing for the stage by studying elocution, fencing, and grammar. However, during General Conference in 1876, Whitney was called to serve in the Eastern States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mother sold her land and used the money to fund Whitney's mission. While on his mission, Whitney discovered his interest in the Gospel as well as in writing and speaking. He started a regular column of his missionary experiences in the "Salt Lake Herald" under the pen name Iago. In 1878, twenty-three-year-old Whitney was called to serve as the bishop of the Eighteenth Ward, a calling he held for 28 years. In 1906, Whitney was called to be an Apostle in the Church. He also completed three more missions for the Church, including being the president of the European Mission in 1921.

In 1879, Whitney married Zina Beal Smoot and they had nine children together. Whitney also had two more wives: Mary Minerva Wells and Emma Whitney Wells. During his life, Whitney edited the "Salt Lake Herald," served on the city council, participated in the Home Dramatic Club, engaged in politics, and wrote poetry and books. In 1890, he published his first book, a biography of his grandfather Heber C. Kimball. That same year, Wildford Woodruff and John O. Williams commissioned Whitney to write "History of Utah"; he produced two volumes of the work by 1894 and the third in 1898. He also published a biography of Lorenzo Snow, an autobiography, and several books of poetry including his lengthy epic poem "Elias: An Epic of the Ages."

Whitney died on May 16, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
nuc86-87404: His The Mormon prophet's tragedy, 1905 (hdg. on CU-BANC rept.: Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson), 1855-1931; usage: Orson F. Whitney)

Wikipedia, viewed 12 January 2012 (Orson F. Whitney; Orson Ferguson Whitney; b.1 July 1855, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory; member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1906-1931; author; politician; journalist; historian; academic; began career writing for the Deseret News; editor of the Millennial Star; taught English and Theology at Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah; Assistant Church Historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; served on the Salt Lake City Council in 1880; Salt Lake City Treasurer, 1884-1890; Utah State Senator, 1898 and 1901; d. May 16, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah)

General Authority Pages, via WWW, 2008 (wanted to be an actor and he spent many hours preparing for the stage by studying elocution, fencing, and grammar; during General Conference in 1876, called to serve in the Eastern States Mission for The Church; His mother sold her land almost immediately after his acceptance of the call and used the money to fund Whitney's mission; discovered his interest in writing and speaking; started a regular column of his missionary experiences in the "Salt Lake Herald"; pen name Iago; 1878, twenty-three-year-old Whitney bishop of the Eighteenth Ward; held for 28 years; In 1906, called to be an apostle; three missions for the Church; president of the European Mission in 1921; married Zina Beal Smoot and they had 9 children together; two more wives: Mary Minerva Wells and Emma Whitney Wells; edited the "Salt Lake Herald," served on the city council, participated in the Home Dramatic Club, engaged in politics, and wrote poetry and books; In 1890, he published his first book, a biography of his grandfather Heber C. Kimball; Church commisioned Whitney to write "History of Utah"; produced two volumes of the work by 1894 and the third in 1898; published a biography of Lorenzo Snow, an autobiography, and several books of poetry including his lengthy epic poem, "Elias, An Epic of the Ages")

Family Search, via WWW, April 18, 2014 (born on July 1, 1855, in Salt lake City, Utah, to Horace Whitney and Helen Mar Kimball; married Zina Beal Smoot and they had 9 children together. Whitney also had two more wives: mary Minerva Wells and Emma Whitney Wells; died on May 16, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Found in 21 Collections and/or Records:

George H. Hansen albums, 1914-1963

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1628 Series 1
Scope and Contents Contains scenes from Hansen's mission in England, travels and studies in Mexico, Texas, and California, geology trips, visit to Indonesia to establish a geology department at Gadjah Mada University, and his college years and service in the Utah State ROTC; Afton Allred Hansen's mission to the Eastern States in the 1920s; Bessie Hansen and her family and friends in Richfield, Utah, her nursing work, on camping trips and other vacations; Mildred Allred with her friends and family, on trips to...
Dates: 1914-1963

George H. Hansen loose photographs, 1900-1980

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1628 Series 2
Scope and Contents Contains photographs of George on his mission to England, on geology field trips, on his visit to Indonesia, in the ROTC; of Afton Allred Hansen on his mission to the Eastern States; of Bessie Hansen in Richfield, on vacations, and with her family and friends; of Mildred Allred on her mission to California; of the Greco family (George's aunt); of George's family while he was growing up in Richfield; of the Utah Agricultural College Fair; of Afton as a teacher, missionary, and mother; of...
Dates: 1900-1980

George H. Hansen negatives, 1896-1972

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1628 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains negatives of George Hansen at Utah State, family trips, and geology; Bessie Hansen with her family and friends; George's mission to England; findings of fossils, arrowheads, and interesting rocks; the trip to Indonesia; redistricting studies; fishing trips; artifacts from a trip to Mexico; Utah maps and documents; Utah gas and oil studies, soil profiles.

Dates: 1896-1972

George H. Hansen slides, 1915-1971

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1628 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains slides of George and Afton's family and their travels, and family reunions; Afton's BYU tour to Europe; trips (George and Afton, Mildred) to Hawaii, China, Indonesia, Africa, Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand and Australia, Denmark, Norway, England, Fiji, Egypt, Greece, India, the Holy Land, and Turkey.

Dates: 1915-1971

George H. Hansen photograph collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1628
Abstract

This is primarily a collection of original Hansen prints, slides, and negatives and also includes photographic albums belonging to George Hansen, Afton Allred Hansen, and Bessie Hansen.

Dates: approximately 1896-1980

Horace K. and Helen Mar Whitney papers, 1847-1866

 Sub-Series — Box 4: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197231038420], Folder: 10, item: 1-7
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Materials include keepsakes, letters, and poems collected by Horace K. Whitney and Helen Mar Kimball. Includes cards and a woven envelope that were made by or given to Helen. There is also a letter from Helen to Horace. Materials also include an envelope that belonged to Louisa Beaman, the first plural wife sealed to Joseph Smith. Dated 1847-1866.

Dates: 1847-1866

Orson F. Whitney clippings and reprints, approximately 1876-1930

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 2 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Materials include clippings and reprints relating to Orson F. Whitney and his work. They contain newspaper clippings, speeches, general conference talks, genealogy, blessings, and certificates, and memorabilia collected by Whitney. Dated approximately 1876-1930.

Dates: approximately 1876-1930

Orson F. Whitney correspondence, 1873-1931

 Series — Box 1: Series 1; Series 2 [Barcode: 31197231038594], Folder: 1-6
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 1
Scope and Contents Materials include originals and transcriptions of correspondence between Orson F. Whitney and other Church members, Church leaders, family members, and friends. The correspondence gives information about Whitney's mission to Europe, both as a missionary and mission president. It also contains information about Church members' experiences during the anti-polygamy campaign in the United States. There is also personal information about Whitney's family, reports of his trip to Nauvoo, answers to...
Dates: 1873-1931

Orson F. Whitney correspondence with family, 1873-1883

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 1 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Materials include originals and transcriptions of correspondence between Orson F. Whitney and various members of his family, mostly his parents, Horace K. Whitney and Helen Mar Kimball Whitney. They contain inquiries about his family's health, information about travels, writings, daily life, missions, Church service, health, and work. Dated 1873-1883.

Dates: 1873-1883

Orson F. Whitney family papers, approximately 1847-1993

 Series — Box 4: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197231038420], Folder: 1-18
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Materials include documents relating to the family and descendants of Orson F. Whitney. Materials include pedigree charts from the Whitney and Smoot families, Zina B. Smoot papers, items collected by Horace K. and Helen Mar Kimball, family writings, correspondence, blessings, Church documents, poems, and photographs. Dated approximately 1847-1900.

Dates: approximately 1847-1993