Wallace Felt Toronto journal and family records
Scope and Contents
Materials consist of digital images and photocopies of Wallace Felt Toronto journals from 1929 to 1931.
Dates
- Creation: 1929-1932
Creator
- Toronto, Wallace Felt (creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Wallace Felt Toronto journal and family records must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.
Biographical History
Walace Felt Toronto (1907-1968) was a pioneering missionary leader from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among the Slavic people.
Wallace Felt Toronto was born on December 9, 1907, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to parents Albert and Minnie Ether Toronto. In 1929 he joined the first elders transferred to open the Czechoslovak Mission under Arthur Gaeth. When released, Wallace studied at the University of Utah and soon married Martha Sharp.
In 1936 he was called to preside over the Czech Mission. New cities were opened, and conversions continued. The Nazi occupation of Czech lands in 1938 and 1939 led to the evacuation of all missionaries. During the war, Wallace became the director of the Utah Red Cross.
In 1946 Wallace and his family returned to Prague. With a larger missionary force, the Church expanded even after the February 1948 Communist coup. But by 1950 the missionaries were expelled, and the registration of the Church was cancelled.
At home in Utah, Wallace taught seminary, served the Young Men’s MIA board, and became executive secretary of the Utah Cancer Society. Through cryptic letters, he kept in touch with the Saints in Czechoslovakia. In 1964 President McKay assigned the Torontos to visit the Czech Saints as tourists. In 1965 he was asked to return alone to meet with the ministry officials. He did so, but only after he was arrested following his interview on television during the huge national sports festival. His request for Church recognition was rejected, and he was deported at the German border. Wallace Toronto remained president of the Czech Mission until his death from cancer on January 10, 1968 in Salt Lake City.
Extent
1 box (0.5 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The journals were donated by Mary Jane Woodger, of the Church History department, in 2014.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated; Mary Jane Woodger; 2014.
Appraisal
Utah and the American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th century Western & Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy, 5.VII, 2007).
Processing Information
Processed; Margaret Weddle, student manuscript processor, and John M. Murphy, curator; 2014.
Subject
- Toronto, Wallace Felt -- Diaries (Person)
- Title
- Register of Wallace Felt Toronto journal and family records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Margaret Weddle
- Date
- 2014-07-25
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States