A. Gary Anderson and Milton V. Backman Jr., Max Parkin, David J. Whittaker, Lyndon Cook, Russell R. Rich and Clark V. Johnson, all faculty members of the Department of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, in cooperation with the historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also called the LDS Church), and the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University, did research on sites related to the history of the Church. A. Gary Anderson researched in New Hampshire (1973); Milton V. Backman Jr. in Ohio (1974); Max Parkin in Missouri (1978); David J. Whittaker in Iowa and Missouri (1979); Lyndon Cook in Missouri (1978); Russell R. Rich in Kentucky, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Ontario, Canada (1978); and Clark V. Johnson in Illinois (1980).

Their goal was to collect, in microfilm or photocopy, photographs, manuscripts, maps, and documents related to Latter-day Saint history. Their efforts were concentrated in state, county, city, and town record repositories, archives and libraries, as well as historical society libraries, and college and university libraries. Thus this collection is really a number of smaller collections, a literal potpourri of research material.