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T. Edgar Lyon papers, approximately 1836-2005

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7955 Series 1

Scope and Contents

Contains research and composition files on Nauvoo and Mormonism, teaching files, correspondence, personal documents and memorabilia, family documents, and personal library, approximately 1836-2005.

Dates

  • approximately 1836-2005

Creator

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 from the Lyon family papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

T. Edgar Lyon (1903-1978) was a Mormon religion professor and historian in Utah.

Thomas Edgar Lyon Sr., eighth child and seventh son of David Ross Lyon and Mary Cairns, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 9, 1903. He was educated in Salt Lake City public schools and attended LDS High School; he earned degrees from the University of Utah (B.A. 1927; Ph.D. 1962) and the University of Chicago (M.A., 1932). He married Hermana Forsberg in the Salt Lake Temple on August 16, 1927; they became the parents of six sons, including two sets of twins. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was called as president of the Netherlands Mission, where he had been a missionary from 1923-1925, serving in that capacity from 1933-1937. Upon the family's return from the Netherlands, he was appointed associate director of the Salt Lake Institute of Religion, which he discharged faithfully until 1975.

He was the author of many studies and articles on the Doctrine & Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and Protestant missionary activity, as well as a Priesthood manual on the Apostasy and Restoration. At the time of his death, he was preparing a history of Mormonism during the Nauvoo Period. He worked as a research historian for Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. from 1964-1975, and at some point served as president of both the Salt Lake Historical Society and the Mormon History Association. In 1976, he received the David O. McKay Humanities Award. He served on the high council of the Emigration and East Millcreek Stakes, as well as patriarch of the Salt Lake Canyon Rim Stake. It was while in this capacity that he died in a Salt Lake City hospital on September 20, 1978 at the age of 75.

Extent

3 cartons

17 folders

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Research files are arranged topically, in a specific-to-general fashion. Professional files, correspondence, and personal files are chronological. Books are separated into English-language and Dutch-language items, arranged alphabetically by title.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States