Nancy Alexander Tracy autobiographical writings
Scope and Contents
Includes three reminiscent accounts written in 1880, 1885, and 1895, reflecting on her early life in New York state; marriage to Moses Tracy, 1832; conversion to Mormonism, 1834; occasional interactions with Joseph Smith Jr.; and experiences with her husband in New York, 1844. Also includes information on her activities in Kirtland, Ohio; Far West, Missouri; Nauvoo, Illinois; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Winter Quarters, Nebraska; and Ogden, Utah. She also comments on her emigration to Utah, 1850; and temporary move from Ogden to Provo, 1857. She recounts post-Nauvoo-period church history events. The 1880 account was submitted to historian Hubert Howe Bancroft. The 1885 account is more detailed. The 1895 account appears to be derived from the 1885 version but, again, incorporates more detail. The collection includes typescripts of all three accounts, plus a photocopy of the 1885 manuscript. The 1895 typescript also includes occasional diary entries, 1896-1899, plus two patriarchal blessings, poetry, family genealogical information, and a name index. Some of the accounts were transcribed by William C. Anderson. An explanatory sheet by Anderson is included at the end of the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1880-1899
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 Nancy Alexander Tracy autobiographical writings must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Extent
5 folders
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The donor, a great-grandson of Nancy Tracy, brought the collection to BYU Special Collections and Manuscripts on 22 December 1999. BYU also has another typescript of the 1885 account (MSS SC 918).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
William C. Anderson, American Fork, Utah, gift, 1999.
Appraisal
19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.
Existence and Location of Originals
The original manuscript of the 1880 account is located in the Bancroft Library, Berkley, California.
Subject
- Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844 (Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- Council Bluffs (Iowa) -- History
- Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History -- 19th century
- Ogden (Utah) -- History -- 19th century
Topical
- Title
- Register of Nancy Alexander Tracy autobiographical writings
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Lucy Brimhall
- Date
- 2013 April 4
- 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