BYU Library - Special Collections

Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, church related, financial records, legal records, and miscellaneous documents. Notable documents (all photocopies) include an 1844 letter from Joseph Smith while in Carthage Jail and a list of Mormon Battalion soldiers.

Scope and Contents

Handwritten claims and bills submitted against the estates of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The items request payments on charges made by the two men between 1841 and 1844. Joseph and Hyrum were brothers and leaders of the Mormon Church. They were murdered in 1844.

Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten and signed letter, dated 6 July 1844, and composed in Warren County, Illinois. Filmore writes to "dear children" and tells them about the murder of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum. He also speaks about the Mormon temple in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Scope and Contents

One handwritten court record. The item is a copy made in 1860 by William N. Keeny, clerk of Geauga County, of the original court record dated 1839. The Halsted Haines Co. sued Joseph Smith (1805-1844), Hyrum Smith, Olivery Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young, and other Mormon Church leaders for redress in connection with questionable business practices. Since the defendants failed to appear when summoned, the plaintiffs were awarded $2337.35 plus expenses.

Abstract

Items include research notes and materials regarding the many different representations of Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Contains copies of these likenesses, and also contains information on the different artists who have created them, particularly Sutcliffe Maudsley. A large portion of the material deals with the death mask of Joseph Smith, and its comparison to his portraits.

Scope and Contents

Typewritten copy of a diary. The journal was kept from 1 Jan. to 28 June 1844 when Law was in Nauvoo, Illinois. Law writes about his excommunication from the Mormon Church, a visit from Hyrum Smith (1800-1844), and the operation of the Nauvoo Expositor newspaper. He also and gives his opinion of Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and comments on his death.

Scope and Contents Photocopy of holograph account of the murder of Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and his brother Hyrum (1800-1844) on June 27, 1844. Jones was with the Smiths in the Carthage jail the night before they were killed. He was involved in carrying messages to and from Joseph and in appealing to Illinois officials for greater protection for the two men. Jones relates some comments verbatim made by Joseph that indicate he had a premonition of death, as well as remarks by the mob. He also tells of the...

Scope and Contents

Pen-and-ink portraits of the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), and his brother, Hyrum Smith (1800-1844). The items have been framed for possible display. The portraits may have been cut from something larger. The items were signed at the bottom of each picture and were dated 1844. Collection also includes digital scans of the items on compact disc.

Scope and Contents

Contains miscellaneous notes, correspondence, newspaper articles, several drafts of the book, footnotes, bibliographic notes, and photographs. Many of the items were gathered from the Hancock County courthouse. Materials were compiled between approximately 1970 and 1975 for the production of the book Carthage Conspiracy.

Scope and Contents

Typed copy of a letter written in Nauvoo, Illinois, on July 1, 1844 and addressed to "Dear Friends." Randall writes about the murder of the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith, and his brother, Hyrum.