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Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1999 - 2005

Administrative History

The Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History was a research institute at Brigham Young University responsible for facilitating the scholarly study of Mormon history campus-wide.

In 1999 the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History was renamed the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History. The purpose of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History was to pursue the scholarly study of the history, people, institutions, and culture of the Latter-day Saints. Faculty members taught courses in history, church history, and other disciplines related to their fields of expertise. The institute also provided limited support for research and publication to faculty. The Joseph Smith Papers Project was among the many research ventures undertaken by this institute. Institute directors included Ronald K. Esplin (2000-2003) and Jill Mulvay Derr (2003-2005). In 2005 most of the scholars employed by the institute were transferred to the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah to continue work on the Joseph Smith Papers Project Project. With their departure, the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History was abolished.

Citation:
BYU organizational history project, Mar. 8, 2012: Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History, 1999-2005; facilitate scholarly study of Mormon history; 1999 renamed from Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History; teaches courses in history, other disciplines of expertise, limited support for research and publication; initially developed the Joseph Smith Papers Project; research venture; directors, Ronald K. Esplin (2000-2003) and Jill Mulvay Derr (2003-2005); under direction of FHSS; 2005 transferred to LDS Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City, institute abolished)

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History correspondence, 1992-2005

 Sub-Series — Carton 2: Series 1; Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233286472], Folder: 46-52
Identifier: MSS 8009 Series 2 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents Contains both internal and external correspondence of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute on topics including publications, symposia, BYU Studies, the Eliza R. Snow project, outreach plans, and Executive Committee correspondence. Also includes Richard Bushman correspondence, chair of the Advisory Committee, relating to symposia and faculty, as well as Derr's correspondence relating to paper publications, symposia, copyrights, personal correspondence, and the transition following the...
Dates: 1992-2005
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8009, Jill Mulvay Derr papers / Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History records

Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History faculty files, 1987-2005

 Sub-Series — Carton 1: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233286480], Folder: 6-46
Identifier: MSS 8009 Series 2 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains files for the faculty of the Joseph Smith Fielding Institute, including meeting minutes and memos, newsletters and handouts, and correspondence. Materials cover faculty retreats, productivity reports, lists of books and publications made by the faculty, and staffing and hiring records, 1987-2005.

Dates: 1987-2005
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8009, Jill Mulvay Derr papers / Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History records

Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History records on BYU Studies, 1992-2005

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8009 Series 2 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents Contains records from BYU Studies relating to the Joseph Fielding Smith Insitute (JFSI) and its role as the institute's primary publisher. Materials include book lists, invoices, a review of the organization including its aims and objectives, JFSI publication projects, memorandums and correspondence about the relationship between the JFSI and BYU Studies, proposals and publication procedures, and newsletters from both organizations. Also contains correspondence, edited articles, book review...
Dates: 1992-2005
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8009, Jill Mulvay Derr papers / Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History records

Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History special project records, 1995-2005

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8009 Series 2 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents Contains records for special projects carried out by the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute, including records on an Eliza R. Snow documentary, Mormon Studies leadership awards and symposia, a Yale Conference entitled God, Humanity and Revelation: Perspectives from Mormon Philosophy and History, international outreach efforts, agendas and proposals of the Council on Religious Endeavors (CORE), coordination with the Brigham Young University Special Collections and church archives, Mormon...
Dates: 1995-2005
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8009, Jill Mulvay Derr papers / Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History records

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  • Subject: Publications X

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Letters 3
Research institutes -- Utah -- Provo 3
Memorandums 2
Minutes (Records) 2
Newsletters 2
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Awards 1
Books -- Reviews 1
College teachers -- Utah -- Provo 1
Conference materials 1
Curriculum vitae 1
Editing 1
Financial records 1
Invoices 1
Personnel records 1
Proposals 1
Publishers and Publishing -- Utah -- Provo 1
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