Skip to main content

Utah. Militia

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1852 - 1887

Administrative History

The Utah Militia (1852-1887), also known as the Nauvoo Legion, was the territorial militia organization for Utah Territory.

Citation:
Bennett, Richard Edmond. The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois, 2010 CIP introd. (the Nauvoo Legion functioned at the behest of the governor of the state of Illinois; a regularly constituted arm of the Illinois State Militia from its chartering in 1841 until its repeal in 1845; after 1845, Nauvoo Legion acted under the direction of Mormon Church leadership until 1849; in 1849 became a militia in the State of Deseret; in 1852 became a [i.e. the] militia in the Utah Territory)

Utah State Div. of Archives and History www homepage, May 26, 2009 (These papers document the administration and activities of various segments of the territorial militia, also known as the Nauvoo Legion)

Encycl. of Mormonism, c1992 (Nauvoo Legion; disbanded as a result of the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887)

Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:

George Washington Bean diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1038
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries, two autobiographies, account books, patriarchal blessings, biographies of family members, and Bean family history and genealogy. Bean writes about his early life and migration to Utah; his work as an Indian interpreter from 1852 to 1853; his pursuit of the Ute chief, Walker, in 1854; his Indian mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1855 to 1856; his life in Provo, Utah; his participation in the Black Hawk Indian War; and...
Dates: 1852-1897
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / George Washington Bean diaries

Thomas Waters Cropper autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232490356]
Identifier: MSS 654
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a handwritten autobiography. Some of the item is in Cropper's own hand. The rest was dictated to his daughters. Cropper was born in Texas, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and migrated to Utah in 1856. One fourth of the original party turned back in 1853 when they heard of the Mormon doctrine of polygamy. He describes the immigrant group killed by Mormons at Mountain Meadows in 1857. Cropper lived in Fillmore, Utah, and later moved to Deseret, Utah. ...
Dates: 1926
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Thomas Waters Cropper autobiography

William Horne Dame papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 55
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, patriarchal blessings, financial records, militia records, photographs, and miscellaneous items. Much of the correspondence is between Dame and General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The material relates to Dame's life and activities, including his militia service and his connection to the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857.

Dates: 1846-1884
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Horne Dame papers

Moses Franklin Farnsworth papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1678
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, record books, pension petitions, certificates, pamphlets, articles of incorporation, poems, blessings, poems, and miscellaneous items. The materials relate to Farnsworth's activities particulary in the Mormon Church. Included in the collection are letters from the fourth president of the Mormon Church, Willford Woodruff, patriarchal blessings, letters relating to Mormon polygamy, and a book recording the work done in the Manti Temple of the Mormon Church.

Dates: 1870-1900
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Moses Franklin Farnsworth papers

Newel Kimball Whitney collection on military units, 1840-1858

 Sub-Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 76 Series 1 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains poll books, certificates, petitions, reports, orders, and other materials related to Mormon militia units, including both the Nauvoo Legion and the Mormon Battalion. Materials date from between 1840 and 1858.

Dates: 1840-1858
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 76, Newel Kimball Whitney papers / Newel Kimball Whitney collection on Mormon Church

L. John Nuttall papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 790
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries, correspondence, lists, minutes, patriarchal blessings, and notes. The materials relate to Nuttall's involvement in numerous Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Utah Militia activities. Nuttall's position as secretary to the president of the Church allowed him to record various observations on Church conduct and doctrine. He records many of the meetings of the Church's ruling bodies. Nuttall also recounts campaigns against the Ute Indians during the Black Hawk...
Dates: 1857-1904
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / L. John Nuttall papers

Samuel W. Richards diaries

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232486305]
Identifier: MSS 732
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of excerpts from handwritten diaries. The items cover the years 1846-1847, 1857-1859, 1868, 1869, 1873, and 1875-1876. Richards lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, presided over the European Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prepared Utah Militia units for an expedition into Sanpete County, and served on another mission to the Eastern United States. Also included are patriarchal blessings and miscellaneous items relating to Richards and his family.

Dates: 1846-1876
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Samuel W. Richards diaries

Philip T. Van Zile scrapbook

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 81
Scope and Contents

Bound scrapbook which contains newspaper clippings regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, polygamy, Van Zile's work as U.S. District Attorney, and other activities that took place in Utah during the early 1880's. Many items are accompanied by holograph notations by Van Zile. Also includes letters to Van Zile from William M. Thompson and Robert G. McNiece.

Dates: 1879-1883
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Philip T. Van Zile scrapbook

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.