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Nancy Alexander Tracy autobiographical writings

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2198

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

  • 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.

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

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