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Thomas Howells missionary diary

 Item — Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS 8908

Scope and Contents

Handwritten diary by Thomas Howells largely detailing his personal and spiritual experiences on his Mormon mission in South Wales from May 1870 to August 1871. The diary also includes a biographical sketch of Howells before his mission, and ends with records of births, deaths, blessings, and other geneological information of his family, dating up to 1880. Dated approximately 1870-1880.

Dates

  • approximately 1870-1880

Creator

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 the Thomas Howells missionary diary must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.

Biographical History

Thomas Howells (1831-1879) was a Mormon convert, stone-cutter, merchant, and mason in Utah.

Thomas Howells was born May 23, 1831, the oldest of six children to John and Gwenllian Price Howell. When Howells was nine years old, his father died and the family had to eventually sell the family farm. Howells helped support his family by working in a rock quarry. At the age of 18, he was baptized as a member of the Mormon Church, and immigrated to America for religious freedom and economic opportunity. In 1851, he crossed the plains from Missouri and arrived in Salt Lake City on June 6, 1861.

In Salt Lake City, Thomas Howells worked as a merchant and then as a stone-cutter and mason. He built one of the first apartments and was instrumental in the building of the Salt Lake Temple. In 1852, he was called and ordained as a member of the Seventy in the 33rd Quorum. In 1853, Howells met Ann Francis and they wed on October 12, 1853. Eventually they had thirteen children together, nine of whom survived into adulthood. Howells was incredibly dedicated to the Church, and in 1870, he was called on a mission to South Wales, where he served without his wife and children until 1872. Two years after his return, his wife Ann died of consumption. In 1880, Howells got remarried in the Salt Lake Temple to a woman named Agnes Chambers, and they had three children together. Thomas Howells died on October 17, 1883, at the age of 52.

Extent

1 folder (0.1 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Donated by John F. Howells III, a descendant of Thomas Howells, who found the diary in the Howells family cabin on the Stewart Ranch in Summit County, Utah, in 2014, and donated it to the repository in 2016.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; John F. Howells III; 2016.

Appraisal

LDS cultural, family, social, intellectual, and religious history (19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts collection development policy IV.a.i.1, November 2013).

Processing Information

Processed; Rebecca Fetzer, student manuscript processor, and Cory Nimer, supervisor; September 22, 2016.

Title
Register of Thomas Howells missionary diary
Status
Completed
Author
Rebecca Fetzer
Date
2016 September 21
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