Reflections on the Founding and Purpose of the Mormon History Association, 1965–1983

During the years after World War II, partly because of the assistance given returning veterans by the G. I. Bill of Rights (Public Law 346), graduate research in the field of Mormon history began to flower. Whereas only a handful of historians had written doctoral dissertations on topics connected with Mormon history before 1946, several dozen were completed in the late 1940s and early 1950s—twenty in the 1950s alone. A sizable group of scholars spent their summers working in the Church Archives in Salt Lake City and became intimately acquainted with each other and with each other's projects. We shared research findings. Perhaps more importantly, we shared strategems by which we could overcome the reluctance of A. William Lund, watchdog of the Archives, to allow us access to the rich materials housed there1.In the years that followed the granting of our degrees, as we prepared books and articles for publication, we continued to visit the Archives to fill in gaps in our research. We also kept in touch with each other by attending historical conventions, often staying up half the night in someone's room discussing facts and interpretations of the Latter-day Saint past. Virtually all of us were practicing, believing members of the church, and we shared also our experiences in our various wards and branches. We hunted up persons we had not met who had written on the Mormons; and we speculated about the trends in church politics. We also made it a point to become acquainted with professional historians who were members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and spent some evenings discussing our common heritage with them. Some of us talked about the founding of a journal of Mormon history, even toying with possible names for the journal, such as Latter-day Saint Quarterly, LDS Historical Review, or Journal of Mormon History. These discussions were temporarily ended by the founding of BYU Studies in 1959. Although the first editors of Studies were anxious to run sound historical essays, we were taken aback when an interpretive article by one of us was published in the first issue, creating such an opposition on the part of one zealous general authority that the journal was suspended for a year.Through these activities a community of LDS historians was developed. Our interrelationships, at annual meetings of the American Historical Association, Organization of American Historians, and Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association, were strengthened with the formation of the Western History Association in 1963. They were also buttressed by meetings in Utah of the Utah State Historical Society, Utah Conference on Higher Education, and Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. On our various campuses there were also smaller study groups of historians and social scientists engaged in Mormon studies. At Utah State University where I was teaching, for example, George Ellsworth, Eugene Campbell, Wendell Rich, and myself met once a month with our spouses to read and critique papers we had prepared on aspects of LDS history. We also shared with graduate students the excitement of seminars conducted by George Ellsworth on the sources and literature of Mormon history.The dullest meetings Utah educators had to attend were the annual September sessions of the Utah Conference on Higher Education. At these sessions administrators from Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, Utah State University, and the various junior colleges in the state harangued us on administrative problems and policies. In anticipation of the conference to be held on September 9, 1965, at Logan, Utah, a group of us decided to hold our own “rump session” to discuss the formation of a Mormon History Association. Professors Ellsworth, Campbell, Rich, and myself arranged the meeting, to be held in the Hatch Room of the Merrill Library at Utah State University. We had strong letters of support from Davis Bitton and John Sorenson, both then at Santa Barbara, California. We also had verbal support from several scholars around the nation, as well as from many at BYU and elsewhere in Utah. In anticipation of such a meeting some of us had acquired information about the American Catholic Historical Association and the Jewish Historical Society which might be helpful. The following agenda was provided those expected to be in attendance: AGENDA FOR A “RUMP” SESSION OF MORMON HISTORIANSHatch Room, USU LibrarySeptember 9, 1965—1:30–5:30 P.M.1. Should we organize formally? If so, what is an appropriate name? Organization of Mormon Historians? Mormon Historical Association? LDS History Association? Or what?2. Do we need a constitution? If so, maybe one of you would write a draft of one. At least, we ought to have a chairman or president or secretary who can serve as a focus for communications. Nominations for such a person or persons are now open!3. Would it be desirable to publish a newsletter each quarter? If so, how to finance it? Assess each person $1 a year? There is good precedent for this in some of the professional organizations.4. What stand should we take with respect to the new proposed journal Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought? Should we support it, at least temporarily, or make plans to sponsor our own journal?5. What kind of arrangements should we make for meeting with other Mormon historians at the time of the American Historical Association meetings in San Francisco December 28–30? Someone should reserve a place and time for meeting and arrange for a program.Any other business that any member would like to propose?As the result of the meeting, the following letter went out to a wide circle of historians and social scientists interested in Mormon history.Within the next few weeks I received letters from many persons—perhaps thirty-five or forty. Most of them enclosed $1.00. This enabled me to send out the following Letter No. 2 on November 10, 1965.The organizational meeting was held in San Francisco in connection with the annual meeting of the American Historical Association (their first meeting in the American West), in the Monterey room of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Minutes of this founding meeting were as follows: MINUTES OF THE FORMATIVE MEETING OF THE MORMON HISTORY ASSOCIATIONSan Francisco, California, December 28, 1965This meeting was held in connection with the annual meeting of the American Historical Association. Leonard J. Arrington conducted, and fifty-two persons were in attendance. Among those present were representatives of the Church Historian's Office, major western universities, L. D. S. Institutes of Religion, the Idaho Historical Society, and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. At least one prominent non-Mormon historian was present.I. Meeting commenced at 7:30 P.M.II. Invocation by Earl E. Olson.III. Introductory comments by Leonard J. Arrington included the following: A. Welcome and personal introductions of all present. Each person was asked to introduce himself and indicate his interest in the Association.B. Dr. Arrington discussed the background of the organization, indicating that for some years various people interested in Mormon history had been talking about some kind of formal organization. Last fall in Logan, Utah, a group of historians got together during the Utah Conference on Higher Education and made definite plans which resulted in this meeting. Dr. Arrington was assigned to write the newsletter and do the necessary mailing; Eugene Campbell was assigned to write a proposed constitution; Thomas G. Alexander made arrangements for the meeting place; and Richard Bushman and James B. Allen arranged the program.C. Dr. Arrington reported that only yesterday he had met with the board of the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Society. The Pacific Coast Branch agreed to allow the Mormon History Association to become affiliated with this organization and to be included in the program of its annual meetings. The only stipulation was that the Mormon History Association remain a professional organization interested primarily in scholarly research and writing. Dr. Arrington was charged personally with keeping the Pacific Coast Branch assured that this was the case. The next meeting of the Pacific Coast Branch will be held on August 30, 31, and September 1, 1966, in Portland, Oregon. This will be our first annual meeting, and we will work to make it most rewarding. Chairman of the session will be Dr. James Clayton and arrangements are under the direction of Davis Bitton. A question was raised concerning the reason for having our organization meet at the same time as the Pacific Coast Branch—why not in connection with some other meeting? It was explained by Dr. Arrington that the location of most of the members of the association made it most convenient for the largest number to attend this meeting. It is planned, however, to also have meetings in connection with other associations, but this one will be the official annual meeting.D. It was announced that three annual awards of $25.00 each will be announced in the next meeting in August. These will go to the author of the best book on Mormon history published in the preceding twelve months; the author of the best article on Mormon history published in the preceding twelve months; and the author of the best thesis or dissertation on Mormon history approved during the preceding twelve months. Awards in all three categories will not necessarily be made every year. For the present, judges will consist of the officers of the Association. Nominations for the awards to be given in August 1966 are welcome.E. LeRoy Hafen raised a question concerning membership in the Association—is it restricted to Mormons? Dr. Arrington explained that the original thought was that it should include all persons who are interested in Mormon history, regardless of their church affiliation. It should also include professional historians who may not be doing actual research and writing in Mormon history, but who have a kinship of interest. It was seemingly the consensus of the group that there should be no restriction of this nature on membership.IV. Eugene E. Campbell discussed the proposed constitution, and general discussion from the floor was held on each item. A modified version of the constitution was adopted, and accompanies these minutes. One of the most serious items raised concerned the term of office of the officers. It was suggested that a two-year term would be more meaningful than a one-year term. Dr. Campbell explained that those involved in writing the constitution agreed with this, but felt that it should not actually be written in, in case the people constituting the nominating committee saw the necessity of changing an unsatisfactory officer. It was assumed, however, that the nominating committee would work this out and would probably re-nominate the president and other officers for a second term. It was felt best, however, not to make a constitutional fiat in this respect. The group accepted this explanation. In connection with Article IV of the constitution, dues were raised from $1.00 to $2.00, and all present members were asked to pay their additional $1.00 as soon as possible.V. Eugene Campbell, as chairman of the nominating committee, nominated the following people as officers of the Association: President: Leonard J. Arrington, Utah State University1st Vice President: Eugene E. Campbell, Brigham Young University2nd Vice President: James L. Clayton, University of UtahSecretary Treasurer: Dello G. Dayton, Weber State CollegeCouncil Members: Alfred Bush, Princeton UniversityRobert Flanders, Graceland CollegeDavis Bitton, University of California at Santa BarbaraMerle Wells, Idaho State Historical SocietyDr. Campbell explained that these nominations generally reflected the names which had been mentioned most frequently on the ballots that had come in. Nominations from the floor were called for. There being no further nominations, these officers were installed by acclamation.VI. Richard Bushman discussed the general topic: “Projects and Programs.”A. He indicated that his discussion was only to present ideas of what we might be doing, in addition to our regular meetings and research, but certainly not intended to commit the Association to any of these programs, or to call for immediate action on them.B. Since Truman G. Madsen, who is director of the Institute of Mormon Studies at B.Y.U., could not attend because of illness, Dr. Bushman gave a brief report on some of the things the Institute might do, and which this Association might be interested in. He explained that the Institute was still involved primarily with doing special research projects of interest to church leaders. Some of these projects, however, would involve some historical research, and money may be available to scholars who are interested in working on such projects.C. Dr. Bushman suggested that we should be looking to the of for a new history of the church which could be published in connection with the The of B.Y.U., and the Institute of Mormon Studies are and some money is available for appropriate projects. things might be in with the It would be to ideas on which need to be which would include not only new but a of all the materials being It would include a from many universities, The Institute of Mormon Studies would to and to of items The Mormon History Association could by In discussion from the was raised to the of an official connection this Association and the Institute of Mormon It was generally felt that this Association should stand not being any other group for its projects or its Dr. Bushman explained that he not to an official and agreed with the general He was ideas about what to be one of the editors of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon reported on the plans for this new publication, the first of which will early in He indicated that it will include a book and The present thought is to out three regular each a special on a or He made an that the Mormon History Association take the as the first of these special Leonard Arrington was for such an He his that would stand for the of but They have had a wide from people in all of the with a wide of He indicated that to good writing as well as The editors all interested to good and to good articles from Perhaps a of annual can be by In to a question about the of the non-Mormon to he indicated that it was intended that of the remain with church however, were from all regardless of church and there would be no on the of church The only for would be good good and of the Dr. Dr. Arrington asked that all members to ideas for articles to be included in the it was generally assumed, the Mormon History Association would take He asked that members articles by 1, 1966, and that we also who have good of this them to their A discussion was held on the general of ideas for new to Mormon history. on the were of University and of Utah State University. James B. Allen was the need for more research in He suggested the of a more to more and place them in where would be available for research. He the that many were still restricted in their and suggested that the best Mormon history can be only when are suggested that many are now Mormon history and that ought to take a this he that ought not to write their history with the of the as some have of the historian is that of We need to our and the but we should not in the of and we should not that our history us all the We need to a few but we do not need to to a new We should take a but we ought to as the not the of the A brief discussion The meeting at B. following constitution was the of articles to be published in the of members of at meetings of the Organization of American Historians, Western History Association, American Historical Association, and Pacific Coast and announced that members had their dues by 1, 1966, of which were Reorganized Church historians and three were Wells, A. The included a of of Utah, LDS Institute and persons not affiliated with or L. of the would in the organization, there were members of Mormon History Association. The of members included persons in all of the and at least in Some were or students in Western American history. were in and American history. Some were in such other as and were who to their of Mormon history and to support the various of the the three years that held its annual meeting in August in association with of the Pacific Coast In the official meeting was in during the meetings of the Organization of American In the business meeting was held in in Santa in connection with the of the Western History Association. During these years meetings were also held in association with the Organization of American in Pacific Coast Branch in Western History Association in and American Historical Association in in the officers decided to hold in the in from other historical The of was such that there was a need for of persons to present and also for the of interested historians to the This also with the of the LDS Historical and the of a group of professional historians to do research, and in the field of Mormon the been for to hold meetings one in Mormon and and the next in the Salt Lake have out arranged programs, and conducted other business appropriate for the Association. In the organization, with one felt strong to the annual of the Journal of Mormon History. In addition to business and the Journal papers in the annual meeting and other one of the of was to research and the of ideas the organization been The number of papers at our meetings now the and the of these have been published in In addition to its by the Association in 1966, also published other in historical For its BYU Studies a in each Historian's which and of interest to Each a special is to articles on some historical The number who attend the annual now in of on the of in sound to be who to be Mormon historians from a of because of a On the one all of us are Latter-day Saints. We the Church and to on of On the other we are and of historical and are to the best of our We would be or as actually to the of or one would that our members from BYU or or LDS Institutes or or the Church Historical or those who write for the or are any more or than our members at universities, or who write for II, or all of us have our place; all can for and make to our common We all in and historical and our historical and our in several Our us that in history, and we of this both in our personal and in our historical research. our historical us to be we may be this, or our may be their We that and have frequently in the of in a and our in this is by our of who take the out and as a of a that is or at least professional in us The in us this we have a who we LDS historians and who we not There is no to this with the If we are to as Mormon we have us a to us as I that a person may be a Latter-day Saint and a and support us in this even some of our is suggested by the of to me before his history is our history, Arrington, and we need to with it or be of A was made to me before his by his B. best of the he a to the one made by John the and of our me to us in our to the in writing the history of our we should as as possible all of time and place that might or our historical We the people we write about by their own than by those of our own the of having to make of and programs, we should and all the before is of us who have been in the field for many years that the result of a and to at all the historical about any or is an of the and of the In to be we to take a any historian who about the is or to take up an Our be to as as possible as the saw in his and his his and his his and his with his In the is with we should be We with the of and groups for and the of the which on and the of and At the same however, we of and in Although we be our be by a and of the of and in we be that that all and and are to is in history, he may with history. In and their we also and their a we LDS historians have in writing the history of our We have an to in our professional work the of and The work of historical is a of of our This that we have an to be and even when to the us to to the ideas on the Historical research conducted with the is for us not only a professional but a as the history of the church is not only a but of a we members of do our work we will come to be in the of our with a history, with the of our about it, with the of and with which we our this our and our will be by the of our and There will be a and respect for the we work a for and in history. We will to before we and we we will do it with the that being are involved in any we may make of We will not history as a from which may be at We will not it and will our as and to We will our being them. the personal and the of history we will also at We will for the working of both in the and in the still of the things that me about our work is the in which it us to have an with our Saints of LDS history is more than the of and It is a history of in their in their and in their social and in their and in their and in their and In our as scholars we be to the of in all its rich and in all its and in all its and that we will as members of that our will be by research, and the of the of Latter-day and that our history will us and our new of Mormon experiences in the and present.