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If you have, or know of, a journal, autobiography, diary or letters of other contemporaries of Joseph Smith, Jr. and would like to see them in this collection, please email us.

Journals, Diaries, Biographies and Autobiographies of Some Early Mormons and Others Who Knew Joseph Smith, Jr. and/or His Contemporaries.

  • Introduction

  • Record of the Kirtland Elders Quorum (1836-1841)
    Joseph Smith left Ohio in January 1838. The record provides interesting insight into Kirtland happenings after the headquarters moved to Missouri and then Illinois.
  • Charles Francis Adams (1807-1886)
    Diary of trip from Boston to near the western limit of the U.S. at the time. Adams' traveling companion was Josiah Quincy, Jr. Adams details his encounter with Joseph Smith. Holograph, Massachusetts Historical Society. Includes only the two day visit in May 1844.
  • William Adams (1822-1894)
    Autobiography written at age 72, covering the period 1822-1849. Typescript, HBLL (Brigham Young University library).
  • Milo Andrus (1814-1893)
    Autobiography covering the period 1814-1875. Typescript, HBLL.
  • Truman O. Angell (1810-1887)
    Autobiography and portions of journal covering period (1810-1856). Was architect of Salt Lake Temple. From Our Pioneer Heritage Vol. 10 (1967) pp. 195-213.
  • Benjamin Ashby (1828-1907)
    Autobiography covering the period 1828-1847. Nauvoo happenings. From photocopy of holograph HBLL.
  • George Washington Gill Averett (1824-1902)
    Autobiography covering the period 1824-1846. Typescript HBLL
  • Lewis Barney (1808-1894)
    Autobiography covering period 1808-1846. Typescript HBLL
  • Gilbert Belnap (1821-1899)
    Autobiography covering the period 1821-1846. Typescript HBLL
  • Ezra T. Benson (1811-1869)
    Autobiography of early LDS Apostle. Appeared in The Instructor Vol. 80 (1945).
  • Henry William Bigler (1815-1900)
    Autobiography covering the period 1815-1846. Typescript HBLL.
  • Henry G. Boyle (1824-1908)
    Autobiography and diary covering period 1831-1846. Typescript HBLL.
  • Benjamin Brown (1794-1878)
    Autobiography covering the period 1794-1853. From early Church publication in Liverpool, England.
  • Lorenzo Brown (1823-1900)
    Autobiography and journal covering 1823-1846. Typescript HBLL
  • Harrison Burgess (1814-1883)
    Autobiography covering period 1814-1848. Published by Skyline Printing, 1985, Tucson, Arizona.
  • William Burgess (1822-1904)
    Autobiography covering period 1822-1848. Published by Skyline Printing, 1985, Tucson, Arizona.
  • John Lowe Butler (1808-1861)
    Autobiography covering the period 1808-1858. Typescript HBLL.
  • William F. Cahoon (1813-1897)
    Autobiography covering the period 1813-1878. From Reynolds Cahoon and His Stalwart Sons (ed. Stella Shurtleff and Brent Cahoon) Salt Lake City: Paragon Press, 1960.
  • Anson Call (1810-1890)
    Autobiography covering the period 1810-1839. Typescript HBLL.
  • Solomon Chamberlain (1788-1862)
    Autobiography covering the period 1788-1850. Holograph HBLL. One of the first missionaries of Mormonism. Visions concerning restoration prior to Joseph Smith's.
  • William Clayton (1814-1879)
    Diary covering the period 1840-1842. Holograph HBLL.
  • William Clayton (1814-1879)
    Compilation of Clayton diaries covering the period 1840-1846. Robert Fillerup, compiler. Clayton a friend and clerk of Joseph Smith 1842 and following. Clayton assists in writing the Church history. Records teachings of Joseph Smith. Active in temple matters. Plural marriage.
  • Harvey H. Cluff (1836-1916)
    Autobiography covering the period 1836-1846. Miracle of quail. Typescript HBLL.
  • Truman Coe
    Newspaper article on the Mormons in Ohio. From The Ohio Observer (Hudson) August 11, 1836. Mormonism in Ohio.
  • Zebedee Coltrin (1804-1887)
    Various statements by Coltrin on Early LDS history in Kirtland, Ohio.
  • Howard Coray (1817-1900)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1817-1840. Typescript HBLL.
  • Howard Coray (1817-1900) Typographical facsimile of a letter, Howard Coray to his daughter, 1899. Family issues, Joseph Smith's revelations, answers his daughter's fears about the end of polygamy and Joseph Smith's prophecy that Jesus would return in 1891. Original in CHL.
  • John Corrill (1794-1843)
    History of the Mormons. Corrill's history published following his departure from the LDS Church. Publ. 1839.
  • Oliver Cowdery (1806-1850)
    September 1835 account by Cowdery of restoration of Aaronic Priesthood. Cowdery uses language from the recently translated book of Abraham text.
  • Oliver Cowdery (1806-1850)
    Cowdery's published history of early Mormonism. (Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate)
  • Oliver Cowdery (1806-1850)
    Letters from Cowdery to various. Stanley R. Gunn, Oliver Cowdery: Second Elder and Scribe, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1962.
  • Oliver Cowdery (1806-1850)
    Sketches of Cowdery. Andrew Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia and others.
  • Cordelia Cox (1823-1915)
    Autobiographical note on her rejection and later acceptance of plural marriage to Joseph Smith. Holograph HBLL written 1909.
  • Caroline Crosby (1807)-1883)
    Autobiography covering the period 1807-1838. Holograph Utah State Historical Society. Publ. in Women's Voices (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1982), pp. 46-57.
  • Jonathan Crosby (1807-1892)
    Autobiography covering the period 1807-1852. Holograph Utah State Historical Society.
  • Jesse W. Crosby (1820-1893)
    Autobiography covering the period 1820-1846. Conversion. Nauvoo. Missionary experiences. Typescript HBLL.
  • Philo Dibble (1806-1895)
    Autobiography covering the period 1806-1843. Various experiences with Joseph Smith including founding of Nauvoo. Publ. in FOUR FAITH PROMOTING CLASSICS (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968), pp. 74-96.
  • William Draper (1807-1886)
    Autobiography covering the period 1807-1881. Events in Kirtland and Nauvoo, journey to the west. Activities in Utah. Typescript HBLL.
  • Chapman Duncan (1812-1900)
    Autobiography covering the period 1812-1846. Typescript HBLL.
  • Esaias Edwards (1811-1897)
    Autobiography covering the period 1811-1847. Trials and healings. Nauvoo, journey to the west. Typescript HBLL.
  • Joseph Fielding (1797-1863)
    Nauvoo journal of Joseph Fielding. Holograph in LDS Archives, Salt Lake City. This version edited by Andrew F. Ehat.
  • Mary Fielding (1801-1852)
    Letters written 1837 by Mary Fielding. Events at Kirtland, Ohio.
  • Warren Foote (1817-1903)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1817-1846. Typescript HBLL.
  • Robert Gardner (1819-1906)
    Autobiography covering the period 1819-1848. Typescript HBLL.
  • Eliza Gibbs (1813-1900)
    Autobiography covering the period 1813-1857. Written 1890. Typescript Utah State Historical Society.
  • John H. Gilbert
    Recollections of typesetter for the first edition of the Book of Mormon. Written 1892.
  • John P. Greene (1793-1844)
    Statements regarding persecution of Mormons in Missouri. Publ. 1839.
  • Isaac C. Haight (1813-1886)
    Autobiography covering the period 1813-1846. Early history and journal entries. Missionary journeys. Nauvoo police. Typescript HBLL.
  • Aroet Lucious Hale (1828-1911)
    Journal covering the period 1828-1856. Typescript HBLL.
  • Autobiographies of Mary Hales, Charles Hales and Stephen Hales
    Various periods. Printed by Skyline Printing, Tucson, Arizona, 1985.
  • Levi Hancock (1803-1882)
    Autobiography of Levi Hancock covering the period 1803-1836. Typescript HBLL.
  • Mosiah Lyman Hancock (1834-1907)
    Autobiography covering the period 1834-1865. Typescript HBLL.
  • Martin Harris (1783-1875)
    Biographical sketch taken from Andrew Jenson's LDS Biographical Encyclopedia.
  • Lorenzo H. Hatch (1826-1910)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1826-1846. Typescript HBLL.
  • Joseph Holbrook (1806-1885)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1806-1846. Typescript HBLL.
  • John Meirs Horner (1821-1907)
    Autobiography and biographical notes covering the period 1821-1904. Baptized 1840, comes to Nauvoo, 1843. Brief comments on Nauvoo situation. Sailed on Brooklyn to California. Life in California.
  • Joseph Hovey (1812-1868)
    Autobiography covering the period 1812-1847. Typescript HBLL.
  • Oliver B. Huntington (1823-1909)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1823-1839. Interesting accounts of author's missionary journeys. Experiences in Kirtland, Far West, Nauvoo. Typescript HBLL.
  • Prescindia L. Huntington (1810-1892)
    Autobiography published in Tullidge's The Women of Mormondom 1877.
    Experience at Kirtland Temple, visits Joseph Smith in Liberty jail.
  • Marinda Hyde (1815-1886)
    Autobiography from Tullidge. Name is listed variously as Marinda Nancy Hyde and Nancy Mirinda Hyde (maiden name Johnson).
  • Orson Hyde (1805-1878)
    Autobiography of early LDS Apostle as published in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star vol. 26 (1864).
  • William Hyde (1818-1874)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1818-1846. HBLL.
  • Levi Jackman (1797-1876)
    Autobiographical sketch covering the period 1797-1833. Various events in the Church. 1833 Missouri troubles. Missionary and family experiences. Journal of westward trek. Typescript HBLL.
  • Benjamin F. Johnson (1818-1905)
    Excerpt from published autobiography My Life's Review covering the period 1818-1846. Final labors with Emma Smith to come west. Also the well-known letter to George S. Gibbs.
  • Joel H. Johnson (1802-1882)
    Autobiographical sketch covering the period 1802-1868. Typescript HBLL.
  • Joel H. Johnson (1802-1882)
    Tells of family tradition regarding Johnson's writing of the well-known Mormon hymn "High on the Mountain Top".
  • Joel H. Johnson (1802-1882)
    Journal of Joel H. Johnson, Volume 1, covering the period 1802-1858. Typescript by family members.
  • Joel H. Johnson (1802-1882)
    Journal of Joel H. Johnson, Volume 2, covering the period April 1857 to December 1858. Typescript by family members.
  • Joel H. Johnson (1802-1882)
    Journal of Joel H. Johnson, Volume 3, covering the period December 1858 to January 1861. Typescript by family members.
  • Joel H. Johnson (1802-1882)
    Journal of Joel H. Johnson, Volume 4, covering the period March 1861 to June 1882. Typescript by family members.
  • Luke Samuel Johnson (1807-1861)
    Luke S. Johnson was the son of John Johnson, friend and benefactor of Joseph Smith in Ohio. Luke Johnson became one of the original members of the Twelve Apostles (1835). He was excommunicated in 1837. Rejoined the Church following the death of Joseph Smith and lived in Utah until his death.
  • Josiah Jones (?)
    Article, History of the Mormonites, appeared in The Evangelist June 1, 1841. Anti-Mormon article by a former resident of Kirtland during the period when members of the LDS Church began to populate the region. Important early Mormons mentioned.
  • Zadoc K. Judd (1827-1909)
    Autobiography written at age 75 (excerpt) covering the period 1827-1848. Mormon Battalion journey. Typescript HBLL.
  • William H. Kelley
    Statements by former neighbors of the Joseph Smith, Sr. family collected by RLDS Apostle William H. Kelley and published in 1881.
  • Heber C. Kimball (1801-1868)
    Extracts of Kimball's journal covering various periods together with letters and other items. Published in various sources. Kimball was not an educated man and his unedited journal reflects this in its spelling and grammar. He sometimes had his journal kept by other men following the example of Joseph Smith. The letters and journal entries quoted here appear as edited in the published sources. These sources sometimes have remarks inserted which are not Kimball's although they no doubt reflect his thought.
  • Vilate Kimball (1806-1867)
    Autobiography of Vilate (Murray) Kimball covering the period 1806-1837. Wife of early LDS Apostle Heber C. Kimball. From Tullidge's The Women of Mormondom, 1877.
  • Joseph Knight, Sr. (1772-1847)
    Recollections of Joseph Knight, Sr. regarding his early experiences with Joseph Smith, Jr. Holograph LDS archives.
  • Newel Knight (1800-1847)
    Autobiography covering the period 1800-1846. Some material excerpted from History of the Church. Subject of what is often called the first miracle of the restored Church.
  • Vinson Knight (1804-1842)
    Letter from Knight to William Cooper dated February 3, 1839. Regarding difficulties of Mormons in Missouri. Typescript HBLL.
  • Charles Lambert (1816-1892)
    England. Conversion and missionary experiences. Nauvoo living. Nauvoo Temple. Reminiscent accounts of Joseph Smith sermons. Plural marriage. Going west. Winter Quarters. Utah experiences - Johnston's army. Construction engineer. Typescript LDS Church Archives.
  • George Laub (1814-1880)
    Autobiographical statements based in part on excerpts of author's journal covering the period 1814-1846. Some of Joseph Smith's sermons. Typescript HBLL.
  • George Laub (1814-1880)
    George Laub's journal of Nauvoo happenings. Some of Joseph Smith's sermons. Holograph LDS archives, edited by Eugene England.
  • Josiah Quincy, Jr. (1802-1882)
    The future mayor of Boston visits the west with his cousin Charles Francis Adams. Stops in Nauvoo and spends a day with Joseph Smith. Account supposedly based on his unavailable diary but narrative differs at a number of significant points with the detailed diary of his traveling companion, Adams (son of John Quincy Adams). Excerpt from Quincy's book (book published posthumously).
  • Sally Randall (1805-?)
    Letters from Nauvoo (1843) to her family in New England. In Godfrey, Womens's Voices 1982.
  • Mary Rich (1829-1912)
    Autobiography covering the period 1829-1846. Typescript HBLL.
  • Sarah Rich (1814-1893)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1814-1893. Missouri experiences. Nauvoo exodus. Wife of LDS Apostle Charles C. Rich. Typescript HBLL.
  • Hepzibah Richards (1795-1838)
    Sister of LDS Apostle Willard Richards. Letters 1838. Details of Kirtland apostasy. Financial problems of Church. Attempts by dissenters to obtain papyri and Church records foiled. LDS Archives.
  • Rhoda Richards (1784-1879)
    Autobiographical remarks. From Tullidge's book The Women of Mormondom 1877.
  • Willard Richards (1804-1854)
    History of the LDS Apostle and counselor to Brigham Young. From the Star 1865.
  • Ebenezer Robinson (1816-1891)
    Autobiography covering the period 1832-1843. Publ. by the author 1888.
  • James Rollins (1816-1899)
    Autobiography covering the period 1816-1839. Father of Mary Rollins Lightner. Typescript HBLL.
  • Luman Shurtliff (1807-1884)
    Autobiography covering 1807-1847. Early life, Missouri persecution. Typescript HBLL.
  • Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith (1822-1910)
    Autobiography and journal covering the period 1822-1906. Wife of LDS Apostle George A. Smith. Also letters to George A. Smith. Nauvoo temple officiator. Typescript HBLL.
  • Joseph Smith (1805-1844)
    Ohio segment of Joseph Smith's life as recalled by various in the Journal of Discourses.
  • Joseph Smith (1805-1844)
    Recollections of Joseph Smith by various persons. Publ. in Juvenile Instructor 1892.
  • Joseph Smith (1805-1844)
    Joseph Smith's account of Church history to Daniel Rupp. Text very close to the so-called "Wentworth Letter."
  • William C. Staines (1818-1881)
    Reminiscences of William C. Staines. Appeared in The Contibutor 1890.
  • Allen Stout (1815-1889)
    Journal 1815-1848. Missouri, Nauvoo, Winter Quarters. Typescript HBLL.
  • Hosea Stout (1810-1889)
    Diary for the period Oct. 1844-1846. Detailed happenings in Nauvoo. Plural Marriage. Mob troubles. Typescript HBLL.
  • John Taylor (1808-1887)
    John Taylor, early LDS Apostle and President of Church following Brigham Young. A selection of his speeches relating to Joseph Smith.
  • Martha Thomas (1808-1885)
    Autobiography covering the years 1812-1847. Publ. by family 1927. Contains sayings of Joseph Smith, somewhat unique.
  • Nancy Tracy (1816-1902)
    Autobiography covering the years 1816-1846. Ohio, Missouri, Nauvoo, Council Bluffs. Typescript HBLL.
  • William L. Watkins (1827-1911)
    Autobiography covering the period 1827-1846. Baptized, England. Nauvoo. Joseph Smith's activities. Travels. Typescript HBLL.
  • William S. West
    Mormon critic William S. West's 1837 pamphlet telling of his visit to Kirtland, Ohio. West encounters various Mormons, discusses the book of Abraham and quotes D&C 104. Copy HBLL.
  • John Whitmer's history of the Church
    John Whitmer, Book of Mormon witness and early LDS historian. Whitmer kept a brief history of the Mormon Church up to about 1837, taking over the responsibility from Oliver Cowdery. Whitmer became critical of Joseph Smith and left the Church; the last few chapters were written after Whitmer was excommunicated.
  • Elizabeth Ann Whitney (1800-1882)
    Autobiography publ. in Tullidge. Wife of Newel K. Whitney.
  • Helen Whitney (1828-1896)
    Autobiography and anecdotes about early LDS personalities. Nauvoo events. Plural marriage. Daughter of Heber C. Kimball.
  • Lyman Wight (1796-1858)
    History of Wight published in the Star 1865. Early LDS Apostle. First man ordained high priest. After death of Joseph Smith led group of Mormons to Texas.
  • Orange Wight (1823-1907)
    Recollections of Orange Wight, son of Lyman Wight prominent early LDS figure. Typescript HBLL.
  • Diedrich Willers (1798?-?)
    Willers was a New York minister. 1830 Letter to other preachers regarding the history of Mormonism. Mentions early LDS personalities. Reviews portion of Book of Mormon.
  • Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
    Preston Nibley's sketches from his book, publ. 1958.
  • Autobiography of Daniel Wood (1800-1892)
    Letters to his brother in 1868. Early missionary experiences. Winter Quarters.
  • Phebe Woodruff (1807-1885)
    Wife of Wilford Woodruff (early LDS Apostle and President of the Church in the 1890s). Autobiography of Phebe appeared in Tullidge's book, 1877.
  • Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898)
    History of Woodruff publ. in Star 1865. Early LDS Apostle and later President of the Church, 1889-1898.
  • Brigham Young manuscript history, 1801-1844
    Ms history of Young, his journal record covering the period 1801-1844. Publ. 1968 by Elden J. Watson.
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