Writing Mormon History: Historians and Their Books

Abstract

How do people approach studying the past? What motivates them to select a topic, wade through all the possible sources, force them to compile all the information, and then sit down and write an article or a book? The answer is easy for students at whatever level from high school classes to PhD programs. It is a class requirement. But what about people who just have a question and are not satisfied with an internet search? Joseph W. Geisner, an independent researcher, asked authors of historical studies those types of questions and received some thought-provoking answers. He explains in the introduction: “When Signature Books broached the idea of compiling an anthology, I proposed assembling a collection of essays by eminent historians—women and men whose writings had so impacted my life—telling their own stories about writing their books” (viii).The result are fifteen insightful essays that range from how the authors became interested in Mormon studies to ideas on how to approach research. While a few are academic historians who live in a “publish or perish” world, most are people who went beyond asking a question and took the time to find possible answers. Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery, the wives of graduate students at the time, asked why Emma Hale Smith “had long been neglected, even shunned as dangerous by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (161). Newell describes their nine-year exploration that led to a book that Mormon historians praised but church leaders questioned. Brian Hales wanted to know more about the past and present of plural marriage when a relative was excommunicated from the LDS Church for practicing polygamy. The list could go on. Readers who enjoyed other books on Mormon polygamy (Todd Compton and George D. Smith) as well as studies of Brigham Young (John D. Turner) and David O. McKay (Gregory A. Prince) to name a few more examples from the book, can discover why the authors wanted to explore the topics. One of the most interesting chapters is Geisner's edits of academically trained D. Michael Quinn's journals from 1972 to 1995 who outlines the Mormon history Camelot years and beyond.I found some of the stories very familiar because I know the authors or they explained their stories in their books or later writings. But having a collection gives readers a chance to see the variety of approaches taken by people from many walks of life including doctors, company executives, archivists, and interested church members. The chatty tone of most of the articles made for pleasant bedtime reading. As an ever-curious person though, I wonder why these people impacted Geisner so much. Many of the authors publish with Signature Books. Was that a consideration? Were these people that Geisner related to their writings or personalities? Were their topics areas he cared about? Would other readers feel the same? A quick search on the internet reflects that many readers love the book. Others, including myself, are surprised by how few of the authors are trained historians and reviewers for this journal have often questioned the authors’ conclusions. Whatever the reasons, Signature Books has been impressed with the book's success and is considering a second volume.As the coeditor of this journal, I hope readers will recognize that they do not need a PhD in history to understand the past and what they can learn from it. They just need a question and the curiosity to answer it. Hopefully these stories will inspire more readers to study the past and share their information with this journal.