UI Press | Ronald W. Walker, David J. Whittaker, and James B. Allen With a contribution by Armand Mauss

Mormon History

A comprehensive view of how the writing of Mormon history has evolved since the establishment of the church

A companion volume to their massive bibliography Studies in Mormon History, 1830–1997, this descriptive history by a team of top Mormon scholars provides a comprehensive view of how the writing of Mormon history has evolved since the establishment of the church. Mormon History offers an interpretive survey of Mormon historical writings, from the partisan and often ephemeral history of the nineteenth century through the shift in the twentieth toward a more balanced and professional approach and an emphasis on how the Mormons helped settle the American West. The authors examine Mormon biography and autobiography and discuss social science literature on the Mormons, including studies of social geography, rural sociology, and agricultural economics. Two valuable appendices round out this volume, one on the development and nature of Mormon imprints, the other on conducting historical research in Mormon sources.

"[A] definitive historiography of Mormonism . . . . The authors evaluate all sources evenhandedly and sort out the various schools of thought regarding the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including recent approaches. Given how controversial these topics can be, their achievement is especially impressive."--Library Journal

"An indispensable and concise resource that deals with all aspects of writing and publishing Mormon history. . . . Fresh, insightful, and learned and will no doubt influence a new generation of writers in this field."--Utah Historical Quarterly

"Useful to almost anyone interested in scholarly studies of the Latter-day Saints."--Choice

Ronald W. Walker is a professional historian living in Salt Lake City and a professor emeritus of history at Brigham Young University. David J. Whittaker is an associate professor of history and the curator of nineteenth-century western and Mormon Americana at the Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. James B. Allen is a professor emeritus of history at Brigham Young University and a former assistant church historian.

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