Prostitution, Polygamy, And Power

Salt Lake City, 1847-1918

Author: Jeffrey Nichols

The history of prostitution in early Salt Lake City and its role in the long political and economic struggle between Mormons and gentiles

Paper – $28

978-0-252-07592-6

Publication Date

Paperback: 08/15/2008

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About the Book

After the transcontinental railroad opened Utah to large-scale emigration and market capitalism, hundreds of women in Salt Lake City began to sell sex for a living, and a few earned small fortunes. Businessmen and politicians developed a financial stake in prostitution, which was regulated by both Mormon and gentile officials. In this book, Jeffrey Nichols examines how prostitution became a focal point in the moral contest between Mormons and gentiles and aided in the construction of gender systems, moral standards, and the city's physical and economic landscapes.

About the Author

Jeffrey Nichols is an associate professor of history at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

Reviews

"A fresh, revealing overview of two topics in Salt Lake City's history that often have been considered, if not taboo, then generally too delicate for close, honest inspection. [Jeffrey Nichols's] study treats polygamy and prostitution issues with honesty, sensitivity, and a professional historian's eye for detail and documentation. . . . A fascinating read."--Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought

"A useful contribution to the history of both commercial sex and western politics."--Journal of American History

"This admirable and sympathetic treatment of prostitution in Utah's biggest city is a welcome addition to the literature. Nichols has given us a well-documented business and labor history of the sex trade for his period."--American Historical Review