The Joseph Smith Papers Explained

The Joseph Smith Papers
Author:Joseph Smith, Jr.
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Religious writings
Publisher:Church Historian's Press
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Published:2008–2023
Media Type:Print and online (with the latter at JosephSmithPapers.org)
Italic Title:no

The Joseph Smith Papers (or Joseph Smith Papers Project) is a documentary editing project to collect, research, and publish all documents created by, or under the direction of, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Documents are published online alongside transcriptions and annotations, with selections also published in 27 printed volumes.

The project began in 2001, published its first printed volume in 2008 and released its final printed volume in 2023; as of 2024, the project continues to publish digital content. The Church History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) sponsored the project; the department's imprint, the Church Historian's Press, published the website and printed volumes.[1]

History of the project

After Smith's death in 1844, a collection of his papers was carried west by Brigham Young and other church leaders. Some significant documents remained with Smith's widow, Emma, and others, such as John Whitmer. Many of these were not published until years later by the LDS Church, the Community of Christ, and independent researchers.

The "roots" of the project began in the late 1960s when Truman G. Madsen invited Dean C. Jessee, then an employee of the Church Historian's Office, to contribute documents relating to Joseph Smith and early Mormonism to issues of BYU Studies. In 1972, Leonard J. Arrington was appointed the Church Historian and he directed Jessee to continue to "locate, collect, and transcribe Smith's writings." This resulted in Jessee's 1984 publication, The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, followed by the two volume Papers of Joseph Smith, the first in 1989 and the second in 1992. This preliminary publication of Smith's documents was important to the creation of the landmark biography, , which Richard Bushman published in 2005.[2]

In 2001, Jessee's project became a joint venture between Brigham Young University's (BYU) Joseph Fielding Smith Institute and the LDS Church Archives. The project was renamed The Joseph Smith Papers and expanded with added funding from Larry H. and Gail Miller.[3] (The Millers provided a donation of $10 million in bonds and additional cash contributions.[4]) In June 2004, the project received endorsement by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a division of the US National Archives,[5] ensuring research was conducted according to the highest scholarly standards.[6] The project was moved to Salt Lake City in 2005, when BYU's Joseph Fielding Smith Institute dissolved.

Publishing

In February 2008, the Church Historian's Press, was established "for publishing works related to the Church's origin and growth." The publication of The Joseph Smith Papers was the press's initial project.[7] Marlin K. Jensen, Church Historian and Recorder at the time of the press' establishment, said the papers project would include "journals, diaries, correspondence, articles and notices. Everything of a written nature Joseph Smith generated, or over which he had oversight."[7] Prior to publication of the documents, transcripts of the manuscripts were verified three times, and annotation was supplied to provide the historical context for each document.

The first volume of The Joseph Smith Papers, entitled, The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 1: 1832–1839, was released in December 2008.[8] Despite the $50 retail price, unexpectedly high demand caused the initial printing of 12,500 copies to sell out in two weeks, and the publishers to triple their projected second printing order to 16,500. Many Christmas purchasers bought gift certificates for the coming printing and some extant copies were resold for over twice the retail price.[9]

The final printed volume, number 15 of the Documents series, was published on June 27, 2023.[10] Even though the print volumes are completed, new content will continue to come and the website will see "substantial work" beyond 2023.[11]

Volumes

Initially, the project anticipated that it would publish around two dozen print volumes, as well as online publication of additional documents not included in the print editions.[12] [13] After the release of the final volume, the printed volumes numbered 27.

The papers are divided into the following seven series:[14]

Administrative records

The Administrative records series published records relating to the "institutions that were established under Smith's directions" as well as minutes for meetings Smith attended.

Documents

Contains correspondence, sermons and other addresses, official declarations and pronouncements, editorials and articles from periodicals, early versions of revelations, and "selected minutes and proceedings." Several hundred documents from this series are available on the Joseph Smith Papers website.[16]

Financial records

Contains Smith's financial records, including tithing books.[32] The documents from this series are available only online.

Histories

Contains Smith's manuscript history, which he began in 1838, and continued by clerks after his death in 1844.

Journals

Contains the ten journals kept by Smith and his scribes from 1832 to 1844.

Legal records

Contains records of cases in which Smith was a plaintiff, defendant, witness, or judge. Also contains records related to the trial of his accused assassins and his estate's disposition. While an ebook study aid was published in 2024, the documents from this series are available only online, with minimal annotation.[37]

Revelations and Translations

Contains the earliest known manuscripts text of revelations received by Smith and published in his lifetime including the printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon, the published Book of Mormon, and the Book of Commandments.

Editorial board and project staff

The current and editorial board and project staff are as follows:[43]

Editorial Board

National Advisory Board

General Editors

Managing Historian

Associate Managing Historian

Editorial Manager

Assistant Editorial Managers

Project Archivist

Document Specialists

Volume Co-editors

Production Editors

Awards

In 2008, Journals, Volume 1: 1832-1839 received the Special Award in Textual Criticism and Bibliography from the Association for Mormon Letters,[44] and the Steven F. Christensen Best Documentary Award from the Mormon History Association in 2009.[45]

Related projects

From 2017 through 2023, the project sponsored an annual "Joseph Smith Papers Conference" in Salt Lake City.[46] [47] Beginning in 2020 and ending in 2023, the project released a five-series podcast, which focused on certain themes from the church's history.[48] [49]

In December 2016, the project released a study aid titled Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers. Published only as an ebook, the study aid was produced to provide original text and historical context for those studying the Doctrine and Covenants.[50] The project released an updated version of this book in 2020.[51]

Although not an official part of the project, a documentary TV series also called The Joseph Smith Papers was aired in the late 2000s. The two-season series documented the creation of and work involved in the Joseph Smith Papers Project. It was produced by KJZZ-TV in cooperation with the Church History Department.[52]

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About the Project . The Joseph Smith Papers website . . May 24, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110517074425/http://beta.josephsmithpapers.org/aboutTheProject . May 17, 2011.
  2. Book: Bushman, Richard . Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling . Knopf . 2007 . xxii.
  3. News: Walch . Tad . Miller funding Joseph Smith project . . April 4, 2005 . Salt Lake City . December 2, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080614180520/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600123721,00.html . June 14, 2008.
  4. Book: Miller . Larry H. . Robinson . Doug . Driven: An Autobiography . 2010 . Salt Lake City . Deseret Book . 9781606416563.
  5. June 2004 . Commission Adopts New Directions, Awards $5.9 Million in Grants" . Annotation . 32 . 2 . 16.
  6. News: Choate . Amy . Joseph Smith research gets top endorsement . August 12, 2004 . . December 3, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170323/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595083533/Joseph-Smith-research-gets-top-endorsement.html . October 21, 2013.
  7. Web site: New Publishing Imprint Set to Boost Mormon Scholarship . February 25, 2008 . . Salt Lake City, Utah . December 2, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080228152009/http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/new-publishing-imprint-set-to-boost-mormon-scholarship . February 28, 2008.
  8. Web site: Landmark Publication Launches: Inaugural Volume of Joseph Smith Papers Now Available . December 2008 . . December 3, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081203073519/http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/landmark-publication-launches-inaugural-volume-of-joseph-smith-papers-now-available . December 3, 2008.
  9. News: New Joseph Smith book sells out quickly . Lynn . Arave . December 9, 2008 . . Salt Lake City . December 30, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081211071526/http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705269059,00.html . December 11, 2008.
  10. Web site: June 27, 2023 . Final Volume of Joseph Smith Papers Published, Completing Monumental Historical Work . April 3, 2024 . Church Historian's Press.
  11. News: Toone . Trent . September 27, 2022 . A look back at the history of the Joseph Smith Papers, its impact and what's coming in 2023 . Church News . Salt Lake City . April 20, 2024 . “It’s kind of a misnomer to say that the Joseph Smith Papers project is going to be completed in 2023,” [Brent M.] Rogers said. “There will still be a lot of releases and new content coming that will be available in the years beyond 2023. ... There is still going to be some substantial work ongoing online.”.
  12. Web site: Purchase Our Published Volumes . josephsmithpapers.org . The Church Historian's Press . February 15, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160214230818/http://josephsmithpapers.org/publishedVolumes . February 14, 2016.
  13. News: R. Scott Lloyd . Joseph Smith Papers' 'Histories' Vol. 2 released . October 3, 2012 . . . February 15, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160514224929/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765608678/Joseph-Smith-Papers-Histories-Vol-2-released.html . May 14, 2016.
  14. Web site: Published Volumes . . The Joseph Smith Papers . The Church Historian's Press . April 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240325152303/https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/published-volumes . March 25, 2024.
  15. Book: Administrative Records, Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846 . Church Historian's Press . 2016 . 9781629722429 . Grow . Matthew J. . Salt Lake City, Utah . 939911194 . Esplin . Ronald K. . Ashurst-McGee . Mark . Dirkmaat . Gerrit John . Mahas . Jeffrey D..
  16. Web site: The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents: Letters, revelations, reports of discourses, minutes, etc. . May 27, 2011 . May 30, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110530154218/http://beta.josephsmithpapers.org/thepapers . dead.
  17. News: Walker . Joseph . LDS Church releases new volume of Joseph Smith documents . September 4, 2013 . . December 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213062626/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865585776/LDS-Church-releases-new-volume-of-Joseph-Smith-documents.html . December 13, 2013.
  18. News: Lloyd . R. Scott . Joseph Smith Papers Project Releases New Volume . December 10, 2013 . . December 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141217083344/https://www.lds.org/church/news/joseph-smith-papers-project-releases-new-volume?lang=eng . December 17, 2014.
  19. News: Lloyd . R. Scott . December 5, 2014 . Latest Joseph Smith Papers volume covers 88 historical documents . . April 26, 2021.
  20. Web site: December 1, 2014 . Joseph Smith Papers Project Publishes Documents, Volume 3 . April 26, 2021 . The Joseph Smith Papers.
  21. News: Toone . Trent . From Kirtland to Missouri: 5 interesting notes from 'Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Vol. 4' . May 11, 2016 . . May 16, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160716063153/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653883/From-Kirtland-to-Missouri-5-interesting-notes-from-Joseph-Smith-Papers-Documents-Vol-4.html . July 16, 2016.
  22. Web site: Documents, Volume 5, Now Available . May 15, 2017 . April 3, 2024 . The Joseph Smith Papers.
  23. Web site: September 26, 2017 . Documents, Volume 6, Now Available . April 3, 2024 . The Joseph Smith Papers.
  24. Web site: April 2, 2018 . Documents, Volume 7: September 1839–January 1841 Is Now Available . April 3, 2024 . Church Historian's Press.
  25. Web site: May 13, 2019 . Newest Joseph Smith Papers Volume Now Available . April 26, 2021 . The Joseph Smith Papers.
  26. Web site: October 8, 2019 . Documents, Volume 9 Is Now Available . April 26, 2021 . The Joseph Smith Papers.
  27. Web site: May 4, 2020 . The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 10 Released . April 26, 2021 . Church Historian's Press.
  28. Web site: October 12, 2020. The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 11 Released . April 26, 2021 . Church Historian's Press.
  29. Web site: April 26, 2021 . The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 12 Released . April 26, 2021 . Church Historian's Press.
  30. Web site: June 23, 2022 . The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 13 Published . April 3, 2024 . Church Historian's Press.
  31. Web site: April 17, 2023 . The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 14 Released . April 3, 2024 . Church Historian's Press.
  32. News: Toone . Trent . November 21, 2023 . New online Joseph Smith Papers content features Nauvoo-era tithing records . Church News . Salt Lake City . April 20, 2024.
  33. Web site: March 19, 2012 . Joseph Smith Papers Project Releases First Histories Volume . April 3, 2024 . The Joseph Smith Papers.
  34. News: Lloyd . R. Scott . October 3, 2012 . Joseph Smith Papers' 'Histories' Vol. 2 released . dead . . Salt Lake City . https://web.archive.org/web/20141022045709/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765608678/Joseph-Smith-Papers-Histories-Vol-2-released.html . October 22, 2014 . December 11, 2014.
  35. News: Lloyd . R. Scott . New Joseph Smith Papers volume covers Nauvoo period of church . November 17, 2011 . . March 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120405194336/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700198517/New-Joseph-Smith-Papers-volume-covers-Nauvoo-period-of-church.html . April 5, 2012.
  36. News: Joseph Smith Papers – Journals Vol 3 . Evans . Steve . . November 30, 2015 . February 15, 2016.
  37. Web site: Introduction to the Legal Records Series . . The Joseph Smith Papers . The Church Historian's Press . April 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240406094106/https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/intro/introduction-to-the-legal-records-series . April 6, 2024.
  38. . The Joseph Smith Papers Project Releases 'Legal Records: Case Introductions' . Salt Lake City . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . April 17, 2024 . April 20, 2024.
  39. Web site: About The Volumes . The Joseph Smith Papers . February 25, 2009 . October 22, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141022032425/http://josephsmithpapers.org/AboutTheVolumes.htm . dead.
  40. News: Toone . Trent . LDS Church announces publication of the printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon . August 5, 2015 . . August 22, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150820151453/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865633808/LDS-Church-announces-publication-of-the-printers-manuscript-of-the-Book-of-Mormon.html . August 20, 2015.
  41. Book: Revelations and Translations, Volume 4: Book of Abraham and Related Manuscripts . The Church Historian's Press . 2018 . 978-1-62972-480-5 . Utah.
  42. Web site: January 25, 2022 . Church Historian's Press Releases Landmark Volume on Book of Mormon Manuscript . April 3, 2024 . Church Historian's Press.
  43. Web site: Project Organization . The Joseph Smith Papers . 2009-02-21.
  44. Web site: AML Awards:Special Award in Textual Criticism and Bibliography . Association for Mormon Letters . April 18, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110317051259/http://www.aml-online.org/Awards/Year.aspx?year=2008 . March 17, 2011.
  45. Web site: MHA 2009 Award Winners . Mormon History Association . April 18, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111112094453/http://www.mhahome.org/awards/2008-MHA-Awards.php . November 12, 2011.
  46. Web site: Joseph Smith Papers Conference . . 2017 . The Joseph Smith Papers . The Church Historian's Press . April 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171117052407/https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/jsp-conference-oct-2017 . November 17, 2017.
  47. Web site: Joseph Smith Papers Conference . . The Joseph Smith Papers . The Church Historian's Press . April 20, 2024 . The Joseph Smith Papers Project has held a conference each year since 2017, gathering scholars, educators, and others interested in the project to share new ideas and findings based on the ongoing publication of The Joseph Smith Papers..
  48. . New Podcast Series Looks in Depth at Joseph Smith's First Vision of Deity . Salt Lake City . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . January 6, 2020 . April 20, 2024.
  49. News: Toone . Trent . June 13, 2023 . Church releases final Joseph Smith Papers podcast, on martyrdom, 'Road to Carthage' . Church News . Salt Lake City . April 20, 2024.
  50. . Joseph Smith Papers Project Publishes Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion . Salt Lake City . The Church Historian's Press . December 26, 2016 . April 20, 2024.
  51. Web site: New Doctrine and Covenants Study Resources . . The Joseph Smith Papers . The Church Historian's Press . April 20, 2024.
  52. News: TV show to preview Smith Papers Project . Jarvik . Elaine . . November 4, 2007 . October 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021121145/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695224615/TV-show-to-preview-Smith-Papers-Project.html . October 21, 2012.

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