The Jacob Hamblin Collection contains primarily correspondence to and about Jacob Hamblin. Two of Hamblin's journals, as well as photographs and ephemera, complete the library's holdings. The collection provides information about Hamblin's missions to the Indians, early settlement in southern Utah, Hamblin family history, and Hamblin himself. Uncatalogued material at the end of the collection includes a diary fragment, family biographical sketches, and photographs. The collection consists of photostats or, in the case of the photographs, copy prints, and reproduction of these materials is prohibited because the location of the originals is unknown.

Jacob Hamblin was born on April 2, 1819 in Salem, Ohio. In 1850, after his conversion to Mormonism, he travelled west to Salt Lake City, Utah to join fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in establishing the Mormon community. At this time, the Mormons were under the leadership of Brigham Young (1801-1877), who encouraged the settlement of the Intermountain West. Jacob Hamblin was called upon by Young to aid in the colonization of southern Utah and the exploration of the Southwest. Today, Hamblin is best known as a peacemaker and a missionary, especially to the Hopi and Navajo tribes. His years of work not only helped to establish Young's policy of coexistence between the Mormons and Indians, but also earned Hamblin a place in Mormon history as the apostle to the Lamanites. After a long and productive life, he died in Pleasanton, New Mexico on August 31, 1886.

In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances, the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate curator for further information.

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information please go to following URL.