Whitaker (John Mills) Papers, 1883-1960, bulk 1883-1949

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Summary

Title:
John Mills Whitaker Papers
Dates:
1883-1960, bulk 1883-1949
Creators:
Whitaker, John Mills, 1863-1960.
Abstract:
This collection consists of the typed transcripts of the journals keep by Mormon missionary and active church member John Mills Whitaker (1863-1960) and a typed transcript of the funeral service held for him. The journals cover the majority of Whitaker’s life and discuss both his personal and professional life in Utah between 1883 and 1960.
Extent:
40 pieces in 2 boxes.
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. John Mills Whitaker Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the typed transcripts of the journals keep by John Mills Whitaker (1863-1960) and a typed transcript of the funeral service held for him. The journals cover the majority of Whitaker’s life and discuss both his personal as well as professional life.

Several journals deal with his functions as a secretary to Franklin Dewey Richards (1821-1899) where Whitaker discusses the political oppression of the Mormons by the United States government, the public and political opposition to the practice of polygamy, and the persecution of the Mormons. Some of the people covered in these journals include George Quayle Cannon (1827-1901), Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), Erastus Fairbanks Snow (1818-1888), Lorenzo Snow (1814- 1901), and Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898).

Other journals deal with Whitaker’s functions as secretary to John Willard Young (1844-1924), and he discusses in detail the financial aspects of the railroads being built in Utah, public education, and the statehood of Utah. In later journals Whitaker discusses Brigham Henry Roberts (1857-1933) and Reed Smoot (1862-1941) and their problems in dealing with the U. S. Congress.

Biographical / historical:

John Mills Whitaker (1863-1960) was born in Centerville, Utah. His parents were Thomas William and Elizabeth Mills Whitaker. At an early age he studied the Isaac Pitman system of shorthand. With this skill Whitaker began recording speeches and sermons given in the Mormon Church.

While going to school at the University of Deseret he began working part time for Franklin Dewey Richards (1821-1899). In 1886, Whitaker married Ida Oakley Taylor, the daughter of John Taylor (1808-1887), the then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They went on to have 9 children.

Whitaker helped establish the Salt Lake Stake Library and Free Reading Room, was secretary to John Willard Young (1844-1924) while he owned the Salt lake and Fort Douglas Railway and assisted him in establishing the Utah Western Railway Company, was secretary for the Deseret Sunday School Union, took part in the Eastern States Mission, was involved in the prohibition movement, developed curriculum and taught at the Granite Seminary School, and helped in public welfare programs after the depression of 1929.

He also found the time to serve as bishop of the Sugar House ward and to transcribe all of his yearly journals from shorthand into typewritten transcripts.

Acquisition information:

Acquired on January 5, 1956.

A photocopy of a transcript of the funeral service of John Mills Whitaker (1863-1960) was a gift of Eugene T. Whitaker, on May 5, 1975.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following manner:

1. Journals – folder titles have been copied from the original folders that the collection was housed in when they first arrived at the library (Box 1)

2. Journals and funeral service transcript (Box 2)

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Bibliography:
University of Utah. Libraries. Western Americana Dept. Register of The Papers of John Mills Whitaker (Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah, 1969). Manuscript reference CD 3549.5 .U88 no. 2

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Mitchell W. K. Toda, May 8, 2002.
Date Prepared:
© 2002
Date Encoded:
Machine readable finding aid encoded by Diann Benti in March 2017 from PDF finding aid originally in the Huntington Digital Library.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. John Mills Whitaker Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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