Microfilm of a letterbook kept by James G. Bleak at St. George, Utah, from 1874-1887. The first reel includes letters dated 1874-October 1881, while the second reel dates from October 1881 through 1887. Included throughout are references to operations in the St. George Stake, including the procurement of supplies, descriptions of land in Washington County, records of ordinance work, records of quarterly stake conferences, and work on the St. George Temple. The St. George United Order is also referenced throughout, including a letter urging conciliation over minor disagreements as per "the interests and spirit of the United Order" (May 6, 1874). Individual letters discuss Indian affairs (see for examples letters dated March 26, 1874, April 6, 1874, and April 14, 1874), including a letter from Jacob Hamblin (Indian agent in Kane County) following the death of several Navajos in which he asks that their goods be returned to their relatives (March 20, 1874) and a letter signed by Brigham Young, George A. Smith, and Erastus Snow noting that the "Indians have expressed a repugnance at being baptized in water that is not clear" (February 9, 1875). Other letters describe plans for an expedition from Harmony and Kanarra to Black Rock Canyon to work on a "Hurricane Edge" (May 1874), the completion of a wagon road to Mt. Trumbull (May 5, 1874), relations with local Lamonites (1875), letters from Brigham Young to his sons Ernest J. Young, who was serving on a mission to England (February 4, 1875), and Willard Young, a cadet at West Point (February 6, 1875), the return of St. George brethren from the Manti Temple (October 27, 1877), a list of articles inherited from the estate of Brigham Young (February 23, 1878), a comparative statistical statement of the Salt Lake and St. George Stakes (1879, p. 352), a biography of Richard Moore Bleak (p.250), a report on the exploration of the head waters of the Cottonwood in 1878 (p.295), an history of the establishment of the St. George Ward (p;The original letterbook appears to have been written on onionskin, and many of the letters are entirely or partially illegible. All inquiries about this item should be directed to the H. Russell Smtih Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. Microfilm. San Marino, Calif. : Huntington Library Photographic Dept., 1947. 2 microfilm reels : negative 35 mm. Forms part of the Manuscripts Department's Mormon file, c.1805-1995. James Godson Bleak was born on November 15, 1829, in Surrey, England. Following the deaths of his parents and younger brother, Bleak joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850 and became president of the Church's Whitechapel Branch in 1854. In 1856 he left England for Utah, and in 1861 was called by Brigham Young to join the Southern Utah Mission (later the St. George Stake). Bleak served as St. George's clerk and chief recorder of the St. George Temple, and kept a record of the Stake's history from 1861 until 1900. Bleak died in St. George on January 29, 1918.
Bleak, James G. (James Godson), 1829-1918 St. George Temple (Saint George, Utah) Frontier and pioneer life--Utah Indians of North America--Utah Mormon Church--History--19th century Mormon cities and towns Mormon pioneers Mormons--Utah--History--19th century Navajo Indians United Orders (Mormon Church) Saint George (Utah)--History Utah--Description and travel Utah--History Washington County (Utah)--History Letters (correspondence) Utah 19th century. (aat)
Source
Mormon Manuscripts at the Huntington Library Mormonism and the West, Huntington Digital Library
Provenance
Microfilm of original loaned by Dr. Samuel Bleak, August 13, 1947.
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