Microfilm of George Laub's diary covering approximately 1845-1857, and identified as Volume 1. The volume is a mixture of autobiography and diary entries, many of which appear to have been copied from an earlier source. The first entry is dated January 1, 1845, but entries before about 1855 are not always in chronological order. The early portion of the volume consists of an autobiography recounting Laub's difficult childhood following the death of his father, his arrival in Nauvoo in 1843, the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the expulsion of the Mormons from Nauvoo, Laub's adoption by John D. Lee, and his marriage to Mary Jane Meginness(who converted to Mormonism before their wedding) a combination of diary entries and autobiographical notes cover his moves between Illinois and Iowa from 1846-1847, persecution and mob violence faced by the Mormons in Illinois, his life in Missouri from 1848-1852, and his overland travels to Utah in 1852. The diary entries from 1855 focus on Laub's laboring on mills and his church activities in and around Salt Lake City through 1857. The volume also contains lists of births and deaths, as well as extensive theological notes, addresses, and prophecies copied from Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Heber Kimball, and Brigham Young. All inquiries about this item should be directed to the H. Russell Smith Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. Microfilm. San Marino, Calif. : Huntington Library Photographic Dept., 1948. 1 microfilm reel : negative 35 mm. Forms part of the Manuscripts Department's Mormon file, c.1805-1995. George Laub Lee (1814-1880) was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His father died when George was eight, and he was sent to live with a man named George Weydler. Laub received a limited education and went into carpentry. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1842, and soon after traveled to Pittsburgh, where he met Joseph Smith, and then on to Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1845 he was adopted by John Doyle Lee as his "sealed son," and both Laub and his wife Mary Jane took 'Lee' as their surname. Following the expulsion of the Mormons from Illinois and Missouri, the Laubs traveled with Lee to Utah. Laub spent most of the rest of his life in and around Salt Lake City.
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