Microfilm of assorted documents assembled by James Bleak as historian of the Southern Utah Mission. The first volume, dated 1872-1873, contains notes on meetings held in the St. George Tabernacle, notices of member deaths, theological and church policy notes, references to the development of Santa Clara, and references to Brigham Young, Edward Bunker, and Charles Pulsipher, among others. The second volume is a letterbook of the Rio Virgen Manufacturing Co., dated 1870-1875. The majority of the letters are signed by agent Joseph Birch from Washington, Utah, and relate to business operations and orders for supplies. The reel also contains minutes from meetings of the Executive Committee of St. George Stake, Zion (1874) and a statement on Indian Troubles at Colorado Ferry in 1875. Various documents also relate to the United Order at Orderville, including Articles of Association, a schedule of property appraisals, a ledger of financial statements for 1879, lists of those who joined or left the Order in 1875-1876, names of the boards of directors, and a history of Orderville with assorted records and correspondence dated 1904. The reel also contains documents related to the Iron Military District, including a list of officers in the 2nd Battalion (1864-1870) and a Master Roll of the Volunteer Cavalry Battalion (1866). All inquiries about this item should be directed to the H. Russell Smtih Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. Microfilm. San Marino, Calif. : Huntington Library Photographic Dept., 1950. 1 microfilm reel : 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 Young, Brigham, 1801-1877 Rio Virgen Manufacturing Co. (St. George, Utah) Frontier and pioneer life--Utah Indians of North America--Utah Mormon Church--History--19th century Mormon pioneers Mormons--Utah--History--19th century United Orders (Mormon Church) Orderville (Utah)--History Saint George (Utah)--History Santa Clara (Utah)--History Utah--History--19th century Washington (Utah)--History 1866-1904 Letters (correspondence) Utah 19th century. (aat) Records Utah 19th century. (aat)
Source
Mormon Manuscripts at the Huntington Library Mormonism and the West, Huntington Digital Library
Provenance
Microfilm of original loaned by Glenn E. Snow through Juanita Brooks, August 11, 1950.
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