User:Rich jj/Sandbox/Church Historian

Church Historian's Office
Original commission

developed out of the office of Church Historian

Creation
Church Office Building to be completed in 1972, with the four-story East Wing dedicated to Church Library, Archives, and historical endeavors.

By Hunter's own admission, according to Arrington, "The Church Historian's Office had done almost nothing to compile church history since 1930."… "The Church is mature enough that our history should be honest." Other relevant Arrington recollections

Historian Hunter created the Historical Department with approval of First Presidency and Council of Twelve Apostles in March 1972. Except for Dyer and Jacobsen the appointees and their staffs were Church employees, paid for their time and expertise.
 * Alvin R. Dyer: Managing director (ecclesiastical overseer)
 * Donald T. Schmidt: Church Librarian
 * Earl Olson: Church Archivist
 * Leonard Arrington: Church Historian
 * James B. Allen and Davis Bitton: Assistant Historians
 * Florence Jacobsen: Church Curator (some time later)

Most prominant innovation in the department was Arrington's History Division, staffed with a dozen professional historians researching/writing projects on behalf of the Church. The historical community was granted access to the Church Archives to write accurate and reliable treatises on a variety of assigned topics.

Arrington, Bitton, Allen sustained in April 6, 1972 conference

Elder Dyer incapacitated in 1972

Dyer replaced by new Managing director Joseph Anderson in 1972. Served 5 years.

Arrington directed fourteen historians and three secretaries, at the Division's peak

Arrington: Founding of the LDS Church Historical Department

Friends of Church History
"For example, in 1972 one apostle had managed to kill an organization called Friends of Church History, sponsored by the history division, after its first meeting on 30 November. According to Arrington, the unnamed apostle 'warned that 'Dialogue-type historians' would be permitted to report their freewheeling research on historical topics.' Despite an initial meeting that attracted over five hundred people, the apostle managed to close down the new organization. 'In the face of almost universal approval/' writes Arrington, 'the one objector halted a program previously approved by the First Presidency. We were embarrassed and humiliated and we lost public good will'"

Accomplishments
History Division accomplishments

Arrington: List of scholars involved

Sesquicentennial History
contract cancellations

Ecclesiastical control
Dialogue: A time of tension link

supported by some high-ranking GAs

2 April 1977. Elder G. Homer Durham is assigned to be managing director of the Historical Department.

Title changes
Lavina Fielding Anderson: "24 February 1978. Elder Durham's title is changed from 'managing director of the Historical Department' to 'director of the History Division of the Historical Department,' the title formerly borne by Leonard Arrington. Sometime between this date and 1 June 1978 portraits of Church Historians from John Whitmer to Elder Durham are hung in the second-floor hallway leading to the administrative offices. They include photographs of Elders Alvin R. Dyer and Joseph Anderson, managing directors of the Historical Department during Arrington's tenure but never referred to as Church Historians. Leonard Arrington is conspicuously omitted. In the summer of 1990, a separate grouping of division heads' portraits is hung, including those of Donald Schmidt, Earl Olsen, Florence Jacobsen, and Leonard Arrington. Portraits of succeeding Church Historians Dean L. Larsen and Loren C. Dunn are also hung, but that of intervening Church Historian John Carmack (1989-92) is not, at his own request."

Peggy Fletcher: "February 28, 1978, Arrington’s title was officially changed from 'Church Historian' to 'Director of History Division of Historical Department.'"

September 1978: "That same year, Leonard Arrington's title was changed from Church Historian to Director of the History Division, an administrative demotion that took him out of direct contact with church officials."

Bitton: "Leonard J. Arrington was called as Church Historian in 1972. He was sustained at general conference that year and for the next couple of years. In 1975 he was named 'Director' of the History Division but was not released as Church Historian. He carefully avoided using the Church Historian designation himself but did not correct the many people who still used that as his title. Finally, in 1982, he received a letter honorably releasing him. That same year Elder G. Homer Durham, who had been managing director of the Historical Department of the Church since 1977, was named Church Historian."

Was Arrington still Church Historian? He said he was sustained in conference as the Church Historian and wasn't released from that position, so he holds the title.

In 1998, Arrington claimed he wasn't released in 1979, but had requested an additional secular title that clarified that Arrington didn't officially represent the church. Arrington considered "church historian" to be more of an honorific title.

In 1998, Arrington said he was replaced as church historian in 1980, shortly after Hofmann's Anthon transcript forgery came out.

In 1998, Arrington said he was released as church historian in 1982.

Peggy Fletcher:"When people, including President Kimball, referred to him as 'Church Historian,' he failed to correct them."

March 1979 article states title as "Church Historian"

September 1979 article states title as "director of the History Division"

Ad in Sunstone Review for Saints Without Halos looks like he no longer claims the title:"For many years Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton served as Church Historian and Assistant Church Historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Arrington is currently Director of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History at Brigham Young University and Bitton is Professor of History at the University of Utah. (Sunstone Review, Nov/Dec 1981, vol. 1, no. 3, p. 23)"

October 1980 article calls Bitton "Assistant Director of the Church History Division (Historical Department)"

Still some lingering dispute over who was Church Historian from 1978-1982. Another Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History article, this one by Thomas G. Alexander, states Arrington remained Historian until 1982.

Director/Historian question
Durham was acting church historian and recorder (assigned by advisers?)

In 1978, Homer Durham claimed that when Leonard Arrington became Church Historian after Howard W. Hunter was released in 1972, Arrington didn't assume Hunter's position in the LDS Church's historical program. Durham claimed Alvin Dyer, the managing director of the Church Historical Department, was Hunter's actual replacement, and that Durham himself was the latest successor in that position.

Bitton: "If you visit the East Wing of the Church Office Building you will find in the hallway a gallery of portraits. These are the Church Historians, from Oliver Cowdery to G. Homer Durham. But where is Leonard Arrington? Nowhere to be seen. The official explanation is that to be a Church Historian one has to be a General Authority."

Arrington: "I never was the Church Historian in the same sense as Joseph Fielding Smith or Alvin Dyer. They were managers; I was an historian."

Bitton: "…the so-called Church Historian had traditionally been one of the apostles and functioned as an administrator."

Encyclopedia of Mormonism: Arrington was Historian under Dyer and Anderson, until Durham's appointment in 1977. Later Arrington went to the Smith Institute and Durham became Historian on February 8, 1982. Larsen replaced Durham until 1989, when Carmack became executive director.

Larsen appeared inactive in the Historical Department for years

Carmack called Historian during Larsen's term

Larsen released as Historian when made emeritus.

Larsen, Dunn and Carmack are seen as succeeding Church Historians

Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History: From 1842-1972, Historian was Apostle/FP and supervised the CHO. 1972 Historical Department assigned Historian's responsibilities (being in charge of department) to a managing director, a GA. Arrington was Historian in 1972. Durham was Historian in 1978 "as the general authority department head" until 1985 death. Larsen succeeded 1985, being "formally released" in 1997 conference, when made emeritus. Carmack succeeded as executive director (1989-91), "when he was called to serve in the Asia area presidency." Then Dunn (1991-3), Nadauld (1993-6), Jensen (1996-8), Carmack (1998-9), Dunn ("serving for the year").

Church Historian: Evolution of a Calling

Demise
By 1980: Repression of sesquicentennial history, long range projects, Historical Department, access to archives, church history symposium. End of History Division.

"…in late January 1982, Arrington received formal notification that he had been succeeded as Church Historian--a position that had technically gone unfilled for four years--by G. Homer Durham, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy."

ended 1980?

Advisers

 * Spencer W. Kimball (January 1972 - February 1973 - ??)       (ended July 1972?)
 * Howard W. Hunter (January 1972 - 1975 - ??)
 * Bruce R. McConkie (?? - April 1974 - November 1974 - ??)     (replaced Stapley?)
 * Delbert L. Stapley (?? - July 1975 - October 21, 1976 - ??)     (replaced Kimball in July 1972?)
 * Gordon B. Hinckley (?? - 1978 - ??)     (replaced McConkie?)
 * Boyd K. Packer (?? - May 1980 - August 1981 - ??)
 * Dallin Oaks (?? - 1986? - ??)

Executive Directors

 * Dean L. Larsen (August 15, 1986 - 1989)
 * John K. Carmack (1989 - October 1991 - ??) (ended 1992?) (ended 1991)
 * Loren C. Dunn (?? - May 9, 1992 - July 26, 1993 - ??) (1991-1993)?
 * Stephen D. Nadauld (?? - December 18, 1993 - July 1996 - ??) done by October 12, 1996  (1993-1996)?
 * Marlin K. Jensen (?? - April 15, 1997 - June 1997 - ??) (1996-1998)?
 * John K. Carmack (?? - November 15, 1997 - ??) - Typo since during service as Assistant Exec. Dir.
 * John K. Carmack (?? - February 20, 1999 - June 1999 - ??) served in this role twice (1998-1999)?
 * Loren C. Dunn (?? - November 20, 1999 - June 1, 2000 - ??) (1999-"serving for the next year")?
 * D. Todd Christofferson (?? - 2001 - July 2004)
 * Marlin K. Jensen (July 2004 - present)

Assistant Executive Directors

 * Richard P. Lindsay (1989 - 1990)
 * Loren C. Dunn (?? - March 30, 1991 - ??)
 * Stephen D. Nadauld (?? - April 1993 - ??)
 * Alexander B. Morrison (1993 - 1995)
 * Marlin K. Jensen (?? - ??)
 * John K. Carmack (?? - June 1997 - April 4, 1998 - ??)
 * Ben B. Banks (?? - September 11, 1998 - ??) (1998 - 1999)?
 * Jay E. Jensen (?? - April 29, 2000 - June 2000 - ??) (1999 - 2000)?
 * Charles A. Didier (?? - March 15, 2001 - June 2001)
 * Spencer J. Condie (?? - March 15, 2001 - ??)
 * Ronald T. Halverson (while called Family and Church History Department)
 * David R. Stone (while called Family and Church History Department)
 * L. Whitney Clayton (sometime between March 31, 2001 and 2006)
 * Gary J. Coleman (?? - 2007 - ??)
 * Sheldon F. Child (?? - 2007 - ??)
 * Paul K. Sybrowsky (?? - March 13, 2009 (my observation) - ??)
 * Marcus B. Nash (?? - December 7, 2011 (my observation) - ??)

Managing Directors

 * Alvin R. Dyer (January 1972 - see below)
 * released December 1972? (Adventures)
 * still in late 1972/early 1973? (Ensign announcement of Anderson as Asst.)
 * released July 1975? (Ensign announcement of release)
 * released May 17, 1976? (Encyclopedia of Mormonism)
 * Joseph Anderson (see below - April 29, 1977)
 * starting 1972 (obituary in Deseret News)
 * called December 1972 (Adventures)
 * called in 1975 (obituary in Church News)
 * in by 1975 (Ensign interview w/ Arrington)
 * called May 17, 1976? (Encyclopedia of Mormonism)
 * G. Homer Durham (April 29, 1977 - January 10, 1985)
 * John K. Carmack (August 15, 1986 - November 26, 1988 - 1989)
 * Richard E. Turley, Jr. (?? - May 27, 1989 - March 12, 2008)
 * called in 1986? - doesn't agree with Carmack's service
 * Steven L. Olsen (March 12, 2008 - ??)
 * Reid L. Neilson (April 2010 - ??)

Associate Managing Directors

 * Joseph Anderson (March 1974 - July 1975)
 * Steven L. Olsen (?? - June 2, 2003 - March 12, 2008)

Assistant Managing Directors

 * Joseph Anderson (December 16, 1972 - 1973 - ??)
 * Earl Olson (?? - May/Spring 1974 - Feb/March 1986)
 * Richard E. Turley, Jr. (January 1986 - December 1986 - ??)
 * Noted as Assistant in 1993. Seems unlikely: regularly referred to as Managing Director.

History Division

 * Ronald Esplin, full-time at the Church Office Building (September 1972 - 1980) - moved to Smith Institute
 * Ronald Esplin, staff of Historical Department (?? - April 1974 - ??)
 * William G. Hartley, research historian and oral history director (?? - August 1975 - January 1977 - ??)
 * Richard Jensen, staff of the Historical Department (?? - April 1974 - ??)
 * Glen M. Leonard, senior research associate (?? - Winter 1974 - ??)
 * Dean May, Senior Historical Associate (?? - Spring 1976 - ??)
 * D. Michael Quinn, Senior historical associate (?? - December 1973 - ??)
 * Maureen Ursenbach, editor (?? - Summer 1972 - April 1974 - ??)

Library Division

 * Donald T. Schmidt, Church librarian, then Church librarian-archivist (1972 - 1975 - ??)
 * Melvin L. Bashore, senior librarian at the Church History Library (?? - Summer 2003 - ??)

Archives Division

 * Ronald O. Barney, unspecified position (?? - 2002 - ??)
 * Randall Dixon, unspecified position (?? - 1998 - ??)
 * Max J. Evans, archivist (?? - ??)
 * Earl E. Olson, Church archivist (1972 - 1973 - ??)
 * Glen Rowe, church archivist (?? - January 8, 1985 - ??)
 * Bill Slaughter, unspecified position (?? - 2002 - ??)
 * Steve Sorensen, supervisor of Archives Research (?? - Spring 1988 - ??)
 * Steve Sorensen, archives division director (?? - April 19, 1997 - ??)
 * Steven R. Sorensen, unspecified position (?? - 2002 - ??)
 * Ronald G. Watt, unspecified position (?? - 2002 - ??)

Arts and Sites Division (Curator's Division)
'''"Became 'Museum Division' after opening of the Museum of Church History and Art"
 * Paul Anderson, full time restoring historic buildings (1976 - 1984)
 * Paul Anderson, Museum of Church History and Art exhibition design (1984 - 1992)
 * Florence S. Jacobsen, director (?? - April 1984 - ??)
 * Glen M. Leonard, assistant director (?? - August 1979 - July 1980 - ??)
 * Glen M. Leonard, museum director (April 1984 - June 10, 2006 - ??)
 * Steven L. Olsen, exhibit curator for the museum (?? - February 1985 - ??)
 * Steven L. Olsen, manager of operations for the Museum of Church History and Art (?? - February 16, 1991 - December 24, 1994 - ??)
 * Steven Olsen, assistant director of the Museum of Church History and Art (?? - February 14, 2003 - ??)
 * Steve Olsen, museum's acting director (?? - July 5, 2003 - ??)
 * Richard G. Oman, curator of museum acquisitions (?? - 1986 - November 3, 2006?? - ??)

Other personnel

 * Mel Bashore, unspecified position (?? - July 2, 2002 - ??)
 * Barbara Brown, unspecified position (?? - March 29, 2008 - ??)
 * Donald L. Enders, unspecified position (?? - 2002 - ??)
 * Florence Jacobsen, Church curator (?? - 1975 - ??)
 * Jeffery O. Johnson, supervisor of processing (?? - ??) for 10 years (15 years with the department altogether), ending before 1984
 * Wayne J. Metcalfe, director of field services (?? - 2001 - ??)
 * Steven L. Olsen, chairman of the Kirtland historic sites restoration project (?? - November 17, 2001 - ??)
 * David Rencher, director of the Family History Library (?? - January 18 2002 - ??)
 * Edyth Romney, typist (?? - 1970s - ??)
 * Glenn Rowe, special projects director (?? - February 27, 1993 - 2002 - ??)
 * T. Michael Smith, unspecified position (?? - 2002 - ??)

Fellowships

 * Thomas G. Alexander
 * Paul Anderson, fellowship to study historical Mormon architecture (1973)
 * Ronald Esplin, summer fellowship to research Brigham Young documents for Arrington (1972)

Family and Church History Department
consolidation June 1, 2000 to optimize church resources. Turley managed both depts already. Departments to slowly weave together. Family History Dept was originally part of the CHO. Although subject matter differs, both departments use professional staff to gather, catalog, preserve, and make available historical materials. Genealogical research would be enriched with access to more biographical details.

Details about modern efforts

Genealogical Society of Utah became part of FamilySearch?

===Family History Department (Genealogical Department / Genealogy Department until 1987) ===

Directors

 * George H. Fudge (?? - March 1977 - ??)

Executive Directors

 * Royden G. Derrick (?? - 1980/1981 - ??)
 * J. Thomas Fyans (?? - ??)
 * Richard G. Scott (1984 - October 1988)
 * J. Richard Clarke (?? - November 1990 - March 1993 - ??)
 * Monte J. Brough (?? - February 1994 - August 15, 1995 - ??)
 * D. Todd Christofferson (1998 - July 2004)

Assistant Executive Director

 * John H. Groberg (?? - ??)
 * L. Aldin Porter (?? - May 1991 - ??)
 * John E. Fowler (?? - August 1, 1992 - ??)
 * Clinton L. Cutler (?? - ??)
 * Dean L. Larsen (?? - January 9, 1997 - ??)

Managing Directors

 * Theodore M. Burton (?? - ??)
 * Wm. Grant Bangerter (?? - ??)
 * Richard G. Scott (?? - 1984)
 * George Fudge (?? - ??)
 * L. Reynolds Cahoon (?? - ??)
 * J. Thomas Fyans (?? - ??)
 * Richard E. Turley, Jr. (?? - July 19, 1997 - April 24, 1999 - ??)

Other positions

 * George H. Fudge (?? - 1980/1981 - ??)
 * Richard W. Ebert Jr., Acquisitions Division director (?? - December 3, 1988 - ??)