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Letter to Edward Hunter, 5 January 1842
Source Note
Source Note
JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , , Chester Co., PA, 5 Jan. 1842; handwriting of ; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal stamp, postal notation, docket, use marks, and notation.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The letter was inscribed on all four pages, ending partway down the fourth page. The bifolium was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with a red adhesive wafer, and postmarked. Wafer residue appears on the verso of the second leaf. The letter was later refolded for filing. The second leaf has undergone conservation.
The document was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. The letter was used to prepare an excerpt transcribed into the manuscript history of the church, volume C-1 addenda, likely sometime between 24 April and 19 June 1855, at which time use marks were made in graphite. A graphite notation reading “Printed” was added by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) in 1882 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket, use marks, and notation as well as its inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.
Footnotes
- [1]
Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.
Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [2]
See JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda, 50–51; and Vogel, History of Joseph Smith, 1:xcvii.
Vogel, Dan, ed. History of Joseph Smith and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: A Source and Text-Critical Edition. 8 vols. Salt Lake City: Smith-Pettit Foundation, 2015.
- [3]
Jenson, Autobiography, 131, 133, 135, 141, 192, 389; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 44–52.
Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.
Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.
Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.
- [4]
“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
- [5]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
On 5 January 1842 JS composed a letter in , Illinois, to in , Pennsylvania, imparting much of the same business information he had relayed to Hunter in a 21 December 1841 letter, apparently because he feared that Hunter had not received the December letter. Hunter was in conducting business, including settling the financial affairs of Margaret Smith, a recent convert to the church who had moved to Nauvoo. JS explained that the power of attorney Margaret Smith had granted to Hunter had been sent to the county clerk to be properly certified. JS also stated that he had received and accepted goods Hunter had sent and that he had purchased land near Nauvoo for Hunter. In addition, JS described his new general and emphasized that Margaret Smith’s donated money would be needed to supply the store with new merchandise for the spring. He requested Hunter to write him with any further news on settling Smith’s financial affairs.
acted as scribe for the letter. Shortly after its creation, the letter was copied into JS’s letterbook. The letter was mailed from the post office and postmarked 11 January 1842. received the letter by 10 February 1842, when he wrote a response.
Footnotes
early supply, of a spring selection, as you are aware that the first opening of a new assortment would be much to the advantage of the establishment, and I wish you to give me the earliest information possible, of any thing new, in relation to this, matter, With Sentiments of high consideration I remain your Brother in Christ,
Joseph Smith
pr. , Scribe
< Ills. JAN 11>
<25>
Esqr.
West Nantmeal
Chester County
Pensylvania [p. [4]]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
Circular postmark stamped in red ink.
Postage in unidentified handwriting.