“A Record of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, Handcock County, State of Illinois, Commencing A.D. 1841”; handwriting of , , , and ; 432 pages, including one inserted leaf; CHL. Includes insertions, notes, tables, redactions, and use marks.
The minutes were inscribed in a commercially produced blank book measuring 13 × 8¼ × 1½ inches (33 × 21 × 4 cm). The volume contains 216 leaves measuring 12¾ × 7½ inches (32 × 19 cm) and consists of nineteen gatherings of leaves. The first and last gatherings consist of six ruled leaves and two flyleaves, while the other gatherings are each composed of twelve ruled leaves. The book contains three front flyleaves and three back flyleaves. The volume is covered in brown leather, with a dark brown pattern decorating both the front and back covers as well as the spine. At some point, an unknown scribe inscribed “Records | OF THE | City Council | of the | City of Nauvoo | commencing AD. 1841” on the front cover in black ink, and “Sermons | by | Joseph Smit[h] | and others.” on the back cover. The spine is divided into five segments. The second and fourth segments are black with gold designs; the word “RECORDS” is printed in gold on the second segment. At an unknown time, white labels inscribed with black ink were placed upon the first and fifth segments of the spine to identify the two purposes of the book. “NAUVOO | CITY COUNCIL” was written on the label on the first segment, while an inverted label reading “SERMONS” was placed on the fifth segment of the spine. The second back flyleaf is inscribed with an index for a compilation of sermons inscribed in the book. Each page has thirty-six horizontal blue lines. At some point, a clerk used a pencil to rule pages 1–189 with a single vertical line running the length of each page on the left side. The same side of pages 190–261 was also vertically ruled in black ink with either a single or double line. An unknown clerk numbered the pages with blue ink on the top outside corner of each page. Following page 403, the remaining pages of the book were misnumbered 304–332.
Pages 1–239 were used to record minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and other matters pertaining to the meetings of the Nauvoo City Council between 1841 and 1845. The city council items are inscribed in blue and black ink. A loose sheet containing minutes inscribed in black ink was inserted into the volume between pages 238 and 239. Pages 240–362 were left blank. Although the volume contains some minutes, its main function was to record the decisions of the city council rather than to give a detailed exposition of the minutes. The volume accordingly corresponds with the Nauvoo City Council rough books. The rough books capture the discussions and debates of the council, while this volume includes the decisions and resolutions following those debates. At some point after 1843, a clerk turned the volume upside down and began inscribing sermons given by JS and others during 1843 and 1844, beginning at the end of the volume and continuing through page 363. These pages were renumbered 1–70 in their upside-down state. The sermons are inscribed in black ink with occasional insertions and other redactions written in graphite.
The inside cover of the book includes an insertion from the Niles National Register for 21 March 1840; a loose copy of the Times and Seasons for 15 January 1841; and an index of ordinances, resolutions, and other Nauvoo City Council matters discussed within the volume. The index consists of eight leaves, with each page measuring 13¼ × 4¼ inches (34 × 11 cm). The entries were inscribed in blue and black ink. It is ruled with forty-one horizontal black lines and a single blue line that runs vertically along the right side of each page.
The contents of the book suggest that clerks made entries in the volume as early as 3 February 1841 and finished sometime after 8 February 1845. An inventory of church records indicates that the volume came into the possession of by 1846. The volume was included in the 1846 inventory of church records prior to the exodus and was taken to Utah Territory with other church records. Subsequent inventories indicate that it has remained in continuous institutional custody since that time.
Clerk of said court shall corruptly refuse or neglect to issue Writ or Writs of when legally applied to, in a case where such Writ or Writs may lawfully issue, or who shall for the purpose of oppression unreasonably delay the issuing of such Writ or Writs, shall for every such offence forfeit to the Prisoner or Prisoners, party or Parties aggrieved a sum not less than five hundred Dollars and not exceeding one thousand Dollars, & be imprisoned for six Months.
Sec. 11. If any Officer, Sheriff, Jailor, keeper, or other Person or Persons upon whom any such Writ shall be served, shall neglect or refuse to make the returns as aforesaid, or to bring the Body of the Prisoner or Prisoners according to the command of the said Writ, within the time required by this Ordinance, all & every such Officer, Sheriff, Jailor, keeper, or other Person or Persons shall be guilty of a contempt of the Municipal Court who issued said Writ; Whereupon the said Court may, & shall, issue an against said Officer, Sheriff, Jailor, keeper, or other Person or Persons & cause him or them to be committed to the or Jail as are provided for by the City Charter of the City of ; there to remain without bail or mainprize, until he or they shall obey the said Writ; such Officer, Sheriff, Jailor, keeper, or other Person or Persons shall also forfeit to the Prisoner or Prisoners, party or parties, aggrieved a sum not exceeding One thousand Dollars, & not less than five hundred Dollars.
Sec. 12. Any Person or Persons having a Prisoner or Prisoners in his or their custody, or under his or their restraint, power or control, for whose relief a Writ <or Writs> of Habeas Corpus is issued who with the intent to avoid the effect of such Writ or Writs, shall transfer such Person or Persons to the custody of, or place him, her or them under the control of any other Person or Persons, or shall conceal him, her or them, or change the place of his, her, or their confinement, with intent to avoid the ope [p. 127]