“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.
be conveyed by one of the Judges or Clerks of the Election, to be determined by lot if they cannot otherwise agree, and delivered to the said Recorder at his office, within two days from the close of the Polls, and the other Poll Book shall be deposited with one of the Judges of the election to be determined as aforesaid, and the Poll Book shall be subject to the inspection of any elector who may wish to examine it.
Sec. 13. On the third day after the election, or sooner if all the returns be received, the Recorder, taking to his assistance two Aldermen of the , shall proceed to open the returns and make out his abstract of the same; and shall make out a certificate of election, under the Seal of the Corporation, to each of the Persons having the highest number of Votes for Mayor, Aldermen, and Counsellors, and shall deliver the same to the person entitled thereto, on his making application for that purpose to the Recorder at his office. And it shall be the duty of the Recorder, on the receipt of the election returns of any general election, to make out his certificate, stating therein the compensation to which the Judges and Clerks of each election may be entitled, for their services, and to lay the same before the next City Council, and the City Council shall order the compensation aforesaid to be paid out of the city Treasury.
Sec. 14. If, by reason of any two or more persons having an equal and the highest number of Votes for one and the same office, the requisite number of Officers shall not be elected, the Recorder shall give notice to the several Persons so having an equal and the highest number of votes, to attend at his Office, at a time to be appointed by the said Recorder, who shall then and there proceed publicly to decide by lot which of the Persons so having an equal number of Votes shall be declared duly elected; and the Recorder shall make out and deliver to the Person thus declared duly elected, a Certificate of his election, as herein before provided.