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William Greenwood papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0195

Scope and Contents

The William Greenwood papers (1822-1889) contain autobiographies and correspondence. In 1868 Greenwood wrote his autobiography, titled "Record and Genealogy of William Greenwood." The record begins with a copy of a patriarchal blessing given to Greenwood on 19 May 1845, by John Smith. Following this is Greenwood's typed autobiography which describes his boyhood in England, his conversion to the LDS Church, and the hardships he and his family suffered as they went from Nauvoo to the Great Salt Lake Valley. The record concludes with two handwritten notes, dated 1953, written by Alice Helen Greenwood Derrick and Charlotte Greenwood Hansen. These notes are short tributes to William Greenwood.

This collection also contains photocopies of twelve letters (1947-1886). The first letter, dated 17 October 1847, describes his journey across the plains. The remaining letters are from Greenwood to his niece Martha Turner of Burnley, England. These letters give little information about conditions in Utah. The last item in the Greenwood papers is a short autobiographical sketch of Alice Houghton Greenwood, Greenwood's first wife, written in 1881. This sketch is short and lacks detail.

Dates

  • 1822-1889

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical / Historical

William Greenwood (1822-1891) was born on 7 August 1822 in Burnley, England. Against the will of his family, Greenwood converted to the LDS Church in November 1840. In 1842 he left England for Nauvoo, Illinois. A year later he married Alice Houghton, whom he had met on the voyage from England. Alice Houghton was born in Clayton, England on 8 May 1886. Greenwood and his wife migrated to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, arriving there in October. They settled first in Salt Lake City, and later in American Fork. Greenwood also married Emma Johan Mercer on 20 January 1864, and then Bertha Eyring in March 1869. Greenwood died on 26 January 1891.

Extent

1 Folder (0.25 linear feet)

Abstract

The William Greenwood papers (1822-1889) contain correspondence, autobiographical sketch with family genealogy, and a short sketch of the life of Alice Houghton Greenwood. Greenwood (1822-1891) was born in Burnley England in 1822, converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints (LDS) in 1840, immigrated to Illinois in 1842, and later to Salt Lake City in 1886. Greenwood had three wives: Alice Houghton, Emma Johan Mercer, and Bertha Eyring.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Josephine Voda, 1975.

Processing Information

Processed by Della L. Dye in 1979.
Title
Inventory of the William Greenwood papers, 1822-1889
Author
Finding aid prepared by Della L. Dye
Date
© 1979 (last modified: 2019)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863