Isaac Blair Evans papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 2900

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Isaac Blair Evans papers (1911-1913) consist of a manuscript, research notes, and assorted materials.

Dates

1911-1913

Creator

Evans, Isaac Blair, 1885-1941 (Person)

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

Isaac Blair Evans was born on 22 May, 1885 in Ogden Utah. Evans was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Subsequent to graduating from Ogden High School, Isaac was accepted as a student at Harvard University where he earned a B. A. degree in 1908. His scholarly achievements were recognized with his admission to Phi Beta Kappa. A year later he married Grace Grant, whose father was Heber J. Grant, a L.D.S. apostle and future church president. After teaching history at the Utah Agricultural College (1908-1909), Evans enrolled in Harvard's Law School finishing his L.L.B. degree in 1913. While a law student, Isaac spent his summer of 1910 reading numerous books and articles relating to the history of the LDS faith. A 1911 manuscript entitled " A Brief Critical Analysis of the Book of Mormon" represented a by-product of his research investigations. Following graduation, he returned to Utah, passed the state bar exam, and formed a Salt Lake City law firm with L. R. Martineau Jr. In 1917 Evans became the Assistant District Attorney for the third judicial district of Utah. Within a year Isaac was promoted to the position of Assistant U.S. Attorney for Utah. President Wilson appointed him to the office of U.S. Attorney in 1920, a job which he held for less than a year due to Warren Harding's 1920 presidential election victory. Evans decided to move to Pasadena, California where he joined a firm which was known as Cruickshank, Brooke, and Evans. A 33 degree Mason, Isaac authored a 1922 book entitled "The Thomson Masonic Fraud: A Study in Clandestine Masonry". He died on 7 May, 1941 at the age of 55.