Scope and Contents

These two letters were probably written before the publication of No Man Knows My History. In one, titled "Memo from Dale Morgan," in Brodie's hand, he gives her specific criticisms and suggestions after reading the first ten chapters of the manuscript.

Scope and Contents January 14, 1943-"I know little or nothing about Orson Pratt's marriages, except that a fearful tangle probably exists in heaven from all the women who got sealed to him after his death; I understand that a lot of straightening out will be necessary after judgment day." September 10, 1943-"I think David O. [McKay] really was thinking it would be a hell of a note to be uncle to a naturalistic...

Scope and Contents February 12, 1944-Discusses Porter Rockwell and the Danites, with accompanying notes. April 27, 1944-"I shall go to hell, I know, but I'm enjoying myself now, and I wouldn't be surprised if I enjoy myself somewhat in Hell, too. After all, just think of all the living headaches who are figuring on putting up in heaven." June 18, 1944-Morgan quotes extensively from the journals of...

Scope and Contents August 3, 1944-Discusses John Bennett, an early church leader and apostate, and the wives of Joseph Smith. August 28, 1944-This letter contains Dale Morgan's criticisms, thoughts, and suggestions on reading the finished manuscript of No Man Knows My History. Many of the comments and suggestions made about the manuscript appeared in the published book. ...

Scope and Contents

April 14, 1945-Morgan comments on a review of No Man Knows My History in the L.D.S. Church publication Improvement Era, written by church leader Dr. John A. Widtsoe. Morgan closes the letter "Your brother in the Gospel, Dale."

Scope and Contents August 25, 1945-Discusses the end of World War II and its effect on Morgan's position at the Office of Price Administration. He also describes his future plans now the war is over. October 28, 1945-More discussion of No Man Knows My History. "I think that it is a sufficient summarization of your book, that on the third reading in three years, and after all that has gone into it, I can be spell bound by it still, and read in it with absolute...

Scope and Contents January 7, 1946-Morgan indulges in "psychologizing" at some length about the reason Brodie wrote about Joseph Smith. "I have an idea that you haven't come full circle yet in liberating yourself from the church. You have an intellectual but not yet emotional objectivity about Mormonism .... Your book was written out of an emotional compulsion . . . writing Joseph's biography was your act of liberation and of...

Scope and Contents November 21, 1946-Morgan tells Brodie he has finished his book on the Great Salt Lake. He describes a letter he received from a woman who attended a review by David O. McKay of No Man Knows My History. Finally, in a departure from the usual content of his letters, he comments at some length on the current political situation. December 11, 1946-"This is a free soul...

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Brodie and Dale L. Morgan, well-known western historian, carried on a correspondence for almost thirty years. Much of this contained research materials. Their common interest was the L.D.S. Church, and a large part of this correspondence deals with that and related subjects. They were also close friends, however, and many items of personal interest are found in these letters. Unless otherwise noted, all following excerpts are from Morgan to Brodie.

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December 2, 1947-Morgan describes a trip through upstate New York. "Saturday I drove via Palmyra. I think no one but you will know what I mean precisely when I tell you that the ghosts of my youth were trampling around like a herd of elephants. The Hill Cumorah, The Sacred Grove, and all the rest of it."

Scope and Contents July 20, 1948-"I am sure you will be chagrined to know that you have been barking up the wrong tree all this time, but in a recent radio address on Joseph the Prophet . . . J. Reuben Clark says that 'falsehoods, palpably so on the actual facts, have been told; false situations have been invented; court records have been invented and used as the basis of whole books of vilification and misrepresentation.' Guided by this intelligence, you will no doubt want to revise your book for the next...

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Brodie and Dale L. Morgan, well-known western historian, carried on a correspondence for almost thirty years. Much of this contained research materials. Their common interest was the L.D.S. Church, and a large part of this correspondence deals with that and related subjects. They were also close friends, however, and many items of personal interest are found in these letters. Unless otherwise noted, all following excerpts are from Morgan to Brodie.

Scope and Contents August 16, 1951 - This is the first letter in which Morgan alludes to the fact that he has shifted the emphasis of his studies from Mormon history to the fur trade. He goes on to mention the journals of early trappers he has acquired and quotes from them. There is an unexplained gap in the correspondence of almost four years. From the content of the remaining letters it seems obvious they corresponded during this period, August 1951 to May 1955, but these letters have apparently been...

Scope and Contents August 21, 1967-In a long letter, Morgan apologizes for not writing. He then lists the books he has written or edited since 1965. He also mentions he has been diagnosed as a mild diabetic. Morgan goes on to describe a biography of Brigham Young, by Madeline R. McQuown, which was supposedly "substantially complete." Apparently Brodie considered writing a biography of Young, but in this letter Morgan advises her to...

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December 24, 1969-The only handwritten letter from Dale Morgan. He mentions the death of his mother and tells Brodie he has proposed marriage to an old friend. He then remarks about plans to retire from the Bancroft Library at age fifty-six to devote himself to writing full time.

Scope and Contents

Transcripts, copies, and photostats of various research materials, all relating to early Mormon history, that were enclosed in letters from Dale Morgan to Brodie.