Archives West Finding Aid
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Samuel Parker Richards Diaries, 1871-1917
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Samuel Parker Richards Diaries
- Dates
- 1871-1917 (inclusive)18711917
- Quantity
- 0.5 linear feet, (1 box)
- Collection Number
- MSS 069
- Summary
- Microfilm copies of 20 volumes of diaries written by Samuel Parker Richards, covering his youth in Salt Lake City, Utah (beginning in 1871), his experiences as a Mormon missionary in Hawaii, and work as a storekeeper and rancher in Idaho and Utah. The collection also contains typewritten transcripts of five diaries.
- Repository
-
Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
1910 University Drive
Boise ID
83725
Telephone: 2084263990
archives@boisestate.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is available for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Samuel Parker Richards was born on December 16th, 1850 to Samuel and Mary (Parker) Richards in Salt Lake City, Utah. He married Eliza Fredonia Alexander and had 8 children. For much of his life, Samuel P. Richards kept journals which are held by the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, with Boise State University holding microfilm copies of these diaries and a selection of typed transcripts. The diaries begin with Richards' youth in Salt Lake City in 1871 and also record his experiences as a Mormon Missionary in Hawaii. Richards then worked as a storekeeper in Montpelier and Paris, Idaho as well as Ogden Utah before turning to ranching in Carey, Idaho in 1896 where he was also a notary public. Richards passed away on March 22, 1917 in Carey.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Microfilm copies of 20 volumes of diaries covering Samuel Parker Richards' youth in Salt Lake City, Utah (1871-1874), experiences as a Mormon missionary in Hawaii (1874), family life and work as a storekeeper in Montpelier and Paris, Idaho (1880-1882) and Ogden, Utah (1882-1896), and his life as a rancher near Carey, Idaho (1896-1917); together with 2 record books (1895-1916) from his work as a notary public. Diaries include references to theater-going and social activities in Salt Lake City in the 1870s, church and family activities, and daily ranching routines; bylaws of Little Wood River Canal Company (1899); and record of water rights from the Little Wood River (1899).
The collection also contains typewritten transcripts of 5 diaries (1871-1874; 1880-1884, 1894-1895).
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[item description], Samuel Parker Richards Diaries, Box [number] Folder [number], Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Location of Originals
The original diaries were donated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Historical Dept., Salt Lake City, Utah. in exchange for microfilm copies, which were delivered to Boise State University. Boise State University also holds type-written transcript of five volumes.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Glen Barrett of Boise State University's History Department in March of 1985, who had originally acquired the diaries, then donated them to the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints on the condition that microfilm copies were made.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Description | Dates |
|---|---|
| Microfilm
Eight books.
|
1871 April 17 - 1886 December 31 |
| Microfilm
Eight books.
|
1888 January 1 - 1898 June 15 |
| Microfilm
Six books. Also includes a record of legal documents (1913 July 28 - 1916 January 16)
|
1898 June 16 - 1917 March 13 |
| Typed Transcript
Book "B" or No. 2
|
1871 April 17 - 1871 December 9 |
| Typed Transcript
Book "C" or No. 3
|
1871 December 10 - 1872 August 22 |
| Typed Transcript
Book "D" or No. 4
|
1872 August 23 - 1873 October 30 |
| Typed Transcript
Book "E" or No. 5
|
1874 January 14 - 1874 April 30 |
| Typed Transcript
Book "H" or No. 8
|
1880 May 26 - 1895 March 10 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Social interaction
- Water rights
Corporate Names
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Little Wood River Canal Company (Idaho)
Geographical Names
- Little Wood River (Idaho)
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries
Occupations
- Merchants
- Ranching
Collection processed by Albertsons Library Staff
1985; updated 2023
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
