Bruce Furr collection

The collection consists of three cubic feet boxes comprising 111 folders in four series of printed textual research materials. The materials include originals, handwritten notes, and photocopies on various aspects of Mormon history. All books and many reproductions were removed from the archival collection and added to the Special Collections and can be found through the Library Catalog.

Series 1 - Research, contains five subseries including research consisting of primary works, secondary works, Furr's class notes and other notes while at BYU, academic papers, and research compilations.

Series 1, Subseries 1 - Primary research, are in Box 1, folders 1-8. It includes Ebenezer Robinson, "The Return" (1888-1890, copied in 1966); the transcription of the debates between Hyrum Andrus and J.D. Williams (1967); the transcript of film, "The Godmakers" (1987); materials of the RLDS about meeting with LDS missionaries (undated); the "B.H. Roberts Defense Before Congress" (1898); copyright entries of works by and about Mormons to 1829-1870 (copied in 1973); John Zahnd's manuscript on Mormons (abt 1928, copied 1967); and Hugh Nibley and Sterling McMurrin correspondence (1960).

Series 1, Subseries 2 - Secondary Research, consists of Box 1, Folders 9-34 and Box 2, Folders 1-3. It includes: research notes by Hyrum Andrus (1966); a listing of LDS Historical Department Task Papers (1980); historical research regarding Joseph Smith (undated); History of African American in the LDS Church (1969); a paper on the topic of "Christ Being the Redeemer of This World Alone" (1977); Hugh Nibley articles in LDS Church publications (1953-1957), research on the LDS temples (abt 1967); bibliographies prepared by Hugh Nibley (abt 1965); an article on Mark Hoffman from the Los Angeles Times (1987); a collection of various Mormon 19th century historical articles (abt 1898, copied 1965); talk by Fawn Brodie (1970); Hugh Nibley’s “Since Cumorah” articles in The Improvement Era (1964-65); Furr's collection of LDS-related contact addresses on Mormon history sources (undated); passages from the "Course on Miracles" (1982); a compilation of excerpts on the 'Adam-God Doctrine' (undated); the Lundwall microfilm index (1966); a paper on the "Sealing Power of the LDS Priesthood" (undated); and three folders containing the Ivins Index (undated, but copy made from microfilm about 1968).

Series 1, Subseries 3 - Class Notes and Other Notes, consists of Box 2, Folders 4-10. It includes: notes from Furr's and a colleague's religion and philosophy classes at BYU (1963-1970).

Series 1, Subseries 4 - Academic Papers, consists of Box 2, Folders 11-15. It includes: undergraduate academic research papers on various Mormon history topics including ones on "Thomas Sharp" (1988); "New Mormon History" (1977); "Council of Fifty" (1967); "Bishop's Courts," and "Possible Book of Mormon Sites" (1977); and "Possible Book of Mormon Sites (1966).

Series 1, Subseries 5 - Compilations, consists of Box 2, Folders 16-19. It includes: three volumes of extracts and quotations from Mormon history grouped in topics alphabetically (1962).

Series 2 - Journals, consists of Box 2, Folders 20-45, and Box 3, Folders 1-19. It includes: journals, short biographies, autobiographies and personal history extracts of various 19th century Mormon pioneers arranged alphabetically (original writings from various dates, copied abt 1963-1979).

Series 3 - Newsletters, consists of Box 3, Folders 20-28. It includes: newsletters of Mormon history and other books for sale by Rick Grunder Books (1987-1988); newsletters from the Reorganized LDS Church perspective called "Restoration" (1984-1985); newsletters from Sandra and Jerald Tanner Modern Microfilm Co. (later Utah Lighthouse Ministry), called "The Salt Lake City Messenger" (1964-2005).

Series 4 - Miscellaneous, consists of Box 3, Folders 29-31. It includes: a folder of with the BYU 10th Stake Priesthood Correlation Handbook (1970); a folder with "Sermon Notes" self-published by a Mormon Furr met while serving his church mission (1961-1963); and a Mormon ward cook book from Vienna, VA when Furr was living there (1972).