Mormon Legal History 1900-1960: J. Reuben Clark era: Student Papers

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Note: Items listed below may only be viewed from the BYU Campus in Provo, Utah.

Nathan Archibald, Far From Home (2013)
Biography of Walter “Wally” Asbrey Taylor (1926-2006), an Australian lawyer, including background on the LDS Church and legal profession there

Michael C. Austin, Life History of Hyrum Smith and Lexia Curtis Harris: With an Emphasis on Their Accomplishments in the Field of Law (1978)
Biography of a Provo, Utah couple who both studied and practiced law. Hyrum Smith Harris (1860-1937, University of Michigan LLB 1894) and his wife, Lexia Amina Curtis Harris (1865-1952) passed the Utah bar in 1894. Hyrum also studied law in Mexico City for six years, after which he helped the Mormon Colonies in northern Mexico, and then returned to Utah.

Appendices include stories of Hyrum’s father in Nauvoo, Illinois (1840s), and photocopies of Hyrum’s Northwestern States Mission release (1887), Karl G. Maeser letter of recommendation to attend law school (1892), Hyrum’s hiring by the LDS Church to work in Mexico (1895), Articles of Incorporation for the Juarez Manufacturing and Power Company (1900) [in Spanish], and the first pages of a deed for property in Colombia (1900).  

James H. Backman & Stanley J. Preston, Early Utah Territory and State Lawyers (1980)
Compilation of names, birth and death dates, and locations for
“I. Practicing Attorneys Who Were Active Mormons [6 pages],
II. Probate Judges and Part-Time Attorneys Who Were Active Mormons [9 pages],
III. Practicing Attorneys Who May Have Been Mormons or Were Inactive Mormons [5 pages, and]
IV. History of Mormon Lawyers: Journals, Autobiographies and Other Original Papers [12 pages]”

Bruce Donn Cassity, From Humble Beginnings Come Great Things: Donn Edward Cassity (2014)
Biography of author’s stepfather and Salt Lake City attorney (1926-2003)

Jim Christensen, A Biographical History of Mormon Women Lawyers (1978)
Short biographies of Arizona attorney and judge Dorothy M. Carson (1924-2007, Stanford JD ‘48), Utah attorney and judge Christine M. Durham (Duke JD ’71), Utah attorney and judge Kay A. Lindsay (University of Utah JD ’67), and California attorney Florence Mangum North (1908-1998, Southwestern University LLB [circa ‘30])

Sydnee Christensen, Robert M. Kerr, Jr.: A Life of Learning, A Legacy of Giving (2013)
Biography of the author’s grandfather (1914-2011)

Richard Christenson, Albert “H” Christenson and His Lawyer Lineage (1978)
Biography of the author’s great-uncle (Utah bar 1899) (1872-1957), who was the father of Utah federal judge A. Sherman Christensen (1905-1996), and attorneys Phillip V. Christenson and Cullen Y. Christenson (1921-1994)

Jacques Henri Clemente, Matthew Cowley’s Record as a Mormon Lawyer (1978)
Biography of a Salt Lake City attorney (1897-1953, George Washington University JD 1924), who was a mission president in New Zealand (1938-1944) and then an LDS apostle (1945-1953). Includes an 18-page oral history transcript of Elva Taylor Cowley about her husband’s life.

Tyler Cobabe, Marion George Romney: An Overview of His Life with a Focus on His Friendship with J. Reuben Clark, Jr. (2013)
Biography of attorney and LDS Church leader (1897-1988)

Jeanne Grow, Stewart L. Grow: Potter at the Wheel of the History of Mormon Lawyers (1978)
Biography and impact of the author’s father, a BYU political science professor (1947-1982) and mentor of BYU students and LDS attorneys, including Rex E. Lee, Monroe McKay, and Dallin H. Oaks

Brent Huntley, Howard W. Hunter: A Model for Latter-day Saint Attorneys to Follow (2011)
Biography of attorney and LDS Church President (1907-1995)

Russell L. Mahan, The History of the County Attorneys of Garfield County (1978)
Overview and history of the position of county attorney within Utah and Garfield County, Utah, as well as short biographies of the sixteen individuals who served as Garfield County attorney from 1882 to 1978

Anna Miles, Morris K. Udall (2013)
Biography of Arizona attorney and Congressman (1922-1998)

Darek Purcell, Service and Stupid Criminals: The Life of Woodruff J. Deem (2014)
Biography of founding law professor at BYU Law School (1913-1988)

David Read, Be Ye Wise As Serpents: A Brief History of the General Counsel to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2009)
Biographical info on Franklin S. Richards (1849-1934), Wilford “Bill” W. Kirton, Jr. (1922-2000), and Oscar W. McConkie, Jr. (1926- )

Blake Richards, Franklin S. Richards (2013)
Biography of General Counsel of the LDS Church (1849-1934)

Travis Robertson, Richard C. Howe: A Life of Service (2013)
Biography of the author’s wife’s grandfather, who served as the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives and later as Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court

David E. Silvester, The Young Family in the Law (1978)
Biographies of four relatives of LDS Church President Brigham Young (1801-1877) who studied and/or practiced law: LeGrand Young (nephew, 1840-1921, University of Michigan LLB 1874), Alfales Young (son, 1853-1920, University of Michigan LLB 1877), Richard W. Young (grandson, 1858-1919, Columbia LLB 1884), and Dallas Huber Young, Sr. (great-nephew, 1892-1971, University of Utah LLB 1925).

Extensive appendices include biographical statements, letters, genealogical charts, newspaper articles, and other source documents used for writing the student paper.

Stacie Stewart & Kristen Olsen, Pioneers Who Paved the Way: A Look at Some of Utah’s First Women Lawyers (2013)
Short biographies of 15 of Utah’s first women lawyers: Cora Georgiana Snow Carleton (1844-1915), Phoebe Wilson Couzins (1839-1913), Rebecca Garelick (1903-1995), Reva Zilpha Beck Bosone (1895-1983), Dorathy Seeley Merrill Brothers (1909-1985), Donna Vivienne Seare Adams (1910-1962), Virginia Frances Seare (1909-1986), Mary Alice Meagher Arentz (1910-1998), Katherine C. Meagher Ivers (1911-1963), Dorothea Merrill Dryer (1915-1990), Mary John Condas Lehmer (1919-1987), Mildred (Mimi) Bird Mortensen (1926- ), Jacque Benson Bell (ca. 1927- ), Mary Jane Carter Due (1922-1991), and Irene Warr (1931-2013)

Brigham L. Udall, From St. Johns to Chicago: Rex E. Lee’s Early Life (2013)
Biography of attorney (1935-1996), BYU Law School founding dean and law professor, covering his life up to his law school graduation

David L. Watson, Orval Hafen: Southern Utah Lawyer (1978)
Biography of St. George, Utah, attorney (1903-1964, University of California at Berkeley JD 1929), focusing on his journal from 1934-1950. [Biography is missing page 16]