©2003 Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.
The entire collection was formed by Thompson and was later donated by him in April 1975.
The collection is open without restriction.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from Eugene Thompson Research Collection must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Eugene T. Thompson graduated from Brigham Young University in 1971 with a Bachelor's degree in English. As a graduate student in English, he was hired to do research for the 1975 centennial history of BYU. It was during this time that he became interested in the LDS Church and biological evolution.
This collection contains the materials Eugene Thompson collected during his research on the LDS Church and evolution. These materials present a broad sampling of Latter-day Saints views and opinions concerning this topic. The majority of the collection deals with the views of LDS Church leaders in the 20th century, including Joseph F. Smith (6th President of the LDS Church), B. H. Roberts (President of the Quorum of the Seventies and Assistant Church Historian), James E. Talmage (member of the Quoroum of the Twelve, scientist and educator), David O. McKay (9th President of the LDS Church) and Joseph Fielding Smith (Church Historian and 10th President of the LDS Church).
All or most of the collection are photocopies. It was felt to be unusable in the form in which it arrived in the archives. An order has been imposed by listing the materials alphabetically by creator.
The serious student of this topic will find information of value in the following essays:
Duane E. Jeffrey, "Seers, Savants, and Evolution: The Uncomfortable
Interface,"
"'We Don't Know': A Survey of Mormon Responses to Evolutionary
Biology," in Wilford M. Hess, Raymond T. Matheny, and Donlu D. Thayer,
eds.,
Richard Sherlock, "A Turbulent Spectrum: Mormon Reactions to the
Darwinist Legacy,"
"Campus in Crisis, BYU, 1911,"
Jeffrey E. Keller, "Discussion Continued: The Sequel to the
Roberts/Smith/Talmage Affair,"
F. Kent Nielson, "The Gospel and the Scientific View: How Earth Came
to Be,"
Also valuable is David C. Lindberg and Ronald L. Numbers,
eds.,
Correspondence
Notes on letter of P.J. Jensen to George H. Brimhall (GHB) 11/25/00, with a reply of 12/3/00
Excerpt from letter of GHB to Benjamin Cluff, Jr. 12/24/00
Notes on letter of GHB to Charles Maw, 1/10/01
Notes on letter of Isaac N. Oldroyd to GHB, 1/13/01, with a reply of 1/25/01
Excerpts from letter of P.J. Jensen to GHB, undated, with a reply of 3/20/01
GHB to Reed Smoot, 2/4/10
Reed Smoot to GHB, 2/16/10
GHB to Red Smoot, 3/3/10
GHB to Joseph F. Smith 5/29/10
Carl F. Eyring to GHB, 8/20/10
Joseph B. Keeler to GHB, 8/27/10
Joseph Peterson to GHB, 8/30/10
R. V. Chamberlain to GHB, 9/3/10
B. L. Richards to GHB, 9/6/10
GHB to Joseph F. Smith 12/3/10
D. L. Stout to GHB, 7/21/13
GHB to Lucy Taylor, 7/29/13
GHB to Melvin J. Ballard, 7/26/21 (2 copies)
A. A. Dahle to GHB, undated
Letter to and from persons unknown, 1/29/27
General:
List of books in the LDS Church Department of EducationCirculating Library ca. 1924-26
Account of experience with Lorenzo Snow at BYUA, ca. 1901
List of Biology textbooks found in GHB papers
Bibliographic items from the 1926, 1927, 1929 seminary bulletin
Excerpt from a talk of GHB, 7/17/10
Excerpts from Margaret Maw oral history concerning GHB
Correspondence:
Horace Cummings to Joseph F. Smith, 2/11/11
General Church Board of Education Committee to Joseph F. Smith and the Board of Trustees, 2/11/11
BYU Presidency to Joseph F. Smith, 2/20/11 (2 copies)
George H. Brimhall to Alice L. Reynolds, 2/21/11
Excerpt from Henry Peterson to A. C. Nelson, 2/23/11
E. S. Hinckley to George H. Brimhall, 2/24/11
George H. Brimhall to Reed Smoot, 3/8/11
BYU Presidency to Henry Peterson, 3/16/11
BYU Presidency to Joseph F. Smith, 3/17/11
Reed Smoot to George H. Brimhall, 3/26/11
Student Body Executive Committee to BYU Presidency 5/11/11
W. W. Henderson to George H. Brimhall, 5/12/11
George H. Brimhall to Milton Bennion, 3/22/15
General:
Newspaper clippings from
Also a 3 July 1914 clipping from
Appendix C from History of BYU, 1942
History of BYU, 1942, p. 43-45
Ralph V. Chamberlain Oral History
Life of W. H. Chamberlain, pp. 140, 148-52
Harvey Fletcher question
Church Board of Education Minutes, 1911 Feb.
April 1911
Excerpts from 1911 Banyan
Excerpts from George H. Richards diary, Feb. 1911
"The 'Evolution' and 'Higher Criticism' controversy at the
Brigham Young University" in
"The Blessings of science and the evils of Pseudo-science" by
Joseph Peterson in
"Comment" on teaching evolution from
"An Attempt to Trace the Course of Evolution", 9/22/11
List of BYU faculty, 1911
Student petition, 3/15/11
College Register, 1911-12
"Brigham Young University and 'Theological Liberalism' in 1911", by Mark L. Chamberlain, 5/15/72
Notes from "Minutes of UBYA Sunday School" 1902-10
Excerpt from a letter from and to persons unknown, 3/18/09
List of biology textbook approved by Church, 12/30/14
Course of Servings from
Notes from minutes of Faculty meetings Dec. 1917, Jan. 1918
"Science Looks at the How, When and Where of Man" by George H. Hanson. Address given 2 Feb. 1946 BYU Leadership Week
Geology memorandum 4/13/61
Correspondence:
Chamberlain to George H. Brimhall, 3/24/10
Chamberlain to George H. Brimhall, 6/14/18
Chamberlain to Brother Holt, 6/14/18
Chamberlain to Franklin S. Harris, 1/8/22
Richard R. Lyman to Franklin S. Harris, 1/14/22
Franklin s. Harris to Chamberlain, 3/14/22
General:
R. V. Chamberlain, biography
Excerpts from Chapter 9 of
"Conflict of Science and Religion", by R. V. Chamberlain
"The Present Attack on the Doctrine of Evolution", by R. V. Chamberlain, 1922
Excerpts from "Science and Religion" and address by R. V. Chamberlain at the Installment of Q Chapter at BYU, March 1931
Letter from Cummings to George H. Brimhall, 3/25/14
Excerpts from Cummings Autobiography, n.p., n.d.
Excerpts from Chamberlain journal 1917-29
Church Board of Education minutes concerning H.H Cummings, 12/2/10, 9/15/15, 6/27/17
Excerpt from 1942 BYU History concerning H. H. Cummings
Letter from William Lee Stokes to Henry Eyring,12/14/54
Letter from Henry Eyring to Adam S. Bennion, 12/16/54
"Faith in God", by Henry Eyring
Excerpt from Harvey Fletcher oral history
"Science in the Church School Program", by Harvey Fletcher
Correspondence:
Gates to Leah Widtsoe, 11/24/23
Gates to Marcell Widtsoe, 2/2/24
Gates to Leah Widtsoe, 9/16/29
Gates to Leah Widtsoe, 10/3/29
Gates to John A. Widtsoe, undated
General:
"Stories Woven Around Dreams About Life After Death" by Susa Young Gates
"Debunking Religion and the Scriptures", by Susa Young Gates
Letter from Richard D. Poll to Duane Jeffery, 8/20/73
Memo from Duane Jeffery to Ernest L. Wilkinson, 1/16/74
Notes from a talk, undated
"Seers, Servants and Evolution; The Uncomfortable Interface",
by Duane Jeffery. Rough draft and reprint from
McKay to BYU student, 11/3/47
Don Olpin to office of First Presidency, 1/19/56
McKay to William Lee Stokes, 2/15/59
Unknown to McKay, 1/25/59
McKay to A. Kent Christensen, 2/13/59
Joseph Anderson to Armin J. Hill, 2/25/59
A. Hammer Reiser to Robert C. Stones, 4/21/60
Joseph Anderson to Harold J. Bissell, 5/3/60
Clare Middlemiss to Pertti Felin, 5/8/64
McMurrin to Earl Harmer, 4/23/49
Gustave O. Larsen to McMurrin, 5/25/49
Levi Edgar Young to McMurrin, 6/20/49
Letter from Nicholes to Henry L. Taylor, 4/24/54
"To What Extent Can Any Parts of the Theory of Organic Evolution be Reconciled with L.D.S. Scripture?"
"Evolution and the LDS Religion"
"How Should Members of the Mormon Church Look Upon the Theory of Organic Evolution?"
"The Creation of the Earth." A two part series in
the
Letter from Fredrick J. Pack to First Presidency, 12/1/14
Notes on Pack's
Excerpts from
Excerpts from Biology at
Excerpts from
Correspondence:
Poll (RDP) to David O. McKay, 11/15/54
Joseph Fielding Smith to Poll, 12/1/54
RDP to Joseph Fielding Smith 12/3/54
Joseph Fielding Smith to RDP 12/7/54
RDP to Ernest L. Wilkinson, 12/15/54
RDP to Joseph Fielding Smith, 12/21/54
RDP to David O. McKay, 12/21/54
Joseph Fielding Smith to RDP, 12/27/54
Ernest L. Wilkinson to RDP, 1/4/55
RDP to Joseph Fielding Smith, 1/10/55
RDP to Henry Eyring, 1/25/55
RDP to Ernest L. Wilkinson, 1/31/55
RDP to Ernest L. Wilkinson 2/17/55
Joseph T. Bentley to Marion G. Romney, 3/1/55
Ernest L. Wilkinson, memorandum, 3/9/55
RDP to Joseph T. Bentley, 3/24/55
RDP to Duane E. Jeffery, 8/20/73
General:
Notes on conversation with David O. McKay and Joseph Fielding Smith, 12/29/54
Notes from Sacrament Meeting talk of Richard Poll, 2/27/55
Report of Joseph T. Bentley of Richard Poll Sacrament Meeting talk 2/27/55
Letter from Orson Pratt to Brigham young, 7/1/68
Account in
First Presidency statement, 1909 Nov.
First Presidency statement, 1925
Statements of Church leaders concerning the Origin of Man, 10 pages
Correspondence:
Roberts to Rudger Clawson, 9/17/28
Committee reviewing B.H. Roberts
Roberts to Heber J. Grant, 12/15/30
Roberts to Rudger Clawson, 12/31/30
Rudger Clawson to Heber J. Grant, 1/21/31
Roberts to Council of Twelve, Council of Seventy, and Presiding Bishopric, 4/5/31
Rudger Clawson to George Albert Smith, 4/10/31
General:
Excerpts from B. H. Roberts
List of points of doctrine in question concerning
Excerpt from
"Counsel from the Presiding Brethren concerning the Proper Domain of the Religion Teacher"
"No Death Before the Fall and Related Ideas"
"History of Evolutionary Concepts; Mutation; and Natural Selection"
Newspaper clippings from 1925 July concerning trial
"The Tennessee Case" by William Jennings Bryan in
October 1925 Conference statements concerning Bryan, the Trial and Origin of Man
Joseph F. Smith to Andrew White, 6/9/82
Joseph F. Smith to Andrew White, 1882 June
Joseph F. Smith to Andrew White, 2/25/11
Joseph F. Smith to Elmer Kneale, 3/9/12
"Philosophy and the Church Schools" by Joseph F. Smith in
the
Correspondence:
Smith to Joseph A. West, 11/18/24
Bion Tolman to JFS, 12/28/30
Smith to Bion Tolman, 1/5/31
Smith to Henry Eyring, 6/12/50
Smith to Miss Perry, 11/3/55
Sylvin Griffin to Smith, 6/30/56
Julina Hart to Smith, 5/14/57
Donald R. Snow to Smith, 7/1/58 with a reply from Joseph Fielding Smith
General:
Excerpts from Joseph Fielding Smith's small journals, including entries from 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1943
"Just a Few Words on Evolution", by Joseph Fielding Smith in
the
"The Origin of Man", undated talk at BYU
"The Origin of Man", talk given 8/28/54
"Discussion in the Report Meeting in the Board Room of the Church Office Building", 3/31/54
Sidney Sperry to Snell, 8/31/49
Snell to George Albert Smith, 5/24/50
Snell to Joseph Fielding Smith, 6/5/50
Joseph Fielding Smith to Snell, 6/13/50
Snell to Joseph Fielding Smith, 6/23/50
"Theory of Evolution", talk by James E. Talmage, date unknown
"The Earth & Man", talk given by James E. Talmage, 8/9/31
Minutes of 11/20/31 Quorum of Twelve meeting concerning James E. Talmage's talk, "The Earth and Man.
Letter from James E. Talmage to Franklin S. Harris, 11/21/31
"Fallen, but He Shall Rise Again: Man has Stooped to Conquer",
by James E. Talmage in the
Excerpts from James E. Talmage journals, including entries from 1884 through 1931
Correspondence:
Melvin Cook to Thompson, 7/19/71
Thompson to L. Arrington, 7/26/71
Thompson to Ephrim Erickson. 8/26/71
Thompson to University of Utah Law School Reference Librarian, 7/26/71
Thompson to Joseph Fielding Smith, 7/26/71
Lane Wilkins to Thompson, 7/29/71
Everett Cooley to Thompson, 8/9/71
Joseph Anderson to Thompson, 8/27/71
A. S. Simmonds to Thompson, 10/13/71
Thompson to George Ellsworth, 1/21/74
George Ellsworth to Thompson, 1/29/74
Correspondence:
Susa Young Gates to John A. Widtsoe, 8/30/27
Widtsoe to susa Young Gates, 10/3/29
Widtsoe to Susa Young Gates, 10/8/29
Susa Young Gates to Widtsoe, 1/2/31
Susa Young Gates to Widtsoe, 7/10/31
Susa Young Gates to John & Leah Widtsoe, 7/29/31
Widtsoe to Rudger Clawson, 9/9/31
Susa Young Gates to John & Leah Widtsoe, 10/10/31
Widtsoe to Susa Young Gates, 10/30/31
Susa Young Gates to Widtsoe, 11/7/31
Susa Young Gates to Widtsoe, 11/17/31
General:
Excerpt from Harvey Fletcher oral history concerning John A. Widtsoe and Joseph Fielding Smith
"What Does Evolution Teach Today?"
"What is Science?"
Pages 258-275 from
"Joseph Smith as Scientist"
Untitled talk of John A. Widtsoe on Evolution
Comments in the
Notes taken from John A.Widtsoe papers at USHS
George Ellsworth to Robert K. Thomas, 4/10/68
Wilkinson to Robert K. Thomas, 5/22/68
Henry Peterson to Wilkinson, 3/6/73