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25. Brother Arrington asked advice on his Oral History Program from Elder Dyer and it was determined that such an interview should be set up at the convenience of the General authority. That only Brother Arrington, Allen, or Bitton do the interviewing and that they be informed that when the tape is transcribed, that it will be submitted to the originator for his approval and editing. He also suggested that Brother Brown should be approached very soon for such an interview. Other personnel might interview those other than the General Authorities.
[LJAD, Minutes of the executives of the HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATER-DAY SAINTS meeting, Thursday 16 March 1972]
4. Brother Arrington suggested that in order to get his oral history program underway as soon as possible, that Gary Shumway of Fullerton, California be brought to Utah for the summer to assist in starting it and showing them how it should be done. An approximate cost of $2000 would be needed for this purpose. The Oral History Program will be the responsibility of Davis Bitton who has taught oral history here in Utah. An interview with President Hugh B. Brown is most urgently sought inasmuch as his health is not good. This matter will be considered as the budget is reviewed and will be determined at that time.
[LJAD, Minutes of the executives of the HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATER-DAY SAINTS meeting, Tuesday 28 March 1972]
5. Leonard Arrington is desirous of beginning his oral history program with Elder Dyer. He also indicated that Gary Shumway would be very happy to come and work for the Church during the summer months for either one month or two at $1,000 per month. He would need adequate tape to carry out this work. Brother Olson felt there is enough tape on hand now to handle such a project. A form will be prepared and sent over to Personnel Department requesting his services. A study of the budget sheet (a copy was given to Brother Olson) was made and it was determined that adequate funds were available for this additional person.
[LJAD, Minutes of the executives of the HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATER-DAY SAINTS meeting, Thursday 30 March 1972]
Meeting, April 4, 1972 in Alvin R. Dyer’s office
Present: Elder Dyer, Earl E. Olsen, Donald Schmidt, Davis Bitton
5. Someone had written to Brother Dyer regarding statements on sensitivity groups, birth control, and the like, apparently with a project of gathering such statements from various General Authorities. In declaring such a project to be no concern of the Historical Department Brother Dyer said he did not have very much regard for “compilers.”
8. I presented the proposed sesquicentennial history of the Church; Earl thought that perhaps vol. 7 should end with 1901 rather than 1896. Brother Dyer was enthusiastic about the whole project and specifically said that Robert Matthews was an excellent choice for the Missouri period. He raised questions about how such programs as welfare and tithing would be handled with respect to chronology. It was pointed out that even if Welfare were treated in the 1930-50 volume, it would be quite possible to include a section filling in the earlier background and setting the stage. I asked how soon we could feel free to contact the individual writers. Brother Dyer said this would have to wait on our decision as to whether the work would be remunerated or would be volunteer. If it were paid in any way—as a research grant or providing clerical assistance—this would have to be figured into the budget. Specifically, whichever volumes will be farmed out for the coming year will need to be thought of in these terms, leading to a firm decision no later than April 27.
[LJAD, meeting in Alvin R. Dyer’s office, 4 April 1972]
15. A tentative suggested list of names for the writing of the various volumes of the Sesqui-Centennial History of the Church was presented to Elder Dyer. He was very pleased with these proposed names. The inclusion of the various Church programs and just how these would fit into the publications were discussed. Some alternate names were also suggested by Davis Bitton as follows: Douglas Tobler, Paul Hyer, and Marvin Hill of BYU on LDS Missions, and Charles Petersen of the Utah State University for Volume 7. LDS Missions would be Volume 11. Elder Dyer stated that we must know how much of this project will have to be considered as remunerative so that this amount might be included in the budget. The volunteer workers also should be known. This information must be in our hands before April 30 for inclusion in the budget. This cost could be included in a research grant category.
[LJAD, Minutes of the Executives of the HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATER-DAY SAINTS meeting, Tuesday 4 April 1972]
PLAN OF OPERATIONS
OF THE CHURCH HISTORY DIVISION OF THE
HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH
April 10, 1972
1. Oral history program (Systematic interviews). The division expects to initiate an oral history program immediately, in which General Authorities and persons who have been or are now in charge of various Church programs will be interviewed. We will thus collect oral information about the history of various agencies and programs of the Church. These people should provide important insights that are not available in ordinary records.
[LJAD, Plan of Operations of the Church History Division of the Historical Department of the Church, 10 April 1972]
With regard to the taping of oral interviews, which might be unfriendly, I cannot conceive that the Church would excommunicate anybody for providing us information, which is not consistent with the “official” account of what happened. In our publications, of course, we shall have to use good judgment in the manner in which we present our findings, but at least we must be honest, we must recognize the existence of contrary facts and ideas.
[LJAD, LJA Diary, Wednesday, 23 August 1972]
3. The Oral History Program is moving ahead and is extremely successful. Interviews are now being carried forth with some of the General Authorities—Brother Stapley, President Kimball, etc. It was also noted that President Kimball is making his diaries available for the history people to study, and is very enthused over the program. Brother Arrington also suggested that next year a full-time person should be engaged for this oral history program. At this time the name of Gary Shumway, who has been developing the program in the Historical Department during the past two months, was suggested.
4. It was noted that the Charles Redd Center is very much interested in the Oral History Program and would like to get involved with us in it.
[LJAD, Meeting of Representatives of the Archives, History, and Library Divisions, Thursday, 7 September 1972]
4. Oral History Project – Under the guidance of Dr. Gary Shumway, during the summer of 1972, an oral history project was inaugurated, which will be a continuing part of the activities of the History Division. Some 54 interviews were completed by the end of the year. The oral history project will focus on general authorities, mission presidents, and other prominent people who have played significant roles in various phases of Church history.
[LJAD, Some Accomplishments of the History Division of the Historical Dep’t, submitted by James B. Allen, January 1973]
30. Some discussion was had relative to the oral history program and the employment of Gary Shumway, a professor at the University of California at Fullerton, California, to lead this program. Brother Arrington mentioned that we should have to make a commitment to him sometime during January or February in order to obtain his services by September. Brother Anderson will take this matter up with the brethren.
With reference to oral history, Brother Olson mentioned that the archives had received only one oral history typed interview. Brother Arrington said that the others are not finished yet, but will be sent to the archives when they are completed.
[LJAD, Minutes of the meeting of the Executives of the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Thursday, 4 January 1973]
A long discussion with what we should do with transcripts of interviews, which ought to be restricted. We decided that they would be bound and placed in the vault with no catalogue entry—only Earl and I would know that they were there. I explained in the meeting that one copy would have to be given to the person granting the interview under terms of our agreement.
[LJAD, LJA Diary, Tuesday, 23 January 1973]
Brother Anderson reported his meeting with President Lee this morning, at which meeting the following matters pertaining to the Church Historical Department were considered:
4. In regard to the employment of an oral historian, President Lee questioned the value of an oral history as compared to a written history. Brother Anderson asked Brother Arrington to give him further information as to what the duties of an oral historian would be.
[LJAD, Minutes of the meeting of the Executives of the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Wednesday, 21 February 1973]
Brother Joseph Anderson came into my office this afternoon to bring nine passes to general conference to give to the RLDS people attending the Mormon History Association meetings next week. Since we did not have a meeting this morning, I took the occasion to tell him that we planned to ask Brother Bill Hartley to direct the oral history program on a half-time basis and the other half work in doing Melchizedek Priesthood research.
[LJAD, LJA Diary, Thursday, 29 March 1973]
Leonard J. Arrington Diaries – Notebook #14
2. Brother Arrington made a brief report regarding the oral history program. He said there have been 167 interviews to date, that eighty-eight people have been interviewed, and that approximately half of the interviews have been processed. At least half of the interviews have been conducted by Bill Hartley and Gordon Irving. Brother Arrington said other interviews will be conducted this summer by Gary Shumway.
[Meeting Minutes of the Executives, Historical Department; LJA Diary, 3 Jul., 1973]
Recollections Recorded
“With 317 hours of interviews on tape, we feel we have had a successful first year of our Oral History Program,” William G. Hartley, director of the church Oral History Program, said this week.
The program, part of the Church Historical Department, was started on July 29, 1972.
Oral history is the tape-recorded recollections of a person, in response to questions from an interviewer, according to Elder Hartley, and it was developed as a useful way to preserve a personal history.
The church to date has obtained tape-recorded interviews from scores of individuals, including general authorities, other leaders, observant members and old-timers.
“We try to interview those who have had significant church responsibility and experience, as well as those having important and interesting recollections about past church developments,” said Elder Hartley.
In many instances, histories of missions, areas or people are not written, simply because no one has taken the time to write them.
With an oral history, the facts are put on tape while memories are still fairly fresh. Then the histories are taken off by transcribers at the Historical Department and put onto paper.
They are then retyped and bound. One copy is filed in the archives and another is given to the interviewee.
In a short pamphlet describing the Oral History Program, Dr. Leonard J. Arrington, church historian said:
“The real story of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in the lives of its members. Accounts of their experiences, labors and concerns are the basic ingredients of church history. It is vital, therefore, that personal histories of individual Latter-day Saints be kept.
“Through oral history we are recording and preserving such personal life stories and insightful recollections.
“An exciting and pleasant experience for the person being interviewed, oral history also is a valuable source for writing the history of the church in this century.”
In most cases, staff members of the program do the interviewing. Already interviews have been conducted in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, California, Canada, and Austria. A staff member left the last of July for Scandinavia for a three-week interview assignment.
Up to July 25 of this year, 95 individuals had been interviewed, and 183 separate interviews had been conducted, with 144 of those transcribed.
“We feel that the oral interview is an alternative source of primary historical material, simply because the telephone has replaced letters, and fewer people bother to keep diaries or write autobiographies,” Elder Hartley said.
He emphasized that oral history is the product of two minds interacting.
“Mere tape-recording, such as an individual self recording his memoirs, is not oral history. Rather, the intervention of a trained historian’s curiosity is required if the product is to have the widest historical value,” Elder Hartley emphasized.
[Oral History Program, Church News; LJA Diary, 11 Aug., 1973]
7. Brother Arrington stated that as a result of the article which appeared in the Deseret News Church Section pertaining to our oral history program, many requests have been received from people asking for guidelines as to how to go about conducting a family oral history program. Brother Arrington said Bill Hartley has prepared a manual along this line which they would like to have published. It is the intention to sell it to those making inquiry for 50 cents or $1.00. Brother Arrington said the manual would be given the title of Guide to Oral History. He recommended that it be put in our Guide and Register series. Approval was given to the suggestions as submitted by Brother Arrington.
[Meeting Minutes of the Executives, Historical Department; LJA Diary, 4 Sept., 1973]
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Council of the Twelve
Room 304
Church Administration Building
Dear Elder McConkie:
Because of the interest you expressed yesterday in the status of our various programs, I thought you might be interested in a brief report.
(1) Oral History Program. This program was started in August 1972 and is under the direction of Brother William C. Hartley. We have interviewed more than two hundred persons including about half of the General Authorities, about one hundred returned mission presidents, and former administrators of Church programs and we have a dozen “oldtimers” with interesting information and stories to tell. Brother Hartley has also prepared a handbook of how to interview, which is available for persons doing family histories. Excerpts from that have appeared in the Ensign and New Era. . . .
Sincerely,
Leonard J. Arrington
[LJA to Elder Bruce R. McConkie; LJA Diary, 6 Mar., 1974]
Brother Arrington reported that in order to try to keep current with the typing, etc. in connection with the oral history program, the History Division would like permission to draw up a formal proposal to be presented to the Moyle family suggesting that they donate a sum of money to the Mormon History Trust Fund, to be administered by the trustees of the Trust Fund, for the purpose of hiring additional personnel to help them in the oral history program. Brother Arrington stated that any furniture needed can be purchased with proceeds in the Trust Fund, but that we would have to provide the space for such additional personnel. After consideration, approval was given to Brother Arrington’s proposal.
[Minutes of the meeting of the Executives of the Historical Department, 17 Sep., 1974; LJA Diary]
With reference to the oral history program, Brother Arrington reported that they have received an informal report that the James Moyle family will make a substantial contribution toward this program. Brother Arrington explained that as part of the agreement with the Moyle family it was proposed that the items processed by the use of funds contributed by them would be under the heading of James Moyle Oral History Program.
[Minutes of the meeting of the Executives of the Historical Department, 23 Oct., 1974; LJA Diary]
AN OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE JAMES MOYLE ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM
The James Moyle Oral History Program is to be funded in part by a generous endowment to the Historical Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the James Moyle Genealogical and Historical Association. This organization was established in 1946 to further genealogical work of the family of James Moyle, to produce historical works of interest and value to the family, and to “do any other worthy act, or perform any other worthy service by means of which the memory of James Moyle and his wives Elizabeth Wood Moyle and Margaret Cannell Moyle will be perpetuated.”
In connection with the final objective, the Association decided in early 1976 to provide a needed service for the Church by helping to fund the Historical Department’s oral history program, thereby furnishing means for personnel, equipment, travel, and other program needs. The James Moyle Oral History Program is subsquently to be established on the following basis:
1. The James Moyle Genealogical and Historical Association will endow the James Moyle Oral History Program with a grant of at least $100,000. The endowment will be for the use of the Historical Department in furthering its oral history program.
2. The grant will be administered as part of the Mormon History Trust Fund in such a way that the principal will generate interest sufficient to provide, as near as possible, one-third of the annual operating costs of the James Moyle Oral History Program, which at the present time is approximately $30,000. The James Moyle Oral History Fund, as a part of the Mormon History Trust Fund but maintained separately for accounting and management purposes, will thus contribute under the program’s initial budget approximately $10,000 per year. If in any given year the interest generated by the fund is insufficient to meet the required share of operating costs, the principal will be tapped to supply the difference. The goal of the program will be to manage the funds judiciously so that an annual income of $10,000 will result for a minimum period of thirty years.
3. The James Moyle Oral History Program and Fund will be administered and policies set by a board consisting of the Church Historian, an Assistant Church Historian, and the Director and Assistant Director of the James Moyle Oral History Program. Serving as advisory members of the board will be a member of the Moyle family and the officers of the Mormon History Trust Fund.
4. An annual report of the program’s budget and production results will be prepared and submitted to the Moyle family.
5. Final copies of interviews finalized after 5 May 1976 will bear the imprint of “The James Moyle Oral History Program.” In addition, all references to the church’s oral history program in correspondence, on guides, and in professional and other interchange generating after that date will be to the James Moyle Oral History Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
6. Contributions from the grant are meant to supplement the existing oral history program, not to lessen the Historical Department’s own commitment to oral history in terms of budget, housing, and personnel.
7. General policy and procedure for the program will continue to follow the general guidelines already in operation in the Historical Department’s oral history program. Within these general guidelines in connection with those mentioned above, the board will have flexibility to manage the program and fund as it sees fit.
The James Moyle Oral History Program will provide an excellent service to the church, to the cause of history, and to the family of James Moyle. It will serve as a visible and enduring tribute to the name of the family, perpetuating program for preserving LDS and family histories the significance of which it is difficult to overstate.
[LJA Diary, 15 Mar., 1976]
Oral History Program
Brother Arrington reported that some time ago approval was given to a proposal by the James H. Moyle family that they donate a sum of money to our oral history program, with the stipulation that the contribution be used not to replace our present oral history program but to add to it, and that it be named the James H. Moyle Oral History Project. Brother Arrington said he has now received a letter from the Moyle family stating their willingness to contribute $100,000 to this program, to be paid in a lump sum and utilized over a period of time. Brother Arrington recommended that the principal be allowed to accumulate interest, thus enabling them to extend the amount over a considerable number of years, and that $10,000 be expended annually therefrom, which sum would be used to expand the oral history program, to employ additional help, and to pay other expenses which might be incurred. The question of whether our entire oral history program should be known as the James H. Moyle Oral History Project was briefly discussed. It was decided to take this matter to the advisers for their consideration and recommendation.
[Minutes of the Executives of the Historical Department, 25 Mar., 1976; LJA Diary]
James H. Moyle Oral History Designation
The advisers approved that the title to be used for the oral history program in the Historical Department may be the James H. Moyle Oral History Program. After discussion of the sum to be given by the Moyle family for oral histories, Elder Hunter recommended that this sum be deposited with the Deseret Trust Fund where it may be withdrawn as needed and where it will bring a higher interest return. Brother Arrington will confer with the Moyle family to see if they approve depositing the fund with the Deseret Trust Fund.
[Minutes of the Executives of the Historical Department, 5 May, 1976; LJA Diary]
FIVE-YEAR REPORT, 1976-1980
Oral History
In January 1976 the Oral History Program was part of the History Division and was directed by William G. Hartley. In October 1976 the name of the program was changed to the James Moyle Oral History Program, as approved by the Historical Department leadership and in accordance with the stipulations of a $100,000 grant received from the James H. Moyle family. The Moyle family donated the money to the Church so that clerical and other services could be provided beyond what could be funded out of the departmental budget, thus furthering the program objective of documenting the growth and development of the Church in the twentieth century through interviews with participants in that history. In November 1976, Gordon Irving was appointed to head the James Moyle Oral History Program. He continued as supervisor at the end of 1980. In July 1980, with the discontinuation of the History Division, the oral history work was transferred to the Administration and General Division.
On January 1, 1976 the Oral History Program consisted of 800 interviews with approximately 400 individuals, of which 245 interviews, or 31%, had been completely processed and deposited in final form in the Church Archives, leaving a backlog of 555 interviews requiring further processing–that is, transcription, checking, editing, review by the person interviewed, retyping, and proofreading. The emphasis of the program under Brother Irving has been to conduct interviews at a much slower pace and to work to eliminate the backlog of interviews not yet in final form. In the last five years there has been a net increase of 730 interviews in the program, representing new work with some 350 individuals. On January 1, 1981, there were 1198 interviews which had been completely processed, an increase of 953 during the five years, which represented 78% of the interviews in the program, leaving a backlog of 332 interviews. In absolute terms, the backlog was reduced by 223 interviews from January 1, 1976 to January 1, 1981, while in relative terms it was cut from 69% to 22% of all interviews in the program. The rate of growth of the program before Brother Irving became supervisor was 227 interviews per year; since he became director slightly more than four years ago and has turned more attention to processing existing interviews, the rate of growth has been 134 interviews per year.
Since January 1976 interviews have been added to the program relating to almost all aspects of contemporary Church history, including many interviews with General Authorities, regional representatives, and stake and mission leaders who can provide authoritative information regarding their areas of service. Special projects have been conducted relating to the history of the Genealogical Society; Relief Society/LDS Social Services; Welfare Services, including Welfare Services missionaries; the LDS response to the 1976 Teton Flood; the Young Women; and numerous other aspects of the Church. The department provided partial funding for Brother Irving to do some interviewing in Mexico in 1976 and Chile in 1977, and the James Moyle Oral History Trust Fund, under the care of the Financial Department and supervised by the leadership of the Historical Department, has funded some interviewing, as well as much clerical and editorial work.
Statement prepared by
Gordon Irving, 22 January 1981
[Five-Year Report of the History Division, 1976-1980; LJA Diary, 1 Jan., 1981]
Oral History
In January 1976 the Oral History Program was part of the History Division and was directed by William G. Hartley. In October 1976 the name of the program was changed to the James Moyle Oral History Program, as approved by the Historical Department leadership and in accordance with the stipulations of a $100,000 grant received from the James H. Moyle Family. The Moyle Family donated the money to the Church so that clerical and other services could be provided beyond what could be funded out of the departmental budget, thus furthering the program objective of documenting the growth and development of the Church in the twentieth century through interviews with participants in that history. In November 1976, Gordon Irving was appointed to head the James Moyle Oral History Program. He continued as supervisor at the end of 1980. July 1, 1980, with the discontinuation of the History Division, the oral history program was transferred to the Administration Division.
On January 1, 1976 the Oral History Program consisted of 800 interviews with approximately 400 individuals, of which 245 interviews had been completely processed. A backlog of 55 interviews required further processing–that is, transcription, checking, editing, review by the person interviewed, retyping, and proofreading. The emphasis of the program under Brother Irving has been to conduct interviews at a much slower pace and to work to eliminate the backlog of interviews not yet in final form. In the last five years 730 interviews were conducted with some 350 individuals. By December 31, 1980, 1198 interviews had been completely processed, leaving a backlog of 332 interviews. The rate of growth of the program, previously 227 interviews, was reduced to 134 interviews per year.
Since January 1976, the interviews have related to almost all aspects of contemporary Church history, including many with General Authorities, regional representatives, and stake and mission leaders who can provide authoritative information regarding their areas of service. Special projects have been conducted relating to the history of the Genealogical Society, Relief Society, LDS Social Services, Welfare Services, including Welfare Services missionaries; the LOS response to the 1976 Teton Flood, the Young Women, and numerous other aspects of the Church. The department provided partial funding for Brother Irving to do some interviewing in Mexico in 1976 and Chile in 1977, and the James Moyle Oral History Trust Fund, under the care of the Financial Department and supervised by the leadership of the Historical Department, has funded some interviewing, as well as much clerical and editorial work.
[Report of the Historical Department, 1976-1980; LJA Diary, 1 Jan., 1981]
Moyle Family Oral History Program
Brother Arrington reported that an agreement has been reached with the Deseret Trust Company relative to the investment of funds contributed by the Moyle family toward the oral history program. He stated that on January 3, 1977, $94,000 will be transferred to the Deseret Trust Company in a revocable trust, which they will invest. It is anticipated that the net return from the investments will be in the neighborhood of 8%. Brother Arrington stated that $10,000 a year will be spent for the purpose of employing an additional secretary and a half-time person to do oral histories. It was decided to bring this matter to the attention of the advisers for their information.
[Minutes of Historical Department Meeting, 7 Dec., 1976]