About the Huntington Library
The Huntington Library, located in San Marino, California, is one of largest independent research libraries in the world; connected to the library is also an art museum and botanical garden. As part of the Huntington’s holdings of more than 11 million items, they have tens of thousands of materials pertaining to Mormonism. The Huntington has created a useful guide for Mormon Studies researchers entitled, “Guide to Mormon Manuscripts at the Huntington Library.” In 2020, Dr. Peter Blodgett, the librarian overseeing the North American West collections, published a brief history of the Huntington’s Mormon-related collections in BYU Studies Quarterly.
Visiting the Library
The Huntington Library is open at these hours by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, click here.
What Researchers Should Know
- New users must apply for registration to use the library.
- Patrons can purchase reproductions of material collections. Use this link to learn more.
Utilizing the Library Digitally
Many sources in the library’s collections are digitized and available electronically in high resolution. The Huntington’s “Digital Library” includes an exclusive section on Mormonism entitled “Mormonism and the West.” The collection includes copies of “original letters, diaries, journals, reminiscences and other records lent to The Huntington” and acquired from other institutions. The Huntington also uses their own online catalog to assist patrons in navigating their collections.
Other Helpful Resources
If a researcher is unable to physically go to the library, they can use the virtual reading room where an attendant will stream a document for them to view.
Important Collections
Many of the most important Mormon-related collections at the Huntington were collected by famed Mormon historian Juanita Brooks. In the 1940s and 50s, she worked as a field agent for the library and helped augment their already robust collections pertaining to Mormonism. Below is a representation of the breadth of its collections.
- Oliver Cowdery Letter book, 1833 – 1838
- The Latter-day-Saints’ emigrants’ guide by William Clayton
- Eliza Roxey Snow diaries, 1846-1849
- Lewis C. Bidamon papers, 1837-1962
- Reed Peck memoir, 1839
- Lucy Mack Smith and family memoirs, 1830-1838
- The Zion’s watchman [microform]
- Jacob Smith Boreman papers, 1857-1912
- The Pearl of Great Price, 1851
- John Stillman Woodbury diaries, 1851-1857