Why the Historical Record?

Tyson Thorpe, Reference Librarian
28 March 2017

The title of the Church History Library’s blog is borrowed from an important Church history publication from the early 20th century. Reference librarian Tyson Thorpe provides some background on Andrew Jenson and his significant work.

Some of you might be wondering why we named the Church History Library blog the Historical Record. The title comes from a magazine of the same name printed in the late 1800s by Andrew Jenson, assistant Church historian from 1897 to 1941. The magazine carried articles about the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Andrew Jenson was born in Denmark in 1850 as Anders Jensen. His parents joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1854, and the family immigrated to Utah in 1866. To better fit into his new home country, Anders anglicized his name to Andrew Jenson. He became interested in the history of the Church and eventually gained employment in the Historian’s Office and traveled extensively, documenting the early history of the Church in various areas and countries throughout the world. In 1897 he became an assistant Church historian to Franklin D. Richards. During his life, Jenson published many books and magazines on Church history.

First appearing in January 1882, the Morgenstjernen (meaning “morning star” in Norwegian) was published by Jenson for Danish and Norwegian converts who had immigrated to Utah Territory. The subtitle, translated as “A Historical-Biographical Journal,” communicated to readers that the focus of the magazine was the history and lives of the Saints, setting it apart from other publications at the time that tended to focus more on doctrine, instruction, and current events. The last issue of the Morgenstjernen appeared in December 1885 as Jenson transitioned it into the English-language Historical Record.

The Historical Record was privately published and edited by Jenson in Salt Lake City, Utah. It carried the subtitle “Devoted Exclusively to Historical, Biographical, Chronological and Statistical Matters.” The first issue was dated January 1886, and the final issue December 1890. In the preface to a compilation of volumes 5 through 8 of the Historical Record, Jenson stated that his original purpose for the magazine was “to give the public a work of reference on Church history, covering the entire period from the Prophet Joseph Smith’s birth to the present time.”1 An editorial in the January 1890 issue stated that “it is the earnest desire of the editor and publishers of the Record to gather, compile and publish facts, narrate events as they have actually transpired, and hand down to posterity truths as they are gathered from participants in and eye-witnesses to the events described.”2

In fulfilling these purposes, Jenson’s magazine provided much valuable insight on the history of the LDS Church, some examples being the brief biographies of the Twelve Apostles published in volume 6 and the lengthy history of Nauvoo published in volume 8.

We wish to carry on the legacy left by Andrew Jenson with this new Historical Record, that we “may give future generations a true conception of the labor performed by the early workers in the cause of Christ.”3 Many of our posts will briefly touch on various historical events, persons, and places. But we will also expand upon Jenson’s initial motive by posting research tips, behind-the-scenes looks at the Church History Library, and other interesting insights.