|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant
Mormon Biographies by Author |
|
| Alexander, Thomas G. Things in Heaven and Earth: The Life and Times of Wilford Woodruff, a Mormon Prophet (1991) | |
| 1991 Mormon History Association Best Book | |
| Arrington, Leonard J. Brigham Young: American Moses (1985) | |
| Definitive biography
of Brigham Young, recommended by Mormon History Association. 1995 Mormon History Association Best Book |
|
| ------. Charles C. Rich: Mormon General and Western Frontiersman. (1974) | |
| This well researched biography has been identified by Ronald W. Walker and David J. Whittaker as one of the best Mormon biographies. | |
| ------.From Quaker to Latter-day Saint: Bishop Edwin D. Woolley (1976) | |
| This well researched biography has been identified by Ronald W. Walker and David J. Whittaker as one of the best Mormon biographies. | |
| Barney, Ronald O. One Side By Himself, The Life and Time of Lewis Barney, 1808-1894. (2001) | |
| 2001 Ella Larsen
Turner – Ella Ruth Turner Bergera Best Biography Award winner
(Mormon History Association). Well-written biography of a common Latter-day Saint. |
|
| Beecher, Maurine Ursenbach. Eliza and Her Sisters. (1991) | |
| 1991 Ella Larsen Turner Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association). Biography of early Mormon poetess. | |
| Bitton, Davis. George Q. Cannon. (1999) | |
| 1999 Mormon
History Association Best Book Award winner. Biography of early Mormon biographer, editor, and publisher. |
|
| Bradford, Mary Lythgoe. Lowell L. Bennion: Teacher, Counselor, Humanitarian. (1995) | |
| The life of the well-known Salt Lake Institute director and University of Utah Sociology professor written by an important literary figure in Mormon letters. | |
| Bradley, Martha Sonntag and Mary Brown Firmage Woodward. Four Zinas, a Story of Mothers and Daughters on the Mormon Frontier (2000) | |
| 2000 Ella Larsen Turner Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association); Best Book Award, Utah Historical Society | |
| Bringhurst, Newell G. Fawn McKay Brodie: A Biographer’s Life (1999) | |
| 1999 Ella Larsen
Turner Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association) Biography of the biographer of Joseph Smith. |
|
| ------., ed. Reconsidering No Man Knows My History: Fawn M. Brodie and Joseph Smith in Retrospect (1996) | |
| A biographical analysis of Fawn Brodie, author of No Man Knows My History. Contains contributions of several scholars particularly interested in Brodie’s approach to treating the life of the first LDS Church president. | |
| Brodie, Fawn. No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet (1945) | |
| The best known and most controversial biography of Joseph Smith. Identified by Ronald W. Walker as combining narrative talent with able but controversial research. Popular among non-Mormon historians | |
| Brooks, Juanita. John Doyle Lee: Zealot—Pioneer Builder—Scapegoat (1962) | |
| Identified by Ronald W. Walker and David J. Whittaker as one of the best Mormon biographies. Well-researched, serves as a model for LDS biographers who want to go past mere chronology and hagiography. | |
| Bushman, Richard Joseph Smith, Rough Stone Rolling (2005) | |
| The definitive biography on Joseph Smith as of 2005, written by the respected historian from Columbia and approached both as a scholar and a believer. | |
| Cannon, Donald Q. and David J. Whittaker, eds. Supporting Saints: Life Stories of Nineteenth-Century Mormons (1985) | |
| Contains biographical essays about Mormon poets John Lyon and Emmeline B. Wells (among others). | |
| Caswell, Henry. The Prophet of the Nineteenth Century; or, The Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Mormons, or Latter-day Saints | |
| The first biography ever written on Joseph Smith. It is also probably the first biography ever written on a Mormon. (1853) | |
| Dew, Sheri L. Go Forward with Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley. (1996) | |
| Sympathetic biography of current Church president | |
| Ellsworth, Maria S. Mormon Odyssey: The Story of Ida Hunt Udall, Plural Wife (1992) | |
| 1992 Ella Larsen
Turner Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association). Biography of a Mormon polygamous wife. |
|
| England, Breck. The Life and Thought of Orson Pratt. (1985). | |
| 1985 Francis M. Chipman Award to Outstanding Young Scholar winner (Mormon History Association). Biography of prolific early Mormon theologian and writer | |
| Evans, John Henry. Joseph Smith, an American Prophet (1933) | |
| Noted by Richard L. Bushman, prominent Joseph Smith scholar, as one of the four most notable Joseph Smith biographies. | |
| Fox, Frank W. J. Reuben Clark: The Public Years (1980) | |
| Identified by Ronald W. Walker as an excellent Mormon biography combining fine writing and history. | |
| Gibbons, Francis M. | |
| Between 1977-1996, Gibbons authored a series of brief popular biographies about the presidents of the LDS church: | |
| Brigham Young: Modern Moses, Prophet of God. (1981) | |
| David O. McKay: Apostle to the World, Prophet of God. (1986) | |
| Ezra Taft Benson: Statesman, Patriot, Prophet of God. (1996) | |
| George Albert Smith: Kind and Caring Christian, Prophet of God. (1990) | |
| Harold B. Lee: Man of Vision, Prophet of God. (1993) | |
| Heber J. Grant: Man of Steel, Prophet of God. (1979) | |
| John Taylor: Mormon philosopher, Prophet of God. (1985) | |
| Joseph F. Smith: Patriarch and Preacher, Prophet of God. (1984) | |
| Joseph Fielding Smith: Gospel Scholar, Prophet of God. (1992) | |
| Joseph Smith: Martyr, Prophet of God. (1977) | |
| Lorenzo Snow: Spiritual Giant, Prophet of God. (1982) | |
| Spencer W. Kimball: Resolute Disciple, Prophet of God. (1995) | |
| Wilford Woodruff: Wondrous Worker, Prophet of God. (1988) | |
| Hafen, Bruce C. A Disciple's Life: The Biography of Neal A. Maxwell. (2002) | |
| Biography of literary Mormon apostle. | |
| Hill, Donna. Joseph Smith: The First Mormon. (1977) | |
| Identified by Ronald W. Walker as one of the best Mormon biographies of Joseph Smith written by a faithful Church member. | |
| Kimball, Edward L. and Andrew E. Kimball, Jr. Spencer W. Kimball. (1977) | |
| Considered among the best of biographies of a president of the Church and notable for its candid and literary treatment of President Kimball's feelings and struggles. One of six biographies recommended by the Mormon Historical Association on its website. | |
| Kimball, Stanley B. Heber C. Kimball: Mormon Patriarch and Pioneer. (1981) | |
| 1981 Mormon
History Association Best Book Award winner. Identified by Ronald W. Walker and David J. Whittaker as one of the best and well-researched Mormon biographies. |
|
| Knowles, Eleanor. Howard W. Hunter (1994) | |
| The only biography of this former Church president. | |
| Larson, Andrew Karl. Erastus Snow: The Life of a Missionary and Pioneer for the Early Mormon Church. (1971) | |
| Identified by Ronald W. Walker and David J. Whittaker as one of the best and well-researched Mormon biographies. | |
| Madsen, Truman G. Defender of the Faith: The B. H. Roberts Story (1980) | |
| Mentioned by David J. Whittaker as one of the better Mormon biographies that have been written about this well-known author of Mormon history and theology. | |
| Merrill, Milton R. Reed Smoot: Apostle in Politics (1990) | |
| 1990 Ella Larsen Turner Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association). Biography of Mormon apostle, politician. | |
| Miner, Caroline Eyring and Edward L. Kimball. Camilla: A Biography of Camilla Eyring Kimball. (1980) | |
| Praised by Ronald W. Walker for portraying the everyday life of President Kimball and his wife both vividly and realistically. | |
| Newell, Linda King and Valeen Tippetts Avery. Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, Prophet’s Wife, "Elect Lady," Polygamy's Foe (1984) | |
| One of six biographies recommended by the Mormon History Association on its website. 1984 Mormon History Association Best Book Award winner. Biographer of the compiler of the first LDS hymnbook and wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith. | |
| Parrish, Alan K. John A. Widtsoe: A Biography. (2003) | |
| 2003 Ella Larsen Turner – Ella Ruth Turner Bergera Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association). | |
| Peterson, Boyd Jay. Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life. (2002) | |
| 2002 Ella Larsen Turner – Ella Ruth Turner Bergera Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association). | |
| Peterson, Levis S. Juanita Brooks: Mormon Woman Historian. (1988) | |
| 1988 Mormon History Association Best Book Award winner. Biography of important Mormon woman biographer and historian. | |
| Quinn, D. Michael. J. Reuben Clark: The Church Years. (1983) | |
| 1983 Mormon History Association Best Book Award winner. Mentioned by David J. Whittaker as one of the better Mormon biographies | |
| Riley, I Woodbridge. The Founder of Mormonism: A Psychological Study of Joseph Smith, Jr. (1902) | |
| Listed by Richard L. Bushman, prominent Joseph Smith scholar, as one of four most notable Joseph Smith biographies. First biography to attempt a scientific explanation of Joseph Smith’s revelations. Written by a non-Mormon. | |
| Roberts, B. H. The Life of John Taylor, Third President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1892) | |
| Biography of third president of the Church written by the Church’s first great historian. Recommended by the Mormon History Association. | |
| Schindler, Harold. Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God, Son of Thunder. (1966) | |
| Identified by Ronald W. Walker as one of the best Mormon biographies. Combines narrative talent with able but controversial research. | |
| Smith, Andrew F. The Saintly Scoundrel: The Life and Times of Dr. John Cook Bennett. (1997) | |
| 1997 Ella Larsen Turner Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association). | |
| Smith, Lucy Mack. Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations (1853) | |
| A compelling biography of Joseph Smith written by his mother including many stories. One of six biographies recommended by the Mormon History Association on its website. Identified by David J. Whittaker as the first real biography written by a Church member. | |
| Talmage, John R. The Talmage Story: Life of James E. Talmage—Educator, Scientist, Apostle. (1972) | |
| Biography of literary Mormon apostle. | |
| Taylor, Samuel Woolley. Family Kingdom. (1951) | |
| Identified by Ronald W. Walker as one of the best Mormon biographies. Fictionalized biography of his father John W. Taylor. | |
| ------. The Kingdom or Nothing: The Life of John Taylor, Militant Mormon. (1976) | |
| Identified by Ronald W. Walker as one of the best Mormon biographies. Combines literary technique with historical research to paint the life of John Taylor. | |
| Van Wagoner, Richard. Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess (1994) | |
| 1994 Ella Larsen
Turner Best Biography Award winner (Mormon History Association). Best Book, John Whitmer Historical Association. Biography of prolific early Mormon orator. |
|