How I was affected by polygamy, 1952, January-February.

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How I was affected by polygamy, 1952, January-February.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/521017839

Memoir of Mary Bennion Powell's experiences with her polygamous family in Taylorsville, Utah, in the early 20th century. Focuses on her family life following the plural marriages of her father Heber Bennion, the Bishop of Taylorsville, to Emma Webster and Mayme Bringhurst. The majority of the manuscript revolves around Mayme, Bennion's "illegal" third wife who, according to Powell, led an extravagant lifestyle that included stealing from other family members, and which eventually led to Bennion's financial ruin. Powell also blames the effects of the "polygamy mess" for the deaths of two of her sisters, her mother, and her father, as well as her own poor health. Powell argues the validity of Joseph Smith's revelation on polygamy, expresses her disgust with Brigham Young, and recounts her rift from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following her repeated attempts to speak out against polygamy. Also included are accounts of the polygamous lifestyle among Powell's friends and relatives, including Heber Bennion's father John and his plural wives, including Heber's mother Mary Turpin. Originally written as a series of letters to Dr. George R. Stewart, Department of English, U.C. Berkeley, from January to February 1952. Typescript with handwritten notes.

1 typescript, 226 pages.

Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens

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SNAC Resource ID: 7647874

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Powell, Mary Bennion, 1890-1979.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63n2j2k (person)

Mary Bennion Powell was born on January 11, 1890, in Taylorsville, Utah, the daughter of Heber Bennion and his first wife Susan (Susie) Winters. She died in Salt Lake City on November 4, 1979. From the description of How I was affected by polygamy, 1952, January-February. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 521017839 ...

Smith, Joseph, jr., 1805-1844

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61c1xz1 (person)

First president of the Mormon Church and mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois. From the description of Arrest warrant, 1842. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367395229 First president of the Mormon Church and Illinois militia leader. From the description of Letter, 1843. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145435774 Founder of the Mormon Church and its first president. From the description of Diaries, 1832-1844. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122609014 ...

Young, Brigham, 1801-1877

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z42nqx (person)

Second president of the Mormon Church. From the description of Certificate, 1876. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122630973 American religious leader, second president of the Mormon Church, first governor of the Territory of Utah, and colonizer who significantly influenced the development of the American West. From the description of Cash ledger books, 1862-1877. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122480196 From the description of Cash ledger books 1862-1877 ...