Mormon founder Joseph Smith is one of the most controversial figures of nineteenth-century American history, and a virtually inexhaustible subject for analysis. In this volume, fifteen scholars offer essays on how to interpret and understand Smith and his legacy. Including essays by both Mormons and non-Mormons, this wide-ranging collection is the only available survey of contemporary scholarly opinion on the extraordinary man who started one of the fastest growing religious traditions in the modern world.

What is it like to be a Mormon in America today? Melvyn Hammarberg attempts to answer this question in The Mormon Quest for Glory by offering an ethnography of contemporary Mormons.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.

In the hollows of Lewis County, Tennessee, Mormon missionaries baptized nearly fifty members of a large extended family. But their initial success was marred by false accusations of salacious behavior. A few influential citizens were disturbed by the rumors and by the missionaries' apparent popularity. On August 10th 1884, tensions erupted into violence and bloodshed. Two of the Utah missionaries, two young Tennessean converts, and one vigilante were shot dead. At least one other member of the congregation was wounded and never fully recovered. Much has been written about the two missionaries killed, but the real story is much deeper. Step into the lives of these proud Tennesseans, the earnest converts, the fearsome gunmen, and those stuck in between. See how their families intertwined in the years before and after the shooting. Its a snapshot of post-bellum rural Tennessee you won't soon forget.

A panoramic introduction to religion in America, newly revised and updated

Following the format of Fitzroy Dearborn's highly successful International Dictionary of Historic Places and International Dictionary of University Histories, the International Dictionary of Library Histories provides basic information for each institution - location and holdings - followed by an extensive (1,000-5,000 word) essay on its history as well as a Further Reading list. In addition, the dictionary includes introductory articles on the history of various types of libraries and a library history in various regions of the world. The dictionary profiles more than 200 institutions from around the world, including the world's most important research libraries and other libraries with globally or regionally notable collections, innovative traditions, and significant and interesting histories. The essays take advantage of the growing scholarship of library history to provide insightful overviews of each institution, including not only the traditional values of these libraries but their innovations as well, such as developments in automated systems and electronic delivery. The profiles will emphasize the unique materials of research in these institutions - archives, manuscripts, personal and institutional papers. The introductory articles on types of libraries include topics ranging from theological libraries to prison libraries, from the ancient to the digital. An international team of more than 200 leading scholars in the field have contributed essays to the project.