Hidden History of the William Clayton Diaries w/ Bryan Buchanan - LDS Discussions Pt. 77 | Ep. 2166

Welcome to another episode of LDS Discussions! Today we are joined by Bryan Buchanan to discuss the William Clayton Diaries.

For decades, the William Clayton Diaries have occupied a near-mythical place in Mormon history. Hidden away in the First Presidency vault, copied in secret, fought over in court, leaked to researchers, and cited in some of the most controversial debates surrounding Joseph Smith and plural marriage, these journals have one of the most fascinating histories of any historical document in the Latter-day Saint tradition. 

In this episode, we trace the remarkable journey of William Clatyon’s Nauvoo journals from the 1840s to the present day. We explore how historians such as James Allen, Dean Jessee, Leonard Arrington, Thomas Alexander, Andrew Ehat, Scott Faulring, and others gained access to these records, why the Church restricted them for so many years, and how copies eventually found their way into the hands of independent researchers and critics. 

We also examine the legal battle surrounding the journals, the role of Jerald and Sandra Tanner in publishing portions of them, the impact of the Mark Hofmann era, and the ongoing debates over access, transparency, and historical scholarship within Mormonism. 

With Yale University Press preparing the first complete scholarly edition of the William Clayton Diaries, this is the perfect time to revisit one of the most important archival stories in Mormon history. 

We discuss the discovery and preservation of Clayton’s journals, the First Presidency vault and restricted documents, specific transcripts that were created for the Clayton diaries, how those transcriptions leaked out into the public and the lawsuit on these leaked transcripts. We also lightly discuss the recent news that additional parts of Clayton’s diaries have been released to the public and the debate around whether Joseph Smith was actually a polygamist. 

Whether you’re interested in Mormon history, archival controversies, historiography, or the debate over Joseph Smith’s polygamy, this episode provides the essential backstory behind one of the most important historical sources from Nauvoo. 

Be sure to join us for the next episode where we share some of the most controversial and exciting entries from William Clayton’s journals!

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