Register Updated By: Jennifer Feik, October 2002
Scope & Content Note:
This collection contains a final draft of the book One Who Was Valiant, co-authored by Mabel Harmer and Clarissa Young Spencer. One Who Was Valiant is a biography of Brigham Young written from the perspective of one of his daughters, Clarissa Young, who gives the book both an autobiographical, as well as a biographical tone. While containing many insights to Clarissa’s young life, One Who Was Valiant, however, always centers on the life, character, and accomplishments of Brigham Young. In addition to telling the story of the man, One Who Was Valiant discusses many events and developments in the West, such as Indian relations, the Pony Express, the development of the telegraph, and the Railroad.
Biographical Note (Clarissa Young Spencer):
Clarissa Young Spencer was born July 23, 1860 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her mother was Lucy Decker Young,
Brigham Young’s first plural wife. Clarissa was Brigham Young’s fifty-first child and enjoyed a close relationship
with her father. Clarissa was her mother’s sixth child out of seven. She grew up in the Beehive House, which her
mother who owned the title. She married John Daniel Spencer on January 19, 1882 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Clarissa
wrote down many of her memories which have been published in several books, including ‘Brigham Young at home’ written
in 1940.
Biographical Note (Mabel Spande Harmer):
Mabel Harmer was born September 28, 1894 to Stanley and Katherine Harmer. She was the third of five children. Harmer was an accomplished author with 17 books and over 3,000 children’s stories (written for Deseret News) to her name. She received numerous awards and honors over her 97 years. Harmer taught at Brigham Young University, as well as many public schools. Harmer enjoyed music and the arts, travel, camping, tennis, and swimming. She also founded The League of Utah Writers. Mabel Spande Harmer died on August 3, 1992 in Salt Lake City.
Sources:
Boren, R., (1998, January 1). Tours recall cozy evenings at Brigham Young home
[Electronic version]. Deseret News Archives, C1.
Family search by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (2002). Retrieved
October 29, 2002, from
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp
Family search by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (2000, September 30).
Retrieved October 19, 2002, from
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp
Harmer, M. (1935-1940). Drafts: One who was valiant. MS #21 Utah State University
Special Collections and Archives.
Mabel Harmer, former news writer, dies [Electronic version]. (1992, August 4). Deseret
News Archives, B3.
Inventory:
Box 1.
Fd 1. Manuscript draft containing list of illustrations, index, and novel pages 1-117.
Fd 2. Manuscript draft pages 118-226.