Louisa Barnes Pratt was born on the 10 of November 1802 in Warwick, Massachusetts. Her parents were Willard and Dolly Stephens Barns. As a child Louisa moved to Dunham, Canada with her siblings and parents after living for a while with her aunt. While there she had her own sewing business.
Louisa Barnes was married to Addison Pratt at the age of 29 on April 3, 1831. Both were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were moved to many different places throughout their lives and separated for a lot of that time. While Louisa’s husband was away on a mission for their church, she was left behind with her children and the task of moving the family to the Salt Lake Valley.
During this trip she became determined to help women to claim their God-given rights and have a say in councils and meetings along with the men. Her position on women’s rights emerged and stayed with her the rest of her life, which is reflected in her writings.
On one of Addison’s missions to the Pacific Islands, she and her children went along because she didn’t want to be separated again from her husband. While there, she taught and served the people of Tubauai, Society Islands, while also teaching her own children.
After separating from Addison for good, Louisa’s courage and faith in the church moved her back to Utah to answer the prophet’s call. She settled in Beaver and lived out the rest of her life there, with occasional trips to Salt Lake City. Louisa Barnes Pratt died in her home from pneumonia on September 8, 1880.
Provenance Note:
The Louisa Barnes Pratt Research papers were donated to USU Special Collections by George and Maria Ellsworth and their
son, Mark. The Louisa Barnes Pratt Research papers consists of the drafts and research materials Ellsworth used to write
The History of Louisa Barnes Pratt: Mormon Missionary, Widow, and Pioneer, published in 1998. The Ellsworth papers were
transferred to Special Collections in several installments between January of 1996 and November of 2000. Louisa Barnes
Pratt was the great, great-grandmother of Maria S. Ellsworth. This research was conducted in an effort to preserve
Maria’s family history.
Scope and Content Note:
Research notes, drafts, typescript journals, and books used to write The History of Louisa Barnes Pratt: Mormon Missionary, Widow, and Pioneer by S. George Ellsworth.
The first box in the collection contains typescript copies of the journals of Louisa Barnes Pratt and books written about her. Boxes two, three, and four contain drafts of the Pratt biography. Boxes four and five include research notes.
Inventory:
Box 1. Journals of Louisa Barnes Pratt
Fd 1 Book: Heart Throbs of the West edited by Kate B. Carter (includes the Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt)
Fd 2 Book: Mormondom’s First Woman Missionary: Louisa Barnes Pratt Life Story and Travels Told In Her Own Words edited by Kate B. Clark
Fd 3 Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt (1802-1880) typescript of original manuscript pp. 1-100
Fd 4 Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt typescript pp. 101-200
Fd 5 Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt typescript pp. 201-300
Fd 6 Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt typescript pp. 301-400
Fd 7 Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt typescript pp. 401-500
Fd 8 Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt typescript pp. 501-532
Box 2. Drafts of The History of Louisa Barnes Pratt: Mormon Missionary, Widow, and Pioneer by S. George Ellsworth
Fd 1 Editor’s work copy pp. 1-122 of typescript of journal turned into chapter 1-5 of LBP book
Fd 2 Editor’s work copy pp. 123-275 (Chapters 6-13)
Fd 3 Pages from Autobiography of Louisa Barnes Pratt pp. 305-488
Fd 4 Pages from Autobiography of Louisa Barnes Pratt pp. 489-691 and 694
Fd 5 Part 1 draft of Louisa’s book: Table of Contents and Chapters 1 and 2
Fd 6 Part 1 draft: Chapters 3-5
Fd 7 Part 1 draft: Chapter 6
Fd 8 Part 2 draft: Chapters 7-8
Fd 9 Part 2 draft: Chapters 9-10
Box 3. Drafts of The History of Louisa Barnes Pratt: Mormon Missionary, Widow, and Pioneer by S. George Ellsworth
Fd 1 Part 2 draft: Chapters 11-13
Fd 2 Part 3 draft: Chapters 14-15
Fd 3 Part 3 draft: Chapters 16-17
Fd 4 Part 4 draft: Chapters 18-19
Fd 5 Part 4 draft: Chapters 20-21
Fd 6 Part 4 draft: Chapters 22-24
Fd 7 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 9
Fd 8 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 10
Fd 9 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 11
Fd 10 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 12
Fd 11 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 13
Fd 12 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 14
Fd 13 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 15
Fd 14 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 16
Fd 15 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 17
Fd 16 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 18
Fd 17 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 19
Fd 18 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 20
Fd 19 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 21
Fd 20 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 22
Fd 21 Draft: Editor’s finished copy Chapter 23
Fd 22 Appendices A-D
Box 4. Drafts, research, and notes for Louisa Barnes Pratt book
For more information: 435/797-2663; Manuscript Librarian.
Special Collections & Archives, Merrill Library, Utah State University Libraries, Utah State University 84322-3000
