Samuel Roskelley papers

COLL MS 65

Scope & Contents Note

Miscellaneous records from Roskelley's work in several Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) temples, including ordinance work records from St. George (1877-1897), Manti (1888-1900), Salt Lake (1893-1900), and Logan (1885-1908) temples; brief biographies of the High Priests of Cache Valley (Utah): David B. Dille, John P. Wright, David Osborn, Francis Astle, Alva Benson, Lars Williamson, Hans Monsen, Neils Christensen, Ita Allen, John Bradley, Loren Nielson, Peter Jisiel, Richard Palmer, and William Palmer; minutes of Cache Valley High Priests' meetings (1859-1883); Roskelley's diaries (1883-1888, 1901-1910) detailing activities as Temple recorder and President of the Cache Valley Quordum; family records of Roskelley family including issues of the family newsletter, the Roskelley Organ (1951-1962), minutes of meetings of the Roskelley Family Organization; and personal papers, including a diary kept during LDS mission to England (1880), miscellaneous personal papers (1880-1906) and financial records (1868-1881). Also includes a book of R.B. Roskelley containing Roskelley family papers.

Arrangement

Arranged into three series: I. Roskelley Temple Records; II. Roskelley Family Records; and III. Personal Business Records.

Biographical Note

Samuel Roskelley was born in England and emigrated to Utah in 1853, settling in Cache Valley in 1855. He served as a bishop for the L.D.S. Church in Smithfield and later as a patriarch. He completed two missions to England.

Provenance Note

This collection of material regarding Roskelley and the Roskelley Family was deposited in the Hatch Memorial Room at Merrill Library as part of the Cache Valley Historical Society's archive by R. Welling Roskelley. Later the archive was donated to the Department of Special Collections by the president of the Cache Valley Historical Society, S. George Ellsworth. Originally part of CVHS COLL MSS 43; processed in 1976; separated in Nov 1981.

Note for Researchers

Photographs of the Roskelley family are available P0013

Inventory Of The Collection

Box 1 The Roskelley Temple Records

Book 1: (Record book. Dark brown cover. 5" x 7.5")

Contains:

Revelation given through President John Taylor at Salt Lake City, October 13, 1882 (pp. 1-6);

"Choice Tid-Bits," (pp. 7-9); Copy of "The Manifesto" issued by President Wilford Woodruff, September 26, 1890, (p. 10);

Statistical tables with totals of ordinance work done in the L.D.S. Temples at Logan 1885- 1908, Manti 1888-1900, St. George 1877-1897, and Salt Lake 1893-1900, (pp. 12-176).

Book 2: (Bound volume with marbled cover. 8" x 13")

Brief biographies of David B. Dille, John P. Wright, David Osborn, Francis Astle, Alva Benson, Lars Williamson, Hans Monsen, Neils Christensen, Ita Allen, John Bradley, Loren Nielson, Peter Jisiel, Richard Palmer, and William Palmer.

Also includes "Copy of Time Checks," "Subscription for Missionaries by High Priests of Logan," "Minutes of High Priests Stake Conference Meetings: 11-3-1877 to 7-31-1880."

Book 3: (Ledger. Cloth with leather binding. 7.5" x 12.5")

Duplication of genealogies of David B. Dille, John P. Wright, and David Osborn.

Book 4: (Bound volume. 9.5" x 12" 199 p.)

Temple work performed by Samuel Roskelley.

Also includes genealogical and biographical information, letters and copies of letters.

Book 5: (Coverless volume)

Minute book of the High Priests' Quarum, Cache Valley Stake, November 1859 to September 1883.

Also includes rolls, rosters and lists of donations. (recorded by various clerks.)

Box 2 The Roskelley Family Records

Book 1: Bound issues of the "Roskelley Organ."
Volume 1 No. 1 (June 1951) through Volume 11 No. 1 (July 1962).

Book 2: (Tan Cover. 5" x 7.5")
Diary. January 1, 1883 through January 1, 1888.

Entries refer to temple work at St. George and, later, speak of labors on the interior of the Logan Temple. After dedication of the Logan Temple, Roskelley became the Temple recorder and in his diary he records persons who received sacraments such as second annointing.

Book 3: (Black cover. 4" x 6.75")
Diary. December 1, 1901 through October 15, 1910.

Entries refer to work as the president of the quorum until 1904. The remainder of the diary contains information regarding family matters.

Book 4: (Black cover. 8.5" x ll")
Book of R.B. Roskelley containing copies of documents from the Roskelley family record book. The material consists of correspondence with Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, William Budge, et. al.; records of blessings given at the Logan and St. George Temples to Samuel and Rebecca Roskelley; personal and genealogical records; copies of speeches, essays and poetry and testimonials advocation polygamy.

Folder 1: Loose issues of the Roskelley Organ.

Folder 2: Minutes of meetings of the Roskelley Family Organization.

Folder 3: Copy of 1880 diary commencing March 8th and continuing through September 19 regarding mission to England.

Folder 4: Miscellaneous personal papers of Samuel Roskelley:

letter, 5/15/1880, from A. Milton Musser of the Deseret Nursery Company to Roskelley in regards to the purchases of carp and goldfish;

letter, 3/13/1906, to Roskelley from Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthony H. Lund, First Presidency of the L.D.S. Church, concerning continuation of temple work by the brethern until a successor to President Merrill was appointed;

extract from the Millenial Star, vol. 15 page 230, concerning the calling and authority of Seventies.

Box 3: Personal Business Records.

Volume 1: Roskelley's Private Accounts, Smithfield, Utah 1868- 1884. This volume gives an account of Roskelley's private financial dealings. Included are labor for work on the Utah Northern Railroad, tie hacking, buying and selling agricultural goods, and dealings in agricultural commodities. Also in the ledger are his accounts with the Cache County School Fund.

Folder 1: Receipts and miscellaneous notes.

Folder 2: Temple Certificates (recommendations)

Folder 3: Receipts for barbed wire purchased from the Iowa Barbed Steel Wire Co., 1880-1881.

Folder 4: Two separate accounting sheets: Samuel Roskelley County Superintendant Common Schools in account with County School Funds, 1873. Francis Sharp's account bill, 1873.

For more information: 435/797-2663; Manuscript Librarian.
Special Collections & Archives, Merrill Library, Utah State University Libraries, Utah State University 84322-3000

Last modified on: Thursday, 1 November, 2001.