135: Whitney Documents, Part 2 – The Letter

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The collection often referred to as "the Whitney documents," which includes contemporary sources written in Joseph's own hand, is generally considered to be the strongest evidence of Joseph's polygamy. Recently multiple historians I have engaged with have gone directly to the Whitney documents to explain to me why the history of Joseph's polygamy is settled.

I strongly disagree with them. But, I realized I needed to directly address the Whitney documents to explain why I and many others do not see the Whitney collection as evidence of Joseph's polygamy -- but instead as evidence of something very different.

Links:

Emma's efforts to avoid being followed to Joseph's hiding place

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/journal-december-1841-december-1842/36

Joseph's letter to Emma, August 16, 1842

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-emma-smith-16-august-1842/1

Emma's response to Joseph, August 16, 1842

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-from-emma-smith-16-august-1842/1

Joseph's letter to the Whitneys, August 18, 1842

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-newel-k-elizabeth-ann-smith-and-sarah-ann-whitney-18-august-1842/1

Emma's letters to the governor:

https://ensignpeakfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/The-Lady-and-the-Governor-Emma-Hale-Smith%E2%80%99s-and-Thomas-Carlin%E2%80%99s-1842-Correspondence.pdf