Exploring a Network of Family and Print

Latter-day Saints hold strong beliefs about connecting to their ancestors. This manifests in many ways, including a desire to better understand these ancestors and to perform sacred ordinances on their behalf. The genealogical work done by Latter-day Saints is represented by the millions of records digitized and preserved on familysearch.org, countless volunteer hours to assist those who desire a stronger connection to their family, and the vast rhetoric of family heritage and history over Latter-day Saint pulpits and within classrooms. But this family history work is also dependent upon technology, including print technology. How did the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints disseminate information about family history? What printed forms were required to be filled out to submit a name for temple ordinances? How did print connect ever increasing families with each other? Print and print history sheds light on the fascinating history of genealogical efforts within the church.

The Church History Library in Salt Lake City will hold an all-day workshop on the history of Latter-day Saint print and genealogy to be held Friday, April 3, 2026. Led by three BYU scholars—Amy Harris, Christopher Cannon Jones, and Joseph R. Stuart—participants will explore the trends, technology, and printing history of genealogy, family history, and LDS temple work. They will also explore historical implications of investigating such source material as cultural artifacts. This workshop will include hands-on analysis of print materials, including family group sheets, family association newsletters, lesson manuals, church produced magazines and books, and ephemera spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Participants will explore new ways of approaching and analyzing such sources.

Participation is limited to approximately fifteen individuals to ensure a quality workshop experience. Those interested in print history, including students (both upper-undergraduate and graduate), collectors, scholars, and other individuals wishing to expand their knowledge of the past are invited to apply. All applicants must submit a CV and a single-page letter of intent. Letters should include how this workshop might help their scholarship or further a project (academic or not) they are working on or planning to pursue. Though the workshop cannot cater to each individual’s projects, some sessions might be influenced upon letters of intent. Submissions are due February 26, 2026, emailed to either of the co-organizers (email addresses below).

Any questions can be directed to the co-organizers.

Robin Scott Jensen (jensenrob@churchofjesuschrist.org)

Lisa Olsen Tait (lisa.tait@ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Church History Library

The Church History Library is the repository for millions printed items relating to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book History Program of the library seeks to raise awareness of the history of print culture of the Church and educate patrons of the Church History Library about the rich resources available. Do you have a topic you hope to see addressed? Let us know!