The L. Tom Perry Special Collections at the BYU Library is pleased to announce the publication of the exhibit catalog Discovery & Wonder: The Harry F. Bruning Collection at Brigham Young University by Jack Stoneman and Aaron Skabelund.

“Wow, look at that!”

“The detail, the color—it’s just amazing.”

Such are the reactions—sometimes audible—as visitors explore the extraordinary Harry F. Bruning Collection of Japanese books, scrolls, maps and prints at Brigham Young University. It is an experience defined by discovery and wonder.

This book highlights some of the most outstanding items in the collection and includes a complete holdings list. It also offers an introductory essay about the why and the how of Bruning’s collecting. But this is not all—this book also shares our journey of discovery about particular moments in Japan’s past and Bruning’s past, and their wider historical and cultural contexts. This journey was possible through collaborative research as well as undergraduate student experiential learning contributions. Without our students, this project would not have come to fruition.

As you peruse its pages, we hope you ponder, as we have, “How did something so valuable make its way to BYU? What can we learn from it?” We hope you are filled with the same sense of awe and curiosity that filled us. The items may be inanimate, but their history is animated by many intriguing human lives which can be discovered and appreciated in the pages of this book.

Electronic copies of the catalog can be accessed at:

Discovery & Wonder  (ePub version)

Discovery & Wonder  (PDF version)

Discovery & Wonder (Kindle version)

The ePub file can be opened with a variety of e-book readers. Please note that the font, text size, pagination, and image placement and quality will vary from reader to reader. The pdf version retains the look of the print version. If you would like to order a print copy, please send an email to kent_minson*at*byu.edu.

These files are free and we encourage sharing. However, the authors and publisher retain the rights to the content and images. Any use of the content or images, whether digital or print, must be cited. The preferred citation is: Stoneman, Jack and Aaron Skabelund, Discovery & Wonder: The Harry F. Bruning Collection at Brigham Young University (BYU Academic Publishing, 2022), p. #. The citation may be altered to fit other citation styles as long as the key information is included. The authors’ preferred pronouns are he/him/his or, when citing both authors, they/them/their. Thank you for your interest in Discovery & Wonder.

Sometimes these are Hollywood film artifacts: film prints of Hollywood-produced films. Some of these are common (CASABLANCA) and some of these are rare (WINGED VICTORY).

A special group of materials are those absolutely unique camera original elements of productions from the BYU Motion Picture Studio. From these original elements we can now scan with cutting edge technology and see the films of yesteryear as they have never been seen before.

This is film restoration: to go back to a purer source of information so that what was there in the beginning can be brought back and enjoyed in its fulness (ring a bell?).

I could do this work alone, but that would miss out on the great work of the university: contributing to the growth of the next generation. So the library has generously afforded me to offer internships in film restoration at times. Together, the students and I work to restore titles for which we have the original film materials.

On April 1, we are holding our next RESTORATION SHOWCASE, where these students will present the projects we have been working on.

2001: The Deal   (1980)

Short student project from the Theatre and Communications school.

“Time Bomb” music video (1984)

We honestly have no information on this music video. We are guessing on the song title based upon the chorus lyrics. The performers might have been called “The X-ing Band”

AS THE TWIG IS BENT (1958)

A young man is concerned for his family’s eternal duration when he perceives his father’s smoking habit to be at odds with priesthood sealing requirements.

YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THESE.

Historical. Fun. Interesting. Entertaining.

Join us, and some special guests, as we take a walk down memory lane with newly-restored media as it has never been seen before.

The following is a description of the collection by Morgan Meik and Aubrey Stewart, students in the Lee Library Digitization Lab who assisted in scanning this collection:

Sigmund Heilner with son (circa 1892)

The records of the Heilner family collection belonged to Sigmund Heilner, an ambitious Jewish German immigrant seeking to make his mark in the United States. They give a firsthand look at Sigmund’s family interactions within the United States and between those who lived in Germany. Additionally, the collection features letters, journal entries, business documents, and other historical clippings pertaining to Sigmund’s business endeavors. The collection was compiled by Claire Heilner Freedman and Sanford Joseph Heilner—two descendants of Sigmund and avid genealogists who added their own commentary throughout the collection. Their writings offer their unique perspectives through their attempts to craft a holistic narrative of Sigmund Heilner’s life.

The collection follows the triumphs and highpoints of Sigmund and his family. These include Sigmund’s marriage, his business endeavors, and his eventual election as mayor of Baker City, Oregon. Correspondence between Sigmund and his family highlight their lives in Germany, such as his brother David’s business successes. The collection also documents a series of tragedies within the Heilner family: the destruction of the theater owned by Sigmund, complicated family relationships, and the murder of Sigmund’s brother Seligman. Perhaps most heart-renching is the ominous forecomings of the Holocaust and its devastating results on the Jewish Heilner family in Germany. 

Signmund Heilner’s theater on fire (1937)

In the midst of extreme highs and lows, the Heilner collection offers a unique history of a family attempting to thrive in a confusing and sometimes cruel world. It’s a story of heartbreak, loss, hope, and perseverance—a story that has stood the test of time and remains relevant today. 

In addition to a beautifully compiled narrative, the Heilner family collection offers valuable firsthand information for a variety of research topics. These topics include European immigration to the United States, contrasts in German and American business styles, life on the American west coast in the 20th century, and social dynamics among multigenerational families.

Jesse and Joseph Heilner, descendents of Sigmund Heilner (circa 1887)

EXCITING NEWS:

Selections of letters from this collection will soon be made available alongside thousands of other letters related to German immigration to the United States through the German Heritage in Letters online digital collection, a project by the German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C.

Martha Jane Knowlton Coray (1821-1881)

Below is a brief description of the contents of the notebook:

Smith family history notes contain John and Clarissa Smith’s account of visit by Joseph Smith Sr. to Smith family members, including his father, Asael Smith, in Lawrence County, New York, in 1830; John Smith’s account of his and Joseph Smith Sr.’s reunion with their mother, Mary Duty Smith, at Kirtland, Ohio, and their subsequent journey eastward to visit Church branches and family members in 1836; Lucy Mack Smith’s account of Samuel Smith’s presentation of a Book of Mormon to John P. Greene’s family in Ontario County, New York in 1830; and George A. Smith’s account of mission with Don Carlos Smith in 1838. Also includes information about Silas Smith, brother of Joseph Smith Sr. Notebook also includes dictation copies of blessings given to Coray and her husband, Howard Coray; sundry notes pertaining to religious history and writing styles; and a list of students, possibly those attending school taught by the Corays in Nauvoo.

Image found at “The George and Ann Prior Jarvis Family Web Site” (http://www.george-and-ann-prior-jarvis.org/george_ann_prior_jarvis.html)

L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a newly digitized collection: Ann Prior Jarvis autobiographies and George Jarvis biography (MSS SC 2049). The collection includes two handwritten autobiographies, a biography of George Jarvis (1823-1913), miscellaneous materials, and photocopies of these items. Anne recounts the major events of her life and writes about her spiritual experiences and dreams. Also included are a brief biography of George Jarvis and patriarchal blessings of family members.

George Jarvis was born at Harlow, Essex, England on March 25, 1823. Ann Prior was born at Stepney, Middlesex, London England on December 29, 1829. George Jarvis & Ann Prior were married at a Parish Church at Savior, Southwark, Surrey, England on October 19, 1846. Two years later, George and Ann were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 25, 1848.

On March 28, 1857, George & Ann Jarvis sailed from England to Boston, Massachusetts aboard the ship “George Washington,” arriving at the Boston Harbor on April 20. On June 19, 1860, George, Ann, and their six children left Florence (Omaha), Nebraska on their trek west. They were part of the Jesse Murphy Ox Train Company. They arrived in Salt Lake Valley, Utah Territory, on August 30, 1860.

In October 1861 George volunteered to be among these first pioneers who established St. George, Utah. He and his family arrived in St. George on December 5, 1861. While there, George assisted in the construction of the St. George Temple.

On April 4th, 1878, Mary Webb, a widow, was sealed to George Jarvis as a plural wife in the St. George Temple. In 1902, George Jarvis was ordained a Patriarch in St. George.

George passed away in St. George on January 6, 1913, followed four days later by his wife, Ann. He was 89 and she was 84.

Jesse Nathaniel Smith (1834-1906)

L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a newly digitized collection: Jesse Nathaniel Smith letter (MSS 6488). This letter was written on March 4, 1861, to Samuel H.B. Smith, the son of Samuel Smith, who was the younger brother of Hyrum and Joseph Smith. In the letter, Jesse describes his life as a missionary in Denmark. He talks about the people he is serving and the type of people who are accepting the gospel he is preaching. The letter is short, but in it Jesse implies that another letter was sent in the envelope, intended for Joseph F. Smith, the son of Mary Fielding and Hyrum Smith. At the time Jesse served his initial mission in Denmark, his cousins (once removed) were serving missions in England. Since they were all engaged in missionary work, the letter shows a deep bond between the cousins. The letter alludes to the fact that the cousins had been writing one another throughout their missions, and that this is just one letter amongst a slew of others.

Jesse Nathaniel Smith (1834-1906) was born to Silas and Mary Aiken Smith in Stockholm, New York. His father died when Jesse was four-years-old and the Smith family was living in Illinois. When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint migrated from Illinois to Salt Lake City, the teenaged Jesse helped his mother cross the plains. Upon arriving in Utah, Jesse was sent to help settle the town of Parowan. In 1861, Jesse embarked on the Scandinavian Mission for the Latter-day Saint Church. His first assignment was in Denmark. He later served as president of this mission in 1868. Living in Utah, Jesse Smith held multiple civil positions and assisted with Indian Wars. He also helped to settle colonies in Arizona and New Mexico. A practicer of plural marriage, Jesse married five women and had forty-four children. Jesse Smith died in Snowflake, Arizona at the age of seventy-two.

First page of The Evening and Morning Star, published in Independence, Missouri, June 1832

L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a newly digitized collection: Swallow family letters (MSS 7688). Letters written by Asahel and Prudence North, Luthera and Ransom Swallow, on August 23, 1834 from Illinois to their family in Vermont. The letter is addressed to Mr. Nahum Swallow, with an address to Brown’s Ville, Winsdor, Vermont. All four letters are written on a single folded sheet, and include updates about their activities. Also includes references to preaching by Latter-days Saint missionaries and reading the The Evening and Morning Star.  It is unclear if any of the Swallow family eventually joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but their letter is a good source for early missionary efforts in the midwest in the early 1830s.

The Swallow family were farmers in Vermont and Illinois. Nahum Swallow (1771-1851) migrated with his wife Deidamia Woods (1778-1858) from Massachusetts to settle in West Windsor, Vermont in 1796. Together they had fifteen children, including Chester, Deidamia, Prudence, Nahum, Nancy, Ransom, Eliza, Gardner, Guy, Mary, Franklin, Olivia, Luthera, John, and Sarah Jane. In 1819, Deidamia married Timothy Ladd and Prudence married Asahel North. They moved with their husbands to Illinois, where they began farming. Other siblings later moved to join them in the West.  

Parley P. Pratt (1807-1857) and Belinda Marden Pratt (1820-1894). Image Source: Jared Pratt Family Association website (http://photos.pratt-family.org/marden-cat/marden-cat-p1.html).

L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a newly digitized collection: Parley P. Pratt and Belinda Marden Pratt book of poetry and accounts (Vault MSS 725).  This collection contains one notebook with poems by Parley P. and Belinda Marden Pratt. One poem deals with the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Also includes some financial accounting written in the same book. These poems were likely produced in Utah in 1847.

Belinda Marden Pratt was born Melinda Marden on December 24, 1820 in Chichester, New Hampshire to John Marden and Rachel Shaw. She was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843. She was sealed to Parley P. Pratt on November 20, 1844 in Nauvoo, Illinois, as Pratt’s sixth wife. She moved to Utah and was an active member of the Church there, serving as Relief Society president of her ward and later her stake. For more about her work in the Relief Society, found in the book The First Fifty Years of Relief Society (2008), click here. Belinda Marden Pratt passed away February 19, 1894 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

Parley Parker Pratt, Sr. (1807-1857) was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement whose writings became a significant early nineteenth-century exposition of the Latter Day Saint faith. Named in 1835 as one of the first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Pratt was part of the Quorum’s successful mission to Great Britain from 1839 to 1841. Pratt has been called “the Apostle Paul of Mormonism” for his promotion of distinctive Mormon doctrines. Pratt was a noted religious writer and poet. One of Pratt’s most influential works was a book entitled A Voice of Warning (1837), first published in New York City. Pratt’s most well-known theological work was A Key to Science of Theology, which was published in 1855. Pratt’s Visions and Poetry also serve as the text for many songs now found in the Latter Day Saint Hymnal. Pratt’s writings also corroborate many events and revelations which are found in a book of Latter Day Saint scripture known as the Doctrine and Covenants. In total, Pratt is known to have written 31 published works, not including his posthumous autobiography. Pratt explored and surveyed Parley’s Canyon in Salt Lake City, Utah (named in his honor), and subsequently built and maintained the first road for public transportation in the canyon. Pratt practiced plural marriage. He was murdered in 1857 by the Hector McLean, estranged husband of his twelfth wife, Eleanor McLean, while on a mission in Arkansas. (Source: Wikipedia)