sign in sign up
<<
Home , Armand Mauss, Mormon studies, New Mormon history, Richard Bushman

Claremont j newsletteri

Spring 2011 t Issue n o . 4

A Claremont Sojourn in this issue

b y The End of Our Era page 2 Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies k laudia and I spent a year in Pas- enterprise. Mormon students iBlessed, Honored adena in 1997 and 1998 when I would comprise the bulk of the C Pioneers page 2 started work on : Rough seminar participants with a few Stone Rolling. At that time Interstate curious outsiders scattered in. The k 210 had not reached Claremont, and experiment has worked well. It Farewells to Richard and the town seemed a long way away. attracted a large group of inquisitive The last five miles or so on Foothill Latter-day Saints to the School of Claudia Bushman pages 2 & 3 Boulevard seemed to take forever. Religion. Claremont had always k Even so the beautiful campus made drawn but by this last the university alluring, a little aca- winter, Mormon students or non- Contributions to Mormon demic paradise well worth the trip. Mormons in the Mormon Studies Studies page 4 Ten years later, when an offer came program constituted 20% of all k to teach here, it did not take much to active SOR students taking courses persuade us. or preparing for qualifying exams. Students Bid Farewell page 7 We were drawn This core with their by the grand “The beautiful campus active program experiment Karen made the university of speakers and Torjesen and the alluring, a little conferences, and now The students had less of a School of Religion the institution of the problem adjusting to the academic were undertaking. academic paradise Claremont Journal environment than I did. I had Mormon Studies well worth the trip.” of Mormon Studies, wondered how they would feel about along with Islamic have gone a long their own prized faith being put Studies were a test of the proposition way toward making Claremont the under the microscope. Would they that the study of a religious tradition national center for Mormon studies. get anxious when every aspect of could be conducted by participants There were problems as we got their religion was subject to scrutiny in that tradition. The students started. It came down to pronouns. and not always to its advantage? I and the teachers were not only to I kept slipping into “we” in speaking asked one non-Mormon auditor examine a religion but to embody of Mormon culture, even with non- who turned up in three classes on it. Although the undertaking Mormons in the class. Fortunately, how he had liked the seemed to violate the customary the Mormon students were more classes. He said he was impressed standards of objectivity in academic troubled by these lapses than the how well the Mormon students undertakings, we thought it others, and we soon developed a took on anything without growing deserved a try. kind of easy-going recognition of the defensive or shrinking back. In my We discovered at the outset that inside-outside divide and learned to experience that has invariably been this would be a heavily Mormon live with it. the response. [see Sojourn, 7]

Page 1 http://religion.cgu.edU t Http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t spring 2011

The End of Our Era into the ken of project members will continue to be interviewed. New cells will be established, and there b y Claudia Bushman , CGU School of Religion will be a particular emphasis on the global church as the project moves ichard and I are already nostal- things from visiting lecturers. The toward its next major goal of 200 Rgic for our great days at Clare- remembrance of Mudd Hall, full of interviews. I expect to continue to mont, soon to be over. I, always pes- LDS people from around the area, contribute from the foreign city of simistic about the future, doubted listening with interest, eager to know New York. that there were any more interesting when the next conference or lecture We know that the Mormon chapters left in our long and event- would be is one of my happiest studies program will continue to ful lives. Yet, here came another one memories. move forward under the direction of which would bring us back to my I have been particularly Patrick Mason. That the succession native , designated by all appreciative of the many students has been solved so smoothly, with as “The Greatest State of All.” I’m and citizens such cooperation actually from San Francisco, but I’ve involved in the “I realize anew that we can and good will by always loved the southlands too. Claremont Oral do absolutely anything the university, the So we have not only had program. school, the council California but the fun of building Together we have if we work together.” and all individuals a new program. We’ve done lots of created a body of concerned is evidence program building over the years, but material useful now and into the of the strength and maturity of the Claremont offered special incentives. future. As I look at the eight three people involved. Patrick will have We’ve both been involved with inch binders on my shelf, full of the many new ideas, as will the students. Mormon studies forever, but there distilled experience of more than We leave our good wishes and was no institutional home for such one hundred LDS women, thousands encouragement, our blessing, on the a thing. I found the opportunity to of pages, representing hundreds and college and the program. teach Mormon studies particularly hundreds of hours of labor, I realize And now that we have had the ironic because I was once, long, anew that we can do absolutely Claremont experience and we long ago, considered incapable of anything if we work together. I am can be considered qualified to teaching Women’s studies, because I pleased that the oral history project teach Mormonism, and now that was a Mormon. will stay at Claremont and that it Mormons are such big news, we’re We have very much enjoyed the will continue under the direction of going to teach a class at Columbia collaboration with and interest of Lisa Clayton. The women who sweep next year. Amazing. t the different groups we have worked with. The students have shown themselves bright and lively, willing Blessed, Honored Pioneers to take on big assignments, quick b y Patrick Q. Mason to collaborate and help each other. Incoming Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies I think that their experience at Claremont has been formative. The he designation “pioneer” is over- mont for the past three years. Each Mormon Studies Council, filled with Tused in our hyperbolic culture, has received their share of accolades, wonderful and generous people, have but sometimes it is simply the only stretching back to the Bancroft been supportive of whatever ideas we term that will do. Such is the case Prize (the highest prize for a book have come up with. The greater LDS with Richard and Claudia Bushman, in American history) awarded to community has been open to this who have led the way in Mormon Richard in 1968. But many other his- big experiment and has been willing studies for many years, and at the torians win awards. The Bushmans’ to learn and to consider many new Mormon Studies program at Clare- contributions, individually and as a

Page 2 http://religion.cgu.edu t http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t Spring 2011 pair, are much greater. the 1980s and 1990s had resulted have guided my career ever since. I Richard blazed a trail back to in something of a lost generation don’t think I’m overstating the case Mormon history after wandering in in terms of young professional to trace the vibrancy of Mormon the not-exactly-wilderness of early academics joining the ranks of studies, particularly among the American history Mormon studies, generation currently in their mid- for many years. He Richard was the 20s to late-30s, in no small part to could have retired “Claudia’s published crucial player in Richard’s visionary leadership in comfortably from scholarship and the creation of the these summer seminars. his chaired position organizational acumen Summer Fellows’ The capstone of Richard’s career at Columbia and Program at the Smith in teaching and mentoring has continued to write have forged trails in Institute at BYU occurred in the School of Religion sterling narratives important but otherwise beginning in 1997. at Claremont Graduate University about the origins of neglected areas.” Dozens of up-and- these past three years. Many of American culture coming scholars the Saints in the 1840s wished that and society. Instead, had their first real had ended his he applied his skills and energy to professional training in Mormon lifelong journey from New York the scholarly study of Mormonism, studies under the tutelage of Richard to the American West in balmy culminating in his masterful (and others) in these seminars. I am California rather than the desert biography of Joseph Smith. We are one of these, having participated valleys of . But just as it was all beneficiaries of his chosen path. in the summer of 2000 following the original who But just as important as his my first year of graduate school. gave life to Brigham’s promise that research and writing has been It was one of the most formative Utah was their place of destiny, so Richard’s mentoring. Keenly aware periods of my adult life, and in it was Richard, with major assists that the intellectual turbulence of many ways seeded the questions that from Claudia and [see Pioneers, 7] Farewell, Richard and Claudia “Well done, thou good and faithful servants!” very excited, but we knew from the b y Armand L. Mauss beginning that the Bushmans would LDS Council on Mormon Studies be leaving in 2011. What we did not fully anticipate, however, was the t is difficult to imagine Mormon process was still underway to select extent and legacy of their eventual IStudies at Claremont without and fund the first occupant of that contribution. Richard and Claudia Bushman. Chair, Richard and Claudia accepted The rich and varied intellectual Richard’s formal appointment to the fellowships at the nearby Huntington fare in Richard’s courses will inform School of Religion lasted only three Library during the school year the lives and work of his Claremont years, and the time has sped by. We 2007–08. Once it became clear students for years to come. For the must not forget, however, that his that Richard was to be appointed general curriculum in the School foundational contributions actually to the Chair, he began making of Religion, he taught:1) Religion in date at least from 2002, when he regular trips from the Huntington America from First Contact to the participated in the first conference— to Claremont in preparation for Civil War; 2) American Religion in as well as in a couple of subsequent his formal three-year term as the the Age of ; 3) American conferences—all held at CGU to Hunter Visiting Professor, as well as Scripture from Thomas Jefferson to prepare the way for endowing several fund-raising trips elsewhere. Ron Hubbard; and 4) Religion and the Howard W. Hunter Chair in When he finally started teaching in Politics in America. His courses Mormon Studies. Then, while the the fall semester, 2008, we were all for Mormon Studies in particular [see Farewell, 8]

http://religion.cgu.edu t Http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Page 3 Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t spring 2011

Students and Faculty Contribute to Mormon Studies We asked local students and faculty to provide some details about their recent academic work. Included here are some of their contributions to the field.

Armand L. Mauss Books), forthcoming 2011. “Mormonism and Race” in W. Paul Reeve and Research fellow, Wheatley Institution, Brigham Young Ardis E. Parshall, eds., Mormonism: A Historical University, Summer 2011. Encyclopedia (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 2010). Adjunct professor of philosophy, Brigham Young “Mormonism and Race,” in Richard Sherlock and University, Summer Term, 2011. Carl Mosser, eds., The Mormon World (Oxford: Adjunct professor of philosophy, Utah Valley Routledge, 2010-in press). University, 2011–2012. “Rethinking Retrenchment: Course Corrections in the Ongoing Campaign for Respectability,” under Shawn Bennion editorial review. Lecturer, World Religions, California State University– Shifting Borders and a Tattered Passport: A Memoir Fullerton, 2011. (manuscript completed and under editorial review at a university press). “The Return of the Antis: A Comparative Study of the Rhetoric of Early Christian and Mormon Polemicists,” Sunstone West Symposium, Claremont Jacob Baker Graduate University, 2010. “In the Service of Love and Truth: Marion and “Your Ways Are Not My Ways: Fidel Castro and the Kierkegaard on the Teacher-Disciple without Birth of the Missionary Training Center,” Mormon Authority,” Society for Mormon Philosophy and History Association Annual Meeting, 2010. Theology Conference, , 2011. “Modern Homo Religiosus: Comparing Eliade and Mormon Conceptions of Sacred Space,” American “Life Universal: Philosophical Cryptobiosis and the Academy of Religion, Western Region, 2011. Creation of a Viable Intellectual Ecosystem for the 21st Century,” to be presented at conference, “What “Ethnicity and the Mormon Cultural Renaissance,” is Life? Theology, Science, Philosophy,” sponsored by Mormon History Association Annual Meeting, 2011. the Centre of Theology and Philosophy, in Krakow, “Searching for a Categorical Common Denominator: Poland, 2011. Conversion, Commitment and Agency in the “The Plenitude and the Fulness: New World Baroque, Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness Traditions,” Society Joseph Smith, and the Pursuit of Hidden Life,” to for the Scientific Study of Religion Conference, be presented at 127th Annual Modern Language forthcoming. Association Convention, Seattle, Washington, 2012. “The Gathering and the Welding: Joseph Smith and Lisa Clayton the At-one-ment of the World,” in Atonement, ed. Co-chair, Women’s Lives, Women’s Voices: Agency Jacob T. Baker and Richard Sherlock, Perspectives in the Lives of Mormon Women Conference, on Mormon Theology series, general editors Brian Claremont Graduate University, 2011. Birch and Loyd Ericson (, Utah: Greg Kofford Books), forthcoming 2011. Loyd Ericson Editor, Sowing the Fields of the Peacemakers: Essays on Mormon Philosophy and Theology in Honor of “Is It Mormon Doctrine That Mormon Doctrine Is David L. Paulsen (Salt Lake City, Utah: Greg Kofford True: A Rejoinder,” Element: The Journal for the

Page 4 http://religion.cgu.edu t http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t Spring 2011

Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology 5, no. 1 Alonzo Huntsman (Spring 2009). “The Apostle Paul and the Prophet Joseph Smith: Co-organizer, War and Peace in Our Time: Mormon Discourse, Charisma, and the Dynamics of Perspectives Conference, Claremont Graduate Emergent Social Formations,” Invited presentation, University, 2011. Institute for Signifying Scriptures, Claremont “’s Theology of Peace,” War and Peace Graduate University, 2011. in Our Time: Mormon Perspectives Conference, “Sanctioning Power and Constructing Society: A Claremont Graduate University, 2011. Critical Comparison of the Apostle Paul, the “Where Is the ‘Mormon’ in Mormon Studies?” Prophet Joseph Smith and the Role of Their Texts Claremont Journal of Mormon Studies 1, no. 1 (April in Social Formation [working title],” revision of 2011). submitted PhD diss., 2011. Editor, inaugural issue of the Claremont Journal of Caroline Kline Mormon Studies (April 2011). “From Here to Eternity: Women’s Bodies, Women’s Ian Fowles Destinies In Janice Allred’s Theology,” Element: The Journal for the Society of Mormon Philosophy and A Sound Salvation: Rock and Roll as a Religion Theology, 2011. (Claremont: Sonic Mystic, 2010). “Divided Loyalties and Competing Demands: Self “Joseph Smith’s Restoration as a Postmodern Work of and Other in a Mormon Context,” Women’s Lives, Art,” Mormonism in Cultural Context Conference, Women’s Voices Conference, Claremont Graduate Springville Art Museum, Springville, Utah, 2011. University, 2011. “The Enoch Figure: Pre and Post Joseph Smith,” American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Elisa Pulido forthcoming 2011. Instructor with Richard Bushman, Nick Frederick, and Christopher Smith, “American Religion and David Golding Politics,” Claremont Graduate University, 2011. Adjunct professor of Church History and Doctrine, “Mormonism’s ,” Religions in Brigham Young University, 2011. Conversation Conference, Claremont Graduate “‘Call Any Witness’: The Challenge of Scriptural University, 2009. Inimitability and the Making of Prophetic Authority “A Tale of Two Juans: The Emergence of Our Lady in Early Islam and Mormonism,” American of Guadalupe as a National Symbol in Mexico,” Academy of Religion, Western Region, 2011. Graduate Student Conference, Claremont Graduate Panel organizer, “Perspectives on the Development University, 2009. of Mormonism,” American Academy of Religion, “Angel Repairs the Blinds,” Newsletter of the School of Western Region, 2011. Religion, Claremont Graduate University (Winter Editor, inaugural issue of the Claremont Journal of 2010). Mormon Studies (April 2011). “Mrs. Ruzika Goes Solo,” Literal Latte (March 2010). “Her Image in Our Countenance: Mother in Heaven “Dog Walking at Night in a New Neighborhood,” and Mormon Women’s Oral ,” Mormon Zocalo Public Square (April 20, 2010). Women in the Twentieth Century panel with Angela Breeland, Elizabeth Mott, and Dawn Thurston, “Downward Slope,” Southern California Review 3 Miller-Eccles Study Group, 2011. (2010).

http://religion.cgu.edu t Http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Page 5 Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t spring 2011

Panelist, “Rising Scholars: What’s Emerging from “After You Left” and “Ocean,” Poetry for , 2011. CGU’s Mormon Studies Program?” Sunstone West “Mormon Women as Missionaries,” Mormon History Symposium, Claremont Graduate University, 2010. Association Annual Meeting, Utah, 2011. “The Role of Native American Prophets in Indian “Mexican Exceptionalism and the Third Convention,” Resistance to Christianity on the American Mormonism in Cultural Context Conference, Frontier,” American Academy of Religion, Western Springville, Utah, forthcoming 2011. Region, 2010. “Emma, Waiting, September 22, 1827,” “Revelation,” Presented own poetry at “Our Visions, Our Voices: “Dog Walking at Night in a New Neigborhood,” Mormon Women’s Literary Tour,” and Women’s “Herm and Laurie in Retrospect,” “On the Mormon Lives, Women’s Voices Conference, Claremont Trail, June 1848,” Fire in the Pasture: An Anthology Graduate University, 2010–2011. of 21st Century Mormon Poetry (Peculiar Pages), “Looking for a Cloud of Light: Joseph Smith’s Letter forthcoming 2011. to William W. Phelps, 18 August 1833,” Life and Thought of Joseph Smith Seminar, Claremont Christopher Smith Graduate University, 2010. “‘Right of the Firstborn’: Lineage and Heredity in Organizer, Poetry and Religion: Finding Religious the Theology of Joseph Smith,” Sunstone West Realities through Sacred Verse, Fourth Annual Symposium, Cupertino, California, 2011. Religions in Conversation Conference, Claremont Graduate University, 2010. “Early Mormonism as a Charismatic Movement for the Conversion of the American Indians,” American “‘I Hope the Call Me on a Mission’: Mormon Women Academy of Religion, Western Region, 2011. and the Great Expectation,” Women’s Lives, Women’s Voices Conference, Claremont Graduate “The Inspired Fictionalization of the 1835 United Firm University, 2011. Revelations,” Claremont Journal of Mormon Studies 1, no. 1 (Apr 2011): 5–20. “Herman and Laurie in Retrospect,” The New Guard 1 (January 2011). “‘That Which Is Lost’: Assessing the State of Preservation of the Joseph Smith Papyri,” John “On the Murder of Five Amish Girls,” Dialogue 44 no.1 Whitmer Historical Association Journal (Apr 2011). (Spring 2011).

Inaugural Issue Published New Claremont Journal of Mormon Studies Goes to Press

The first issue of the Claremont Printed versions are available to Journal of Mormon Studies is order on Amazon. now available in several formats, The issue features articles by as well as in print. Copies may Christopher Smith, Jordan Watkins, be ordered or downloaded from and Joseph Spencer, as well as an the Journal’s website, www. editorial introduction to the Journal claremontmormonstudies.org/ by Loyd Ericson. journal. Readers can enjoy the The Journal remains open for issue on their ebook devices, like submissions, and will publish a the Kindle and iPad, or computer. second volume in September. t

Page 6 http://religion.cgu.edu t http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t Spring 2011

Sojourn, continued from page 1 Pioneers, continued from page 3 I’ve spent most of my word count on Richard as the inaugural holder I wondered too how Mormon and others, who has in a short of the Hunter chair. But we all know auditors would take to the courses. time transformed Mormon studies that Claudia, like Lehi in relation Some were experienced Church at Claremont from a promising to his more celebrated brother people, living adult lives, not idea into a young but flourishing Nephi, is “not a whit behind him.” youngsters starting a career. To my program. The frenzy of classes, Her published scholarship and delight, they were as adaptable as speakers, conferences, and other organizational acumen in the areas the full-time graduate students. In output has been astonishing, and of Mormon culture, women’s history, fact, some of them became graduate proves the point that the program’s and twentieth-century Mormonism students themselves, they enjoyed founders had hoped to establish: have forged trails in important but the seminars so much. namely, that Mormonism is a otherwise neglected areas—areas We think of seminars as academic religious, historical, intellectual, that I hope we will continue to undertakings for getting to the theological, and cultural tradition nurture at Claremont. Claudia has bottom of a subject. We don’t always meriting serious scholarly attention. been a founder, shaper, and teacher recognize that they create a kind “This is the right place.” of modern Mormon , with of cameraderie. They bring into But it’s not just the fact that all the wonderful connotations of existence a small society built on Richard has done it all—it’s the equality and empowerment rooted study and conversation. The students way he has done it all. Combining in tradition, spirituality, dignity, and come to know each other’s inner the cool and casual confidence that achievement that are embedded in feelings and attitudes after three comes with true excellence with that phrase. I don’t know how much months in a seminar. the authentic humility of a lifetime her ever-present knitting needles This is a small version of the dedicated to the often paradoxical are a performative statement or just larger comradeship of scholarship, pursuit of sainthood, Richard is at a practical way of making things where we put ourselves forward ease with everyone from elite secular for the grandkids while staying in our writings and come to know academics to ranking LDS Church awake during long talks, but for each other through books. That officials, from journalists hungry for me they have always been powerful kind of comradeship is coming into a quote to students and lay members and meaningful symbols. I hope existence at Claremont. These young thirsty for intellectual and spiritual she donates a pair of needles to the scholars will deal with each other edification. With grace, humor, and Church History Museum, to be for the rest of their lives. They will the very definition of a thoughtful placed in an exhibit alongside her be friends as well as students. I won’t faith (or faithful intellect), Richard many books. live to see all of their achievements, has enriched us all. Quite literally, Congratulations to Richard and but I will count them among my Mormon studies at Claremont (and Claudia on long and distinguished— friends until the end. t beyond) could not have found a and more importantly, meaningful better pioneer. and pioneering—careers. t

when I discovered it a few years Farewell to Claudia Bushman before, but she was also the editor b y Caroline Kline of the seminal book Mormon Sisters PhD student, Claremont Graduate University about women in 19th century Utah. Studying with her was a once in a hree years ago, when I heard come to Claremont to take classes lifetime opportunity, and I wasn’t Tthat Claudia Bushman would be with her. In my circles, Claudia going to pass it up. teaching at CGU, I took it as a sign Bushman was a legend. Not only had I have never regretted that from the universe that it was time to she been a founder of the Exponent choice. In the three years that I quit my job teaching high school and II newspaper, which I had devoured have worked with her, I have been

http://religion.cgu.edu t Http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Page 7 Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t spring 2011 unfailingly impressed with Claudia’s legacy of her time at CGU, however, us toward opportunities to publish vision. While her classes are always will undoubtedly be her work in and present. On a personal note, informative and interesting, they establishing The CGU Mormon I’ll always remember with gratitude go beyond the transmission and Women Oral History Project. the moment early on in my CGU discussion of material. They are Under her enthusiastic guidance, days as I was struggling between geared towards projects, lasting this project has collected close deciding whether to commit to the works that will survive long into the to 120 in-depth interviews of PhD program or whether to head future. Under Claudia’s direction, Mormon women. This collection towards a more practical (but far less we have held two major conferences of interviews has already proved thrilling) career in speech pathology, focused on Mormon women, now fertile ground for graduate students when she firmly said, “Caroline, archived at Claremont’s digital to produce academic articles and you need to be reading, writing, and library: Mormonism Through the book chapters on these Mormon dealing with ideas.” Claudia’s vision Eyes of Women: Envisioning New women’s experiences and attitudes, for me was what I needed to hear to Spaces for Theology and Practice and as time goes by it will continue make my decision, and how glad I and Women’s Lives, Women’s Voices: to do so. For generations to come, am that she was unafraid to offer it Agency in the Lives of Mormon researchers will look to these to me. Women, both of which created documents to find insight about the “Carry on!” is the phrase I will for students and other scholars lived reality of the lives of Mormon always associate with Claudia. opportunities to share our work women in the 20th century. It’s the salutation with which she with the larger academic community While the oral history project ends her emails, and it perfectly and further important discussions. will be the hallmark of her academic encapsulates the legacy she leaves She has also guided several students legacy at CGU, her students will us at CGU: to accomplish projects, toward publishing chapters in the most remember her for her personal innovate, and charge forth new book series Women of Faith in mentorship, as she offered important fearlessly. t the Latter Days. insights on our work, celebrated Claudia’s greatest academic our successes, and skillfully guided

Farewell, continued from page 3 included: 1) The Mormon Theological Tradition; 2) The Yet the accomplishments of the Bushman years have Life and Thought of Joseph Smith; 3) Mormon Scriptures; gone far beyond formal course work. Previous issues of and 4) The Mormon Historical Experience. Some of the this Newsletter describe the series of exciting conferences courses under both rubrics were taught more than once, and special lectures held under the auspices of the Hunter of course, during his three-year term. The curriculum was Chair, some of which were made possible primarily further enriched by several courses that Claudia Bushman by the personal friendships that Richard had formed also taught as adjunct faculty during these years, focused during his long and distinguished academic career. I am especially on Mormon women’s experiences, much to thinking particularly of the special lectures and student the delight especially of her female students: 1) Mormon seminars offered by such visiting scholars as Daniel History from the Perspective of Women; 2) Religion Walker Howe, Henry S. Stout, and David Hall. Indeed, in American Women’s Diaries; 3) Mormon Women’s all of the special events with visiting scholars on campus History; 4) Contemporary Mormonism; 5) Mormon involved our students thoroughly in organization and Women in the 19th Century; and 6) Mormon Women logistics, as well as being beneficiaries of the special in the 20th Century. In addition, Claudia launched a seminars. Claudia too was responsible for some important project through which her students collected more than events during these years, including those featuring some a hundred oral histories from living subjects recounting distinguished old friends and colleagues of hers, such their experiences as Mormon women in California as and Aileen Clyde. Her oral history. history project produced several interesting events in a

Page 8 http://religion.cgu.edu t http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t Spring 2011

“readers’ theatre” format, both on and off campus, all of the professional development of many young scholars. which involved students in her courses, and some of their Finally, let us not forget that the Bushmans came to derivative papers from that project are being prepared for CGU not for any career-building of their own, but as publication. builders of a future for Mormon Studies, not only here but Perhaps less obvious and tangible are the modeling throughout the nation, and even elsewhere. At a stage of and mentoring offered by both Richard and Claudia. In life when most scholars would be slowing down, resting their work, their teaching, and their relationships with on their laurels, or finishing up a few loose ends in their colleagues in the School of Religion, they have provided own careers, the Bushmans instead have sacrificed their powerful professional models to be emulated by their time and energy to enrich the future. Their ultimate students. Among other aspects, they have exemplified the reward awaits them on the other side of the veil, as good ideal LDS scholarly combination of faith and intellectual and faithful servants of heaven, but from us who remain, sophistication. Furthermore, by involving students in their recompense must consist of ensuring that the work the planning and organization of conferences, and by they started here will flourish; and from the students, a mentoring students in their work inside and outside of commitment to exemplify in their own careers the ideals classes, the Bushmans have had a formative influence on fostered by Richard and Claudia Bushman. t

My first encounter with Richard Richard Bushman: was as a member of his Summer Seminar series at BYU in 2007, the year before he came to Claremont. A Farewell Tribute We were to study Mormonism’s b y Jacob Baker “Transition Period,” 1890–1930. President, Claremont Mormon Studies Student Association Barely a year into my M.A., I was in essence the most junior of the t is no easy task to pay tribute to a flaws and imperfections, which students participating. Summer Iperson who has so profoundly in- are perhaps the traits Seminars culminate in a final paper, fluenced my life as well as the lives of that we usually associate with the presented in a symposium at the so many others. How do you honor human: (“I’m only human”; “that’s end of the seminar. I was one of the such a person without descending a very human thing to do”), but last of the participants to hit upon into sheer hagiography, which ideal- also that to self-surpass, overcome, an idea for a paper. I wrote a draft, izes its subject so thoroughly that in influence others, change lives are which I sent to Richard. He liked the the end he is no longer human and also human attributes. These are idea quite a bit and offered several doesn’t really exist? People have a human actions in their essence, suggestions and criticisms. However, tendency to do this, and Mormons not the feats of superhuman gods. I felt one comment in particular do it no less than others with the Perhaps the only way to fully bring to be rather scathing, which I’ll figures that have created the world this point home (in my opinion) is paraphrase from memory: “You are they inhabit, a world which means through personal narration, which quite harsh in your criticisms of so much to them. I’ll awkwardly and haltingly try to [B.H.] Roberts and [John] Widtsoe. But in the end, I think, what do here. I’m sure most of you have While you may ultimately disagree we really want is the human, for your own stories to tell. In the end, with them, you have failed to our mentors and our heroes to be the Richard Bushman I have come capture their vision, and therefore no more than human. We want to know is human in exactly these you cannot understand what it these influential persons in all ways. It is precisely because of his was that they saw.” At first the their humanity because only their humanity and not merely because comment haunted me. The Grand human influence could contribute of his extraordinariness that he Master of Mormon History had to our own humanity. We learn has influenced my life and the lives a major problem with my paper! from them that what it means to of others here in Claremont so Like many students (and probably be human is not merely to have profoundly these last three years. many venerable scholars) I took the

http://religion.cgu.edu t Http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Page 9 Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t spring 2011 criticism personally. Myopically, Imagination, then, is perhaps Though he has not been my all his other comments on the the keystone of Richard Bushman’s official academic advisor here at paper (positive and negative) were scholarly methodology, the ability Claremont Graduate University, subsumed into this one nail-in-the- to string together a loose collection Richard has nevertheless been my coffin remark. I despaired of ever of historical, documentary, chief mentor. No other scholar succeeding as a scholar and teacher. and textual sources in order to or professor during my five years Of course I had to quickly get over create a sophisticated story that in Claremont has so profoundly my pity party and revise. I tried my has something important to say. influenced my scholarship, in some best to re-write the paper in light of Arguably, it is has been in this sort ways concerning the content of my his comments and after two or three of rigorous interpretive work that studies but even more regarding more revisions it was ready. Richard’s scholarship has been able the methods in which I engage But I’ve never forgotten that to speak to so many people. If the research and writing. His personal comment. Looking back now, came to an and academic support of individual four years later, I can see it as the end or was at least significantly students and CMSSA has been vital seed that would eventually form transformed after Rough Stone in making Mormon studies what it the theoretical foundations of my Rolling, it was in no small part due has become during his three years dissertation (which I won’t get into to Richard’s willingness and ability here. He astutely saw that students here). As a scholar, it is not simply a to imaginatively reinterpret history shared his vision for what could matter of doing your subject or an in ways that were not either baldly be done with Mormon studies in author justice by fairly representing condemnatory nor simple-mindedly Claremont and he encouraged us his or her views. It is the more defensive and apologetic. If he is to go forward and do the work difficult nitty-gritty and sweaty anything he is an adept teller of that would need to be done. I feel matter of thinking with your subject. stories. blessed and honored to have had You must be able to see the vision This was one reason that the singular experience studying your subject saw, even if your subject Richard’s classes could appeal under him and working with him failed to describe it adequately. And to “historical outsiders” like me, on various projects during our time more: to be able to then see some of of which there were often many. here. the implications of this vision and Though I have been one of the few His and Claudia’s exit from enlarge it. students in his classes not directly Claremont will in fact coincide Richard, I think, has a knack for affiliated with history or Mormon with my own. For me, it will be an this. He’s as much philosopher as studies programs, I nevertheless intense and powerful conclusion to he is historian. It was said of John always found there was an important an unforgettable and transformative Adams that he could “see large place for the theoretical and time in both my personal and things largely.” I think this is a fair conceptual. Richard, it seems to me, academic life. In large part, I have description of Richard as well. As a has always been just as interested Richard to thank for that. I have student of philosophy and theology in the intellectual products of no doubt that his and Claudia’s I’ve always been most interested in historical figures as in the figures influence on students here will be ideas. So what impressed me most and places of history themselves. He felt for generations as their students about Rough Stone Rolling was not reads William James, is interested in turn influence others through the historical research. Rather, at in Mormon lay-theologian Blake their own teaching and writings. the end of nearly every chapter it Ostler’s speculative writings, and has And so I’ll confidently predict that was Richard’s exegesis of the history, attended CGU’s annual Philosophy what we as students have done here his interpretation of what it might of Religion conference. In his own in Claremont under Richard and actually mean, both for Joseph Smith intellectual curiosity regarding the Claudia’s leadership will have an and early Mormons of his time and philosophical and the theological I impact far beyond what we could for contemporary readers. have found a kindred spirit. possibly imagine. t

Page 10 http://religion.cgu.edu t http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t Spring 2011

A Brief Note Concerning the Man Claremont Mormon Behind the Curtain Studies Newsletter b y Jacob Baker A joint publication of the President, Claremont Mormon Studies Student Association Howard W. Hunter Chair of midst all the tributes in this be grateful for the experience of Mormon Studies Aedition of the newsletter serving under him. During that there is room for one more: let’s time he maintained the website, put Latter-day Saint Council raise a glass to David Golding. I together two issues of the newsletter on Mormon Studies was essentially absent during the virtually on his own, and fulfilled Claremont Mormon Studies 2008-2009 academic year (due to his other duties as president. Since Student Association an unwise and miserable excursion he stepped down a year ago he into the mountains of law school). revamped and streamlined our k When I returned to “full” CMSSA website, continues to produce the activity Deidre was just finishing newsletter (with content provided Howard W. Hunter Chair her tenure as president. As the last to him) and created and published of Mormon Studies founding member of CMSSA who our new student journal in its Richard Bushman had not had the opportunity to multiple formats (Loyd serving with serve in leadership, I enthusiastically him as a co-editor). Simply put, I k was looking forward to potentially could not have done much of what taking the reins for the 2009-2010 I did without Dave’s expertise and LDS Council on Mormon Studies year. But Dave’s name was put continued involvement. For the President forward (who was this guy?) with me time being, he is the one person in R. Randall Huff as his VP. I was initially chagrined our organization who is virtually at having been passed over but irreplaceable. So here we recognize k soon came to reverse my position Dave and all of the great work he has completely. Dave admirably served done on behalf of our organization. Claremont Mormon Studies Student Association as president and I quickly came to Thanks Dave. t President Jacob Baker Thank You, Claudia Vice-President Loyd Ericson “Claudia’s projects and classes on Mormon women’s history got me a k summer internship at the Church History Department. Matt Grow and are preparing two books for publication—a documentary history of the correspondence between Brigham Young and Thomas Kane, and a documentary history of the . I believe Claudia’s paving the way through her projects was what made the difference for me.” — Liz Mott

“Claudia’s students are always a priority for her. She takes a strong interest in Howard W. Hunter Chair of their work, and when times are low, Claudia offers her strength and wisdom in Mormon Studies a very supportive manner. On a personal note, Claudia postponed an already 831 N. Dartmouth Ave. set date to leave for summer vacation so she could stay and help me last minute Claremont, CA 91711 by participating on my exam committee. I don’t think there are very many who would do such a thing to assist a student.” —Gina Messina-Dysert

http://religion.cgu.edu t Http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Page 11 Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies 831 N. Dartmouth Ave. Claremont, CA 91711