Comments on: Genesis and Geology: A Dialogue

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:34:01 +0000

FWIW, the citations I ran across:

1. “Historian Davis Bitton has recorded 175 pseudonyms, initials, or pen names used to veil the identities of nineteenth-century Mormon writes. 12″

[12 From an untitled list provided by Davis Bitton, Department of History, University of Utah.]

T. Edgar Lyon, John Lyon: The Life of a Pioneer Poet (SLC: Deseret Book, 1989), 323.

2. “The use of pen names on some contributions and no names on others makes it difficult to state with certainty just how much of the content of the Exponent Lula [Greene Richards] actually wrote, but it is probably safe to assume that most of the unsigned material–at least in the early issues–came from her pen. It can also be established, through the Exponent and other sources, that the pen names ‘Geranium,’ ‘Mary Grace,’ and ‘Mignona’ were hers. 16″

[16 From list of pen names compiled by Davis Bitton, professor of history, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.]

Sherilyn Cox Bennion, “Lula Greene Richards: Utah’s First Woman Editor,” BYU Studies 21.2 (Spring 1981): 161-62.

By: Ray

Ray — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:15:05 +0000

Wonderful post, Ardis. What J said in #1.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:04:30 +0000

I didn’t know Davis had done one, Justin. Mel Bashore at the Church History Library made a very helpful one, but it’s available only in unpublished photocopy form at the library, so far as I know — it’s the one that identified for me “Beth” as Barfoot.

I’ll check for Davis’s list, and also see whether Mel has published his somewhere that I don’t know of.

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:40:59 +0000

Speaking of pen names, Ardis, have you ever come across Davis Bitton’s key to Mormon pen names? I’ve seen it cited in a few sources, but I don’t know if it ever made its way into a library or the church archives. Sounds like a valuable source.

By: Maurine

Maurine — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:58:39 +0000

This is fun stuff. I enjoyed the dialogue. I especially liked the last summary of Genesis, “I have sketched the outlines, you are filling in the figures . . .”

By: Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:48:06 +0000

Fascinating and fun stuff. Thanks Ardis.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:23:53 +0000

Now THAT’s enthusiasm, kevin! Thanks.

Good idea, Justin. Kind of like my mother was nicknamed “Bee” because as a secretary she included her typist’s “signature” as “/b”. Barfoot had the kind of education that could very well have brought to mind his initial as said in other languages/alphabets.

Steve, I was hoping you’d see this title on the aggregator and visit. I’ve certainly enjoyed the way you make science ideas comprehensible for me. Thanks.

By: SteveP

SteveP — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:06:54 +0000

Wow this is a treasure! Thanks for bringing this out.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:54:51 +0000

I’ve read that he also used “Beta.” Perhaps it was simply an abbreviation of Barfoot.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:41:55 +0000

Classic Mormon Theology! I love it!

Interesting to note that as we have gotten more understanding and knowledge of geology and evolution, that the pop theology of creationism has taken root in a greater number of our members.

It seems the more we know, the less we want to know. Ardis, history like this is great! It reminds us of who we really are.