Summer Fellows' Papers 2003

Latter-day Saint Women in the Twentieth Century

As part of the Smith Institute’s women’s initiative, eight advanced students were invited to BYU in summer 2003 to research women’s history in the twentieth century. The eight papers in this volume are the fruits of their labors. The papers show the actions and reactions of faithful women affected by change in the Church, such as international growth and the institution of the correlation program, and by change in American culture, such as the social revolutions of the late twentieth century.

While there were a number of great and important women to study, the scholars wanted also to consider the lives of the unsung. This volume reflects the scholars’ search for the generalities that create a master narrative of LDS women’s experience in the twentieth century interwoven with the individual stories, the poignant quotations, and the experiences of individual women.

Contents:

Introduction by Claudia L. Bushman

“‘A Style of Our Own’: Modesty and Mormon Women, 19512003” by Katie Clark Blakesley

“‘Who Shall Sing If Not the Children?’: Primary Songbooks 18801989” by Kristine Haglund Harris

“‘Changing Times Bring Changing Conditions’: Relief Society 1960 to Present” by Tina Hatch

“The Continuum of Women of Faith: Examining Rifts Created by the Equal Rights Amendment between Women in the LDS Church” by Amy Hoyt

“What a Girl Wants: LDS Women’s Courtship and Marriage, 18901930” by Melissa Inouye

“Patriarchy and Contentment: LDS Women’s Religious Experience, 1970Present” by Janiece Johnson

“Bodies, Babies, and Birth Control” by Melissa Proctor

“In the World: Latter-day Saints in the National Council of Women, 18881987” by Rebekah J. Ryan