Calligraphy in Brigham Young's Office BY RONALD G. W A T T
little-known financial volumes in the LDS church archives are examples of beautiful, handwritten title pages with fine lettering and fancy flourishes. This calligraphy is reminiscent of the manuscript illumination practiced by medieval scribes. William Appleby and Joseph M. Simmons, two of Brigham Young's clerks, were responsible for this calligraphy. Altogether, these two men, between January 7, 1851, and November 4, 1853, illuminated nine volumes, one trustee-in-trust ledger, five trustee-in-trust day books, and one tithing record book. Of the two men, Appleby embellished seven title pages, including the first one, and he probably encouraged Simmons to illuminate the other two. A few years earlier Appleby had elaborately drawn the title page to his own journal. Done in black and blue ink, this page probably took most of his spare time in one day, since he did not start writing in the journal until the following day. The title pages he did in the president's office were never that elaborate. Appleby's journal shows that he was concerned with his readers, especially his own descendants. H e expressed his testimony of the truthfulness of the church often and told about his spiritual experiences in great detail. His writing portrays an articulate man. Verbally he expresses himself very well. His work characterizes him as an artistic man who was able to plan and execute a drawing of some detail. Appleby inscribed his first title page in the trustee-in-trust volumes on January 17, 1851. It is entitled, "Day Book B," and it has the date he began the volume, followed by the location, "G.S.L. City, State of Deseret," and ends with his initials. Daybook C has a similar but more elaborate format, but it does not give the location. The outline of the title UCKED AWAY IN
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Dr. Watt is assistant librarian/archivist of technical services in the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
