Joseph Smith Historic Site Hosted
30th Annual Meeting of the
John Whitmer Historical Association
September 26 through 29, 2002, more than 160 people gathered in Nauvoo,
Illinois, at the Joseph Smith Historic Site to celebrate the thirtieth
anniversary of the John Whitmer Historical Association. The theaters in the
Visitor Center, the "upper room" of the Red Brick Store, the Nauvoo
House, the local Community of Christ church building, and the Nauvoo
campgrounds were well utilized during the four-day meeting.
The John Whitmer Historical Association
gathered for a session in Theater II at the
Joseph Smith Historic Site Visitor Center. |
Dr. Robert Flanders, former head of the history department at Southwest
Missouri State University and author of the book Kingdom on the Mississippi,
was the keynote speaker and McMurrin Lecturer. His address was titled
"Nauvoo on My Mind." Flanders spoke about the writing of his book
and things that happened as a result of its publication. Dr. Robert Remini,
professor of history emeritus and research professor of humanities emeritus at
the University of Illinois, Chicago, was another featured speaker. His topic
was "A Non-Mormon's Interpretation of Joseph Smith," which was based
on his recently published biography of Joseph Smith.
Friday evening was a celebration and remembrance of the 30 years of the
association and the Round Table Colloquium, "Joseph Smith’s 1844
Campaign for the Presidency - various perspectives." Participants had
more than 20 concurrent sessions to choose from and all were outstanding in
quality and interest. The conference closed on Sunday morning with a
Restoration Hymn Festival under the leadership of Richard Clothier, professor
emeritus of music from Graceland University. Biloine Young was elected the new
president of the association for 2003 and Mark Scherer was elected
president-elect. The 2003 annual meeting will be at the Lake Doniphan
Conference and Retreat Center in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, on September 25
through 28, 2003.
--Joyce Shireman reporting
