Descriptive SummaryMSS 1584Belle S. Spafford CollectionSpafford, Belle S.L. Tom Perry Special Collections2 inchesBelle S. Spafford was
born on October 8, 1895 in S.L.C., Utah. In 1935, she was called to the Relief
Society General Board and eight years later became a counselor in the general
presidency. In April of 1945, she became the general Relief Society president
serving in this capacity for 29 years and under her leadership, the Relief
Society grew at a tremendous rate. Also during this time, she was named a
member of the board of trustees of the Church School System, the first woman
ever appointed to that board. Outside of her religious duties, she served on
the National Council of Women for 52 years, where she held many positions
including that of president during the years of 1968-1969. She died at age 86
on February 2, 1982 as a result of a lingering illness. Belle S. Spafford was
well known and respected by prominent religious and civic leaders
alike.The collection consists of letters to
Ethel Taylor Sessions from her friend, Belle S. Spafford. There is one letter
dated November 12, 1937, with the rest ranging from 1950-1980. Also included
are news clippings regarding Belle S. Spafford, several of her talks, and one
essay by an unidentified author.ProvenanceUpon moving out of her house, Ethel Taylor Sessions gave the letters
to her sister, Delenna Rogers Taylor. With the permission of Ethel Sessions,
Delenna Taylor donated the collection to Brigham Young University.
AccessCollection is open to public use.
Conditions of UseIt is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary
copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Belle S. Spafford Collection
must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom
Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Preferred CitationInitial Citation: MSS 1584; Belle S.
Spafford Collection; 20th-21st Century Western and Mormon Americana; L. Tom
Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
Following Citations:MSS 1584, LTPSC.
Subject TracingsInstitutionsNational Council of WomenGenre/FormLettersContainer ListSpafford Papers SeriesSpafford PapersBoxFolderContents
Letters111937, 1950-59 (9
letters)121960-64 (14
letters)131965-69 (18
letters)141970-72 (18
letters)151973-74 (10
letters)161975-76 (17
letters)171977-80 (15
letters)18Greeting Cards (3 items)19Official Relief Society Letters21 Nov 1956
22 Oct 1958
20 Oct 1959
110Papers written by Belle S. SpaffordThe 20th Triennial Conference of the International Council of
Women.
My Feeling Upon Being Released As President of Relief
Society.
111Newspaper Clippings regarding Belle S. Spafford (5
photocopies)112Funeral Notice and Newspaper Eulogies of Belle S.
Spafford (9 photocopies)113Miscellaneous (1 item)Talk written by unknown author sent to Ethel Sessions titled,
"The Joys of Being a Mother."