Descriptive SummaryMSS 2387Amanda Christina Kempe Hastings (1871-1941)
Collection,
1870-1940
Hastings, Amanda Christina KempeL. Tom Perry Special Collections 1 half box (.25 linear feet). Amanda Christina Kempe
was born 15 July 1871 in Provo, Utah. Her parents were Christopher Jensen
(whose name was changed to Kempe upon immigration from Denmark) and Anne
Jonsdatter. Amanda married Joseph Hastings in 1902, and subsequently moved to
Arizona. The couple had five children. The marriage did not last, however, and
a divorce was granted to Amanda in 1919 on grounds of desertion and
non-support. Amanda lived in Arizona until her death in 1941. This collection is made up of diaries,
account books, and letters kept by Amanda Hastings between 1898-1940. Also
included are several newspaper clippings pertaining to family history,
important events, or submissions to the paper by Amanda Hastings. ProvenanceThis collection was donated to L. Tom Perry Special Collections by
Douglas M. Maready in August 2002. He acquired the material from family members
of Amanda Hastings. The family gave him the material as a result of his
researching and writing a biography of Amanda and with the understanding that
it be donated to Brigham Young University.
AccessOpen to researchers.
Conditions of UseIt is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary
copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from Amanda Christina Kempe Hastings
(1871-1941) 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 2387; Amanda
Christina Kempe Hastings (1871-1941) Collection; 19th Century Mormon and
Western Americana; L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library,
Brigham Young University.
Following Citations:MSS 2387, LTPSC.
Biographical HistoryAmanda Christina Kempe was born 15 July 1871 in Provo, Utah. Her
parents were Christopher Jensen (whose name was changed to Kempe upon
immigration from Denmark) and Anne Jonsdatter. Amanda married Joseph Hastings
in 1902, and subsequently moved to Arizona. The couple had five children. The
marriage did not last, however, and a divorce was granted to Amanda in 1919 on
grounds of desertion and non-support. Amanda lived in Arizona until her death
in 1941.
Amanda’s diaries are some what unusual because they chronicle the life
of a single mother and her children through the pre-Depression and Depression
years. She also keeps detailed account records of household expenditures which
provide insights into the economic situation of her time.
Notes on ArrangementThe contents of this collection have been arranged according to genre,
and chronologically within genre. For instance, all diaries have been placed in
a single folder, ordered based upon which has the earliest entry. The same
holds true for account books, newspaper articles, and correspondence.
Subject TracingsPeopleHastings, Joseph, 1868-1945PlacesSalt Lake City (Utah)Provo (Utah)Saint George (Utah)Phoenix (Ariz.)Mesa (Ariz.)Tempe (Ariz.)Genre/FormDiariesAccount booksLettersArticlesContainer ListInventoryInventoryBoxFolderItemContents
1119.5 cm x 16 cm. Family history/genealogy and diary.
1898-1919. 196 pages.
White, blue lined paper, margins marked in red. Printed cover, bound at the
top, reads “Memorandum.” Contains family history information, information about
Norway, personal history, entertainment of the time, Church meetings and
general authorities, household upkeep and chores, births, weddings, and
funerals. Also recorded, at the end of the journal, are the records of
blessings given to Amanda and her children.1129 cm x 14.5 cm. Accounts
January 1902-1918. 98
pages. White, blue lined paper, margins marked in red. Covers made of a single
piece of thin tan cardboard which wraps around the pages and is sewn to them at
the upper edge of the diary. Contains household accounts record for several
years. Recounts experiences in traveling by wagon through to Utah (from Tempe,
Arizona) and back in the middle of the account book.11312.5 cm x 19 cm. Diary recorded in a ledger book.
1921-1930. 132 numbered
pages. Pages marked off as though to form an account book, with horizontal
lines in blue and vertical lines in red. Printed cover of thin cardboard
covered in cloth reads “Ledger” at the center of the front cover. Journal
records daily chores and responsibilities, local happenings, family outings,
Church conferences, leaders, and meetings, running a household as a single
parent in the early 1900s, wiring electricity in the house for the first time,
family occupations and relationships, centennial of the organization of the
Church, pages 188-124 blank, 128-132 blank.1219 cm x 14.5 cm. Quote book. No date. 15 pages written,
followed by 92 blank, 1 filled, 9 blank, and 3 partially filled. Covers made of
blue cardboard, bound with a spiral wire at the top of the pages. Printed in
blue letters outlined in gold are the words “Pen Hi, UCPC, Pocket Note Book, J.
C. Penney Co. Inc. 17571.” Records quotes by prominent members of the Church,
as well as quotes from weekly meetings.1229.5 cm x 15.5 cm. Account book.
1918-1924. 116 pages. Bound
with thin tan cardboard which wraps around the pages of the book, and then is
sewn to them at the top spine of the book. Records household expenditures for
food, clothing, stamps, etc. Occasionally included are references to important
events. 12310.5 cm x 17.5 cm. Account book.
1927-1940. 138 pages.
91-122 blank. Bound in thin brown cardboard with red tape at the top spine. A
school writing tablet used as a household ledger, the front cover reads
“Liberty” with the liberty bell printed beneath, followed by the words “School
Series No. 370 Name Mrs. A. Hastings, Expenses.” Records household expenditures
for stamps, oil, canning supplies, food, clothing, telephone, utilities, etc.
1249 cm x 15 cm. Diary, only five pages filled.
21 July 1935 is the date
above the only entry. A book bound in red cardboard, with black tape at the
spine, with the word “Memorandum” at an upward slanting angle on the front
cover. Pages 1-4 record a trip to San Diego and back to Phoenix. The fifth page
is the last of the diary, and contains a record of money spent and what it was
spent for. 13Newspaper
clippings13127 cm x 40.5 cm. Marriage license, Joseph Hastings and
Amanda C. Kempe. Filed
8 August 1902. Witnessed by
George W. Lewis and Olena K. Lewis. 132Newspaper clipping. Announcement of wedding of Joseph
Hastings and Amanda Kempe. 2 pages.133Newspaper clipping, copy of item
2. 1345 newspaper clippings relating family events (death of a
baby, trip from Mesa, solicitation of divorce) and events. Also, a quote by
George Bernard Shaw.135Two newspaper clippings, one a letter to the Editor by
Amanda Hastings, the other a reference to Joseph Hastings.136Newspaper clipping. Obituary of C. I. Kempe, Amanda’s
father.14Patriarchal
Blessings141TMs. Patriarchal blessing dated
15 July 1871, given by
Willard Farr at Provo, Utah. 1 page.142AMs. Patriarchal blessing dated
20 March 1897, given by
James N. Skousen at Provo, Utah. 3 pages.143AMs. Patriarchal blessing dated
6 July 1902, given by B. F.
Johnson at Provo, Utah. 6 pages.15Correspondence, to Amanda Hastings
from Joseph Hastings151ALS. Letter to Amanda Hastings from her husband, Joseph
Hastings. Dated
26 July 1903, at Mesa
Arizona. 5 pages and envelope. Regarding profits made from shipment of fruit,
visits to friends, and love to the family.152ALS. Letter to Amanda Hastings from her husband, Joseph.
Dated
28 September 1918 at Delano
California. 1 page. Regarding health of the children, and going ahead with
divorce procedures.153 ALS. Letter to Amanda Hastings from her husband,
Joseph. Dated
13 April 1919 at Walnut
Creek California. 3 pages. Regarding the children, and furthering divorce
procedures.154ADS. A document stating that Joseph Hastings will
relinquish his claims to land in Arizona, and signed by him. 1
page.16Correspondence, to Joseph Hastings
from Amanda Hastings161ALS. Letter to Joseph Hastings from his wife, Amanda.
Dated
3 August 1910 at Mesa,
Arizona. 4 pages. Regarding daily family activities, health of the children,
and arrangements to move.162ALS. Letter to Joseph Hastings from his wife, Amanda.
Dated
20 December 1917. 6 pages.
She sends him news of the children, expresses their desire to see him, and
discusses the possibility of a Christmas visit. 163ALS. Letter to Joseph Hastings from his wife, Amanda.
Dated
21 March 1918. 6 pages.
Regarding past disagreements, reminiscence about past happiness, health of the
children, and an inquiry as to whether or not the boys of the family will
travel with Joseph to Utah.164ALS. Letter to Joseph Hastings from his wife, Amanda. No
date. 1 page. Regarding disagreements, the concern of the children for their
father, and the fact that the family still prays for him165AL. Letter, fragment, no identified addressee or date. 1
page. Regarding the failure of a marriage (presumably written by Amanda
regarding her marriage and subsequent divorce).166D. Recommend for the dedication of the Mesa, Arizona
temple. Dated
23 October 1927. 1 page.
Signed by Heber J. Grant, Anthony Ivins, and Charles W. Nibley, the First
Presidency of the time; issued by William Clark Gardner, Bishop of the Mesa 3rd
ward.