Carol Cornwall Madsen
Encyclopedia
Carol Cornwall Madsen is an emeritus professor of history at Brigham Young University
where she was a research historian with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
. She also served as associate director of BYU's Women's Research Institute. She has written 50 scholarly articles and several books.
and his wife Mary Alice Haigh Cornwall. Her father was the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
and her mother was a noted soloist. Carol was the youngest of seven children.
Carol Cornwall married Gordon A. Madsen
in 1953. They are the parents of six children.
.
Madsen served as an associate instructor in the University of Utah's English department from 1960-1967. She then joined the Department of Continuing Education at the UofU in 1967, and in 1970 became an instructor with the Department of Independent Studies, a position she retained until 1991.
After she obtained her MA in history in 1977 Madsen became a research historian with the LDS Church Historical Department. Along with Maureen Ursenbach Beecher
and Jill Mulvay Derr
Madsen was one of the first three professional historians in the Church History Department assigned to work on Women's history.
She then moved to being a research historian with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
when it was formed in 1982. In 1986, shortly after receiving her Ph.D., Madsen became an associate professor in BYU's history department. She became a professor in the History Department and a Research Professor in the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute in 1994. She held these positions until she received emeritus status in 2002 and remained a Senior Research Fellow with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute until it was disbanded, with various members relocating either to the Church History Department of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City to work on the Joseph Smith Papers Project or to the BYU History Department.
Madsen's most recent book is An Advocate for Women: The Public Life of Emmeline B. Wells, 1870-1920. She has also written a history of the leaders of the Primary. Madsen has a Ph. D. from the University of Utah
, as well as B. A. in English literature and an M. A. in American History also from that institution.
from 1989-1990. She was president of the Utah Women's History Association from 1979–1980, having spent the previous two years as president elect. She has also been a member of the Coalition for Western Women's History, the Western Association of Women Historians and the Coordinating Committee on Women in the Historical Profession.
Madsen has also served on the editorial committee for the Journal of the John Whitmer Historical Association
.
Madsen has also written an indepth article on Doctrine and Covenants
Section 27 and its meaning to Emma over the rest of her life. She also contributed several articles to the Utah History Encyclopedia. Her article "'At Their Peril': Utah Law and the Case of Plural Wives, 1850-1900" was republished in Mary Ann Irwin's and James Brooks' Woman and Gender in the American West.
Madsen also co-authored a chapter on women in the legal history of Utah with her daughter Lisa Madsen Pearson that was published in the book Women in Utah History: Paradigm or Paradox
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
where she was a research historian with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
The Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History was an academic research organization at Brigham Young University from 1980 to 2005, which sought to promote the study of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-History:In 1982, the History Division of the church's...
. She also served as associate director of BYU's Women's Research Institute. She has written 50 scholarly articles and several books.
Personal life
Born Carol Cornwall, she was the youngest daughter of J. Spencer CornwallJ. Spencer Cornwall
Joseph Spencer Cornwall was a conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the mid-20th century.Cornwall was born at Mill Creek, Utah Territory....
and his wife Mary Alice Haigh Cornwall. Her father was the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
and her mother was a noted soloist. Carol was the youngest of seven children.
Carol Cornwall married Gordon A. Madsen
Gordon A. Madsen
Gordon A. Madsen is a former state legislator and assistant attorney general in Utah. He is currently working as a co-editor of the business and legal papers in the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Madsen is married to Carol Cornwall Madsen....
in 1953. They are the parents of six children.
Academic Experience
Madsen did undergraduate studies at the University of Utah and took one semester at the University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
.
Madsen served as an associate instructor in the University of Utah's English department from 1960-1967. She then joined the Department of Continuing Education at the UofU in 1967, and in 1970 became an instructor with the Department of Independent Studies, a position she retained until 1991.
After she obtained her MA in history in 1977 Madsen became a research historian with the LDS Church Historical Department. Along with Maureen Ursenbach Beecher
Maureen Ursenbach Beecher
Maureen Ursenbach Beecher was an English professor at Brigham Young University who has also been in the past associated with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History at that university. Although she has written at times broadly on the history of Latter-day Saint women her main focus...
and Jill Mulvay Derr
Jill Mulvay Derr
Jill Mulvay Derr was an American history professor at Brigham Young University and the director of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History, as well as the president of the Mormon History Association....
Madsen was one of the first three professional historians in the Church History Department assigned to work on Women's history.
She then moved to being a research historian with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
The Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History was an academic research organization at Brigham Young University from 1980 to 2005, which sought to promote the study of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-History:In 1982, the History Division of the church's...
when it was formed in 1982. In 1986, shortly after receiving her Ph.D., Madsen became an associate professor in BYU's history department. She became a professor in the History Department and a Research Professor in the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute in 1994. She held these positions until she received emeritus status in 2002 and remained a Senior Research Fellow with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute until it was disbanded, with various members relocating either to the Church History Department of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City to work on the Joseph Smith Papers Project or to the BYU History Department.
Madsen's most recent book is An Advocate for Women: The Public Life of Emmeline B. Wells, 1870-1920. She has also written a history of the leaders of the Primary. Madsen has a Ph. D. from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, as well as B. A. in English literature and an M. A. in American History also from that institution.
Professional Organizations
Madsen served as vice chair of the Utah State Board of History from 1993-2001. She was the president of the Mormon History AssociationMormon History Association
The Mormon History Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field...
from 1989-1990. She was president of the Utah Women's History Association from 1979–1980, having spent the previous two years as president elect. She has also been a member of the Coalition for Western Women's History, the Western Association of Women Historians and the Coordinating Committee on Women in the Historical Profession.
Madsen has also served on the editorial committee for the Journal of the John Whitmer Historical Association
John Whitmer Historical Association
The John Whitmer Historical Association "is an independent scholarly society composed of individuals of various religious faiths who share a lively interest in ......
.
Writings
Books by Madsen include In Their Own Words: Women and the Story of Nauvoo; Journey to Zion: Voices from the Mormon Trail; Battle for the Ballot: Essasys on Woman Suffrage in Utah as well as An Advocate for Women: The Public Life of Emmeline B. Wells.Madsen has also written an indepth article on Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
Section 27 and its meaning to Emma over the rest of her life. She also contributed several articles to the Utah History Encyclopedia. Her article "'At Their Peril': Utah Law and the Case of Plural Wives, 1850-1900" was republished in Mary Ann Irwin's and James Brooks' Woman and Gender in the American West.
Madsen also co-authored a chapter on women in the legal history of Utah with her daughter Lisa Madsen Pearson that was published in the book Women in Utah History: Paradigm or Paradox
Sources
- Dustjacket bio from An Advocate of Women
- "Recent Studies of Mormon Women" article that lists a work by Madsen
- Meridian Magazine article about Cornwall's work
- Meridian Magazine article by Davis Bitton containing praise for work by Madsen
- Cherry Silver's review of Terryl Givens book on Mormon culture where she cites works by Madsen to explain deficiencies in Givens work
- short bio of and interview with Madsen published by the Mormon Historical Sites Foundation
- article on Women and the polygamy prosecution that cites Madsen multiple times
- 2006 MHA awards listing
- Madsen's vita