Francis W. Kirkham
Encyclopedia
Francis Washington Kirkham (January 6, 1877 – September 14, 1972) was a prominent educator and the author of New Witness For Christ in America: Evidence of Divine Power in the "Coming Forth" of the Book of Mormon one of the earliest book length defenses of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon
.
Kirkham was born in Lehi, Utah
to James Kirkham and his wife Mary Mercer. Francis Kirkham had a younger brother Oscar A. Kirkham
, who later became an LDS General Authority.
Kirkham studied business under James E. Talmage
at age 15 for a short time. He later attended Brigham Young Academy (BYA) and then served a three year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand
. At the end of his mission Kirkham wrote a grammar to help new missionaries learn the Māori language
. After his mission Kirkham completed his studies at BYA, graduating in 1904 as the valedictorian.
In 1901 Kirkham married Martha Alzina Robison in the Salt Lake Temple
. He then worked as a business man in Canada
for about three years. After this he went to the University of Michigan
where he earned his bachelors degree. Kirkham then taught at Brigham Young University
(BYU), what had formerly been BYA, for two years. He next entered law school at the University of Utah
where he was in the law school's first graduating class. Kirkham pursued graduate studies at Stanford University
and then earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley
.
Kirkham served as president of LDS Business College
, head of vocational education for the state of Utah and superintendent of Granite School District
. While in the last position he wrote the book Educating All the Children of All the People. This gained him national attention and led to his appointment as head of the New York City
-based National Child Welfare Association.
It was while working from New York that Kirkham did his studies on the Book of Mormon. This was a result of being able to access the newspapers from western New York and north-east Ohio in the time of Joseph Smith
. In 1937 Kirkham published a compilation of these works as Source Material on the Book of Mormon. This material also was the main basis for his seminal work, A New Witness For Christ in America. The main argument of this book is built around using contemporary sources to dispute the main non-divine theories on the origin of the Book of Mormon.
Later in his life Kirkham worked as a manger for a Salt Lake City-based insurance company and did historical research in the LDS Church Archives. Among his works during this period were Tales of a Triumphant People: A History of Salt Lake County, Utah, 1847-1900 (with Harold Lundstrom) published in 1947. Kirkham was also connected with the establishment of the BYU Archeology department and served as a member of the Society for Early Historic Archaeology
.
In his article on Commentaries on the Book of Mormon in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism
, H. Donl Peterson
mentions Kirkham's book.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
.
Kirkham was born in Lehi, Utah
Lehi, Utah
-Attractions:Lehi Roller MillsLehi Roller Mills was founded in 1906 by a co-op of farmers. George G. Robinson purchased the mill in 1910, and since then it has remained in the family. It is run today by grandson R. Sherman Robinson....
to James Kirkham and his wife Mary Mercer. Francis Kirkham had a younger brother Oscar A. Kirkham
Oscar A. Kirkham
Oscar Ammon Kirkham was a general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of the seven presidents of Seventy....
, who later became an LDS General Authority.
Kirkham studied business under James E. Talmage
James E. Talmage
James Edward Talmage born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1911 until his death in 1933....
at age 15 for a short time. He later attended Brigham Young Academy (BYA) and then served a three year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. At the end of his mission Kirkham wrote a grammar to help new missionaries learn the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
. After his mission Kirkham completed his studies at BYA, graduating in 1904 as the valedictorian.
In 1901 Kirkham married Martha Alzina Robison in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
. He then worked as a business man in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for about three years. After this he went to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he earned his bachelors degree. Kirkham then taught at Brigham Young University
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...
(BYU), what had formerly been BYA, for two years. He next entered law school at 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...
where he was in the law school's first graduating class. Kirkham pursued graduate studies at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and then earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Kirkham served as president of LDS Business College
LDS Business College
LDS Business College is a two-year college in Salt Lake City, Utah, focused on training students in business and industry. The college is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and operates under the Church Educational System and is associated with the Brigham Young University...
, head of vocational education for the state of Utah and superintendent of Granite School District
Granite School District
The Granite School District spreads across central Salt Lake County, Utah, serving West Valley City, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, and Holladay; Kearns, Magna and Millcreek Township; and parts of West Jordan, Murray and Cottonwood Heights. About 70,000 students are enrolled in its programs ranging...
. While in the last position he wrote the book Educating All the Children of All the People. This gained him national attention and led to his appointment as head of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based National Child Welfare Association.
It was while working from New York that Kirkham did his studies on the Book of Mormon. This was a result of being able to access the newspapers from western New York and north-east Ohio in the time of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
. In 1937 Kirkham published a compilation of these works as Source Material on the Book of Mormon. This material also was the main basis for his seminal work, A New Witness For Christ in America. The main argument of this book is built around using contemporary sources to dispute the main non-divine theories on the origin of the Book of Mormon.
Later in his life Kirkham worked as a manger for a Salt Lake City-based insurance company and did historical research in the LDS Church Archives. Among his works during this period were Tales of a Triumphant People: A History of Salt Lake County, Utah, 1847-1900 (with Harold Lundstrom) published in 1947. Kirkham was also connected with the establishment of the BYU Archeology department and served as a member of the Society for Early Historic Archaeology
Society for Early Historic Archaeology
The Society for Early Historic Archaeology was an organization based at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah which sought to disseminate information related to Hebrew-Christian and Latter-day Saint scriptures and archaeology throughout the world of the earliest historical time...
.
In his article on Commentaries on the Book of Mormon in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Encyclopedia of Mormonism
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a semi-official encyclopedia for topics relevant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, H. Donl Peterson
H. Donl Peterson
Harry Donl Peterson was a religion professor at Brigham Young University who primarily studied topics related to the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price.-Biography:...
mentions Kirkham's book.