urn:taro:utexas.cah.01287 A Guide to the David L. Laughlin Papers, 1846-1858, 1968, 1989 Original EAD encoding by Laurel Rozema according to TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. September 2009 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Laughlin, David L. David L. Laughlin Papers 1846-1858, 1968, 1989 Materials are written in English. 2009-245 1/2 in. Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin The David L. Laughlin Papers contains research materials and notes on Mormons in Texas. Included are photographs of the Morman Mills Colony, photocopies of correspondence and newspapers about Lyman Wight and other Mormon settlers, and research articles. Biographical Note

After the death of Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Lyman Wight brought followers to Texas in 1845, splitting from Smith's successor Brigham Young who traveled to Utah. The next year Wight established a colony in Austin, then moved near Fredricksburg as the community of Zodiac. A few years later, trouble stirred - the Utah Mormons excommunicated Wight and floods destroyed Zodiac. The colonists pressed on, however, and relocated to Burnet County, establishing the Mormon Mills Colony. The followers soon abandoned Mormon Mills, resettling again in Mountain Valley in Bandera County. Soon after, Wight died in 1858, and the colonists separated.

David L. Laughlin has researched and written about the Mormon history, specifically in Texas.

 Scope and Contents

The David L. Laughlin Papers contains research materials and notes on Mormons in Texas. Included are photographs of the Mormon Mills Colony, photocopies of correspondence and newspapers about Lyman Wight and other Mormon settlers, and research articles.

 Access Restrictions

Unrestricted access.

 Use Restrictions

Unrestricted use.

 Index Terms Subjects (Persons) Laughlin, David L. -- Archives. Wight, Lyman. Subjects Mormon Church -- Texas -- History. Mormons -- Texas -- History. Places Texas -- History. Preferred Citation

David L. Laughlin Papers, 1846-1858, 1968, 1989, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

 Processing Information

This collection was processed by Laurel Rozema, September 2009.

 Detailed Description of the Papers Mormons in Texas 3H337 Research material, 1846-1858, 1968, 1989 3H337 Bibliography on floppy disk 3H337 Bibliography on CD-R Mormon Mills Colony 3W115 Photographs and negative, undated 3H337 Photograph scan on CD-R