DiscussMormonism.com

I was reading about the Mormon or BYU Underground back in the 70's and 80's prior to when the archives were closed. It is some fascinating reading (with some very recognizable names involved). It honestly seems that nearly everything was taken and microfilmed, xeroxed or copied during that time (?). Does anyone know more about this?

Do people who own these copies and documents just protect or edit them now (that are still faithful members)?

This was also interesting to read (about Ernest Strack who ran "Grandpa's Bookstore" in Provo):

Ernest Strack was well known by students and faculty alike. The religion professors made jokes with their graduate research assistants, speaking knowingly of the "Mormon Underground." The professors knew that their assistants could obtain many of Ernie's latest acquisitions for their perusal and use. Documents flowed in and out of Grandpa's Bookstore during this period of openness at the LDS archives in SLC.

Here's a link to more information about him:
http://kolobiv.blogspot.com/2007/11/ern ... of_20.html

Does anyone remember him?

I have heard there is still what is called an "underground" at both BYU Provo and Idaho. Do any of you think that's accurate?

In reading more about this, I would really love to know how many of the documents (that were traded back then) have leaked out in their entirety now.

The statements I'm reading were given as legal testimony or depositions by Dean Jesse, Don Schmidt, Scott Faulring, Andrew Ehat, Lyndon W. Cook. Richard Anderson, Fred Collier and others.

Here are some of the documents mentioned that were copied in full from the archives and traded:

- All 6 journals of William Clayton
- Wilford Woodruff Journals
- Joseph Smith Collection
- Heber C. Kimball Diaries
- Joseph Smith's Revelations Collection
- Nauvoo Record of Anointings
- William Law Diary

Many testified that they had thousands (one even said "millions") of copied documents and microfilms. They have file cabinets filled with them.

I guess I'm just wondering how many of these have been published for the public to see (or can be found on the internet). Is there still a substantial amount that is being held onto and protected by people who own copies?

Maybe we'll never know.