Dan Vogel wrote:HEAD IN THE HAT AND NO USE OF MS
This is so well documented, but I will give some of the main sources. First, recommend the following essays:
James E. Lancaster, "The Translation of the Book of Mormon," in Dan Vogel, ed., The Word of God: Essays on the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1990), 97-112.
Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven Walker, "Joseph Smith: 'The gift of Seeing,'" Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 15 (Summer 1982):48-48.
EMMA SMITH (in Harmony, ca. late Dec. 1827 - 12 April 1828, lost Book of Lehi)
Q. Where did father and Oliver Cowdery write?
A. Oliver Cowdery and your father wrote in the room where I was at work.
Q. Could not father have dictated the Book of Mormon to you, Oliver Cowdery and the others who wrote for him, after having first written it, or having read it out of some book?
A. Joseph Smith [and for the first time she used his name direct, having usually used the words, "your father," or "my husband"] could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone dictating a book like the Book of Mormon. And, though I was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates, and had cognizance of things as they transpired, it is marvelous to me, "a marvel and a wonder," as much so as to any one else. ...
Q. Mother, what is your belief about the authenticity, or origin of the Book of Mormon?
A. My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity--I have not the slightest doubt of it. I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; for, when acting as his scribe, your father would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was a usual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.
--Joseph Smith III, "Last Testimony of Sister Emma," Saints' Herald 26 (1 October 1879): 289-90. Also published in Saints' Advocate 2 (October 1879): 49-52. (EMD 1:541-42)
MICHAEL MORSE (Emma's brother-in-law, non-believer; in Harmony, no specified time)
He further states that when Joseph was translating the Book of Mormon, he, (Morse), had occasion more than once to go into his immediate presence, and saw him engaged at his work of translation.
The mode of procedure consisted in Joseph's placing the Seer Stone in the crown of a hat, then putting his face into the hat, so as to entirely cover his face, resting his elbows upon his knees, and then dictating, word after word, while the scribe--Emma, John Whitmer, O[liver]. Cowdery, or some other, wrote it down.
--William W. Blair, Letter to Editors, 22 May 1879, Saints' Herald 26 (15 June 1879): 190-91. (EMD 4:343)
MARTIN HARRIS (in Harmony, 12 April 1828 - ca. 14 June 1828, lost Book of Lehi; possibly March 1829, first part of Mosiah)
Martin explained the translating as follows: By aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet and written by Martin, and when finished he would say, "Written," and if correctly written, that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates, precisely in the language then used. Martin said, after continued translation they would become weary and would go down to the river and exercise by throwing stones out on the river, etc. While so doing on one occasion, Martin found a stone very much resembling the one used for translating, and on resuming their labor of translation, Martin put in place the stone that he had found. He said that the Prophet remained silent unusually and intently gazing in darkness, no traces of the usual sentences appearing. Much surprised, Joseph exclaimed, "Martin! What is the matter? All is as dark as Egypt." Martin's countenance betrayed him, and the Prophet asked Martin why he had done so. Martin said, to stop the mouths of fools, who had told him that the Prophet had learned those sentences and was merely repeating them, etc.
--Edward Stevenson to the Editor, 30 November 1881, Deseret Evening News 15 (13 December 1881). Reprinted in Deseret News 30 (28 December 1881): 763; Millennial Star 44 (30 January 1882): 78-79; 44 (6 February 1882): 86-87. (EMD 2:320-21)
OLIVER COWDERY (in Fayette, 7 April 1829 - ca. 1 June 1829, first part of Mosiah - Moroni; in Fayette, ca. 1 June 1829 - 1 July 1829, 1 Nephi - Words of Mormon)
Sidney Rigdon did not write it; Mr. Spaulding did not write it. I wrote it myself, as it fell from the lips of the Prophet.
--Reuben Miller, "Last Days of Oliver Cowdery," Deseret News 9 (13 April 1859). Reprinted in Millennial Star 21 (1859): 544-46. (EMD 2:495)
DAVID WHITMER (in Fayette, June 1829, 1 Nephi - Words of Mormon)
Mr. Whitmer emphatically asserts, as did Harris and Cowdrey, that while Smith was dictating the translation he had
NO MANUSCRIPT NOTES OR OTHER MEANS OF KNOWLEDGE
save the seer-stone and the characters as shown on the plates, he being present and cognizant how it was done.
--"The Last Man. Of the Men Who Attested to the Truth of the `Book of Mormon,' David Whitmer Only Is Left. In the Sunset of Life He Bases His Hopes of Heaven on the Records of the Lost Tribe. And Solemnly Reiterates All that He Has Ever Said Regarding Them," Chicago Times, 17 October 1881. Reprinted in Saints' Herald 28 (15 November 1881): 346-47. (EMD 5:86)
We asked him the question: Had Joseph Smith any manuscripts of any kind by him at the time of translating the Book of Mormon that he could read from?
"His answer was: `No, Sir. We did not know anything about the Spaulding manuscript at that time.'
--DAVID WHITMER INTERVIEW WITH J. W. CHATBURN, 1882--Saints' Herald 29 (15 June 1882): 189. (EMD 5:94)
Father Whitmer, who was present very frequently during the writing of this manuscript affirms that Joseph Smith had no book or manuscript, before him from which he could have read as is asserted by some that he did, he (Whitmer) having every opportunity to know whether Smith had Solomon Spaulding's or any other persons' romance to read from.
--"Revelation Revisers," St. Louis Republican 77 (16 July 1884): 7. Reprinted in Saints' Herald 31 (9 August 1884): 516-17. (EMD 5:128)
I will say that all who desire to investigate the Spaulding manuscript story will not be obliged to go very far before they will see the entire falsity of that claim. I testify to the world that I am an eye-witness to the translation of the greater part of the Book of Mormon. Part of it was translated in my father's house in Fayette, Seneca County, N.Y. Farther on I give a description of the manner in which the book was translated. ...
I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man. . . .
--David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ (Richmond, Missouri: David Whitmer, 1887), 10-11, 12 (EMD 5:196-97)