A Textual and Archival Reexamination of Lucy Mack Smith’s History

Previous scholarly treatment of the history of Lucy Mack Smith has explained the work of Martha and Howard Coray in editing and compiling it. In “A Textual and Archival Reexamination of Lucy Mack Smith’s History,” Sharalyn D. Howcroft applies the archival principle of fonds to the history by reconstructing the original order of the rough manuscript inscribed by Martha Coray, shedding light on the history’s composition methodology and on its extant and non-extant manuscripts. Handwriting in the rough manuscript indicates Martha inscribed roughly half of the history before her husband Howard began editing it. The lack of textual indicators for dictated text suggest the rough manuscript is largely Martha’s composition, probably based on notes of her interviews with Smith. Howcroft also shows that the rough manuscript and extant fair copy are likely the amalgamation of two separate manuscripts, providing evidence that the history is a work of social publication.