[Manuscript Lesson Books and School Records.]

Palmyra, New York, 21 March 1815–1838. 4to (32 x 19.5 cm), 132 pp. of manuscript, a few additional blank pages.

The manuscript lesson books and school attendance records of a Palmyra, New York schoolmaster, featuring the name of Joseph Smith Sr. in a list of those whose children attended the school and affording a glimpse into the poverty-stricken early years of Joseph Smith Jr.’s family life, the village of Palmyra in the early 19th century, and the seeds of Mormonism. The school attendance record portion of this manuscript consists of 24 pages within a larger manuscript consisting of mathematical exercises, penmanship, and a few commonplace entries. These papers were discovered in 2008 by Sally Millick of Macedon, New York, who acquired them from the estate of her friend and neighbor Jon Youngman. For an in-depth account of the provenance, discovery, and significance of the present materials see Enders, Donald L. “Treasures and a Trash Heap: An Early Reference to the Joseph Smith Family in Palmyra” in Journal of Mormon History, Summer 2014.

These manuscripts were compiled by schoolmaster Philander Packard (1797–1857), born in Macedon, New York, four miles west of Palmyra, where he would later teach for more than two decades. Packard’s attendance records span from 1816 to 1822 (some for Palmyra and some for Farmington) and include entries for the year 1817—the first year the Smith family resided in Palmyra. Appearing in the left-hand column of Packard’s record for the month of September, 1817 are the names of 24 heads of families from Palmyra whose children attended Packard’s school. One of the names included is “Joseph Smith,” i.e. Joseph Smith Sr. At this time the Smith family had 8 children, and Joseph Jr. (1805–1844) was 11 years old, indicating that he may have been one of the Smith children who briefly attended the school. Appearing a few names above Joseph Smith’s is that of “Gain Robinson,” the Smith’s family doctor, town pharmacist, and sometime tutor to Packard. Many of the people whose names appear here played important roles in the lives of the Smith family. Also appearing in the list is Abner Cole, who would later steal text from the Book of Mormon while it was in the press at E. B. Grandin’s print shop and publish a satire entitled the Book of Pukei in his newspaper, The Reflector. The value of Packard’s record lies in the fascinating glimpses it offers of Palmyra society and the state of education there, Joseph Smith Jr.’s childhood, and Smith family life in general, which—as is demonstrated here—was beset with persistent poverty.

On 9 Sept. 1817, Packard makes note that his school costs “15 dollars per month.” While Joseph and his wife Lucy valued education for their children, the Smith family’s poverty was a serious factor in inhibiting their children’s educational opportunities, as noted by Enders:

Packard’s school record gives a telling glimpse of the Smith family’s struggle to rise from poverty. Out of the twenty-four heads of families who appear on Packard’s list for sending their children to his school, commencing in September 9, 1817, Smith children attended on only two days. On September 17, one and “one-half” children were marked present (presumably meaning that one child stayed for the whole day and the other was present for only a half-day). On the 18th, only one Smith child was in Packard’s school. In no other family was attendance so abbreviated.

Joseph Smith Jr. would later recall:

At the age of about ten years my Father Joseph Smith Seignior [sic] moved to Palmyra…and being in indigent circumstances were obliged to labour hard for the support of a large family…and as it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the Family therefore we were deprived of the bennifit [sic] of an education…

Early in their marriage, at the turn of the 18th century, Joseph and Lucy Smith owned a modest farm in Tunbridge, Vermont. However, by 1802 New England suffered a serious economic downturn and the Smiths were forced to sell their farm. During this period, ill health also assailed the family and a drought resulted in the failure of their crops. By 1817 they had moved to western New York and had settled in the village of Palmyra, population 500-600. Packard had been teaching there for two years when the family arrived.

An important document shedding light on the Smith family’s early years in Palmyra, New York.

CONDITION: Pages 1–28 lacking (likely mathematical lessons), pages 57–58 of math lessons lacking, most pages loose and tattered with occasional losses, 1 page torn in half, other tears.

REFERENCES: Enders, Donald L. “Treasures and a Trash Heap: An Early Reference to the Joseph Smith Family in Palmyra.” Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 40, No. 3 (Summer 2014), pp. 201–222.