The James Jesse Strang Collection documents and explores the life of religious leader, politician and self-proclaimed monarch James Jesse Strang and the development of the Church of Jesus Christ (Strangites).
James Jesse Strang and Church of Jesus Christ (Strangites) Collection, 1832-1869, (Series I) represents the bulk of the material in the collection. It consists of more than 550 items that relate to the early life of Strang as well as his founding of what became known as the Church of Jesus Christ (Strangites) and through his death in 1856. It includes substantial examples of his correspondence as well as church documents. The correspondence includes the "letter of appointment," June 18, 1844, attributed to Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which Strang and his followers believed designated him as the successor to Smith.
Charles Jesse Strang Papers, 1871-1898, (Series II) consists of material collected by Charles Jesse Strang about his father, James Jesse Strang and the Church of Jesus Christ (Strangites).
Milo Milton Quiafe Papers, 1870-1947, (Series III) consists of material, 1870-1947, collected by Quaife for his book, Kingdom of St. James (New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1930). Significant portions of the early material in this series were likely initially collected by Charles Jesse Strang, circa 1870-1916, and augmented afterward by the collecting of his brother Clement James Strang.
Visual Resources, 1870-1943, (Series IV) consists of original photographs and prints as well as copy photographs of portraits, documents, and publications related to James Jesse Strang and the development of the Church of Jesus Christ (Strangites).