John A. Widtsoe and Lewisham Central Library
The donation of copies of the Book of Mormon to British libraries in 1930
On 23 November 1901, the Lewisham Central Public Library opened on the town’s High Street. In the 1910s, one description noted that it was a “red brick and terracota building with a lending department, reference room, news room and magazine room.” The same account noted that its opening hours were “10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays (except Wednesdays, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Bank Holidays, and during the last week in July and the first week in August during the annual cleaning and stocktaking).” Although the library underwent changes over the years, including rehousing at one point, it has been a continual presence in Lewisham.
In September 2023, Lewisham Library closed for substantial renovations and is not due to re-open until 2026. I recently purchased a 1920 copy of the Book of Mormon, which, as it turns out, has come from the Lewisham Central Library. Evidently, old or underused books have been pulled from circulation and disposed of.
As I opened up the book I became more and more excited as I realised that this was a special copy of the Book of Mormon that had been donated to the library. It is a 1920 edition with a custom binding with the name of the library engraved on the spine. On one of the first pages, there was a sheet glued into the book. It was a short notice from John A. Widtsoe, who was an Apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1921 until 1952. He served as joint president of the British and European Mission from 1927-1928 and then solely as president of the European Mission from 1929-1933. The sheet noted that the copy was being presented to “The Lewisham Central Library”.
In 1930, the Church celebrated its centennial celebrations. More research is needed, but it would seem that the above copy of the Book of Mormon, and others, may have been donated in conjunction with the centennial. Widtsoe was an educator and a lover of libraries and learning.
In 1931, John Widtsoe encouraged Latter-day Saints to request Church materials through public libraries. In one editorial he noted: “All of our members should make requests upon the libraries until those in charge place the volume on the library shelves.”1 At this time one member, Walter Shortle, who was a qualified librarian also began making recommendations of books for Saints to consult from local libraries.2 In the Millennial Star individual members were also encouraged to have their own family libraries.3
Perhaps with Brother Shortle’s help, John seems to have presented copies of the Book of Mormon to different educational institutions and more generally to try and increase the circulation and prevalence of Latter-day Saint publications in British libraries.
‘Editorial,’ The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, Vol. 93, No. 12 (1931), p. 185.
L. Shortle, ‘Psychology and the Primary Teacher,’ The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, Vol. 93, No. 2 (1931), pp. 25-27.
‘Editorial,’ The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, Vol. 93, No. 13 (1931), p. 201.