Newell G. Bringhurst

Newell G. Bringhurst is an American historian and scholar specializing in Mormon studies and the history of race relations within the Mormon church. His most notable work is "Saints, Slaves and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People Within Mormonism" (1981), which examines the evolution of Mormon attitudes and policies toward African Americans. As Professor Emeritus of History and Political Science at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, Bringhurst has authored numerous books on Mormon history. His research focuses particularly on the priesthood ban that prevented black men from full participation in Mormon priesthood ordinances until 1978. Bringhurst's scholarly contributions include co-editing "Black and Mormon" (2004) with Darron Smith and writing "Fawn McKay Brodie: A Biographer's Life" (1999). His work has helped document and analyze the complex relationship between race and religion in Mormon history. The historian serves on the editorial board of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and has received recognition from the Mormon History Association. His research methodology combines rigorous historical analysis with examination of primary sources and oral histories.

Readers value Bringhurst's thorough research and balanced approach to sensitive topics in Mormon history. His academic writing maintains accessibility while addressing complex historical issues. What readers liked: - Detailed documentation and extensive use of primary sources - Clear presentation of historical context - Objective treatment of controversial subjects - Multiple perspectives represented What readers disliked: - Academic tone can feel dry - Some sections dense with historical details - Limited coverage of certain time periods - High price point of academic editions On Goodreads, "Saints, Slaves and Blacks" averages 4.1/5 stars from 42 ratings. One reader notes: "Meticulous research that doesn't shy away from difficult truths." "Fawn McKay Brodie: A Biographer's Life" holds 3.9/5 stars from 28 ratings, with comments praising the balanced portrayal. Amazon reviews average 4.3/5 stars across his works, though total review counts remain low due to the academic nature of the publications. Note: Review data is limited as many of his works are academic texts with fewer public reviews.

Saints, Slaves and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People Within Mormonism A historical examination of Mormon attitudes and policies toward African Americans from the church's founding through the 1978 priesthood revelation.

Black and Mormon A collection of essays co-edited with Darron Smith exploring the experiences of African American Mormons and the evolution of racial policies in the LDS Church.

Fawn McKay Brodie: A Biographer's Life A biographical study of controversial Mormon historian Fawn Brodie, examining her life, work, and impact on Mormon historiography.

Brigham Young and the Expanding American Frontier A biographical analysis of Brigham Young's leadership role in Mormon migration and settlement of the American West.

The Mormon Quest for the Presidency An examination of Mormon candidates who have run for the U.S. presidency, from Joseph Smith to Mitt Romney.

Leonard J. Arrington was the first professional historian appointed as LDS Church Historian and wrote groundbreaking works on Mormon economic and social history. His approach to Mormon studies combined academic rigor with insider access to church archives, similar to Bringhurst's methodology.

Armand Mauss focused his scholarly work on the sociology of Mormonism and race relations within the LDS Church. His book "All Abraham's Children" examines Mormon racial teachings and policies in ways that complement Bringhurst's research.

Jan Shipps developed influential interpretations of Mormon history as a non-Mormon scholar studying the faith. Her work on Mormon identity and transition to mainstream American religion parallels Bringhurst's examination of institutional change.

D. Michael Quinn produced detailed historical studies of Mormon power structures and controversial aspects of church history. His multi-volume works demonstrate the same commitment to primary source research and institutional analysis found in Bringhurst's writing.

Richard Bushman combines faith perspective with scholarly analysis in his biographical and historical works on Mormonism. His examination of Joseph Smith and early Mormon history shows similar attention to documentation and context as Bringhurst's studies.