Frequently Used Collections

Search through these collections for information and resources that may help your research.
The Church History Library holds millions of records. Of these, some materials are consistently used by our staff to help researchers find the information they need. In addition to being valuable sources of information, these frequently used collections can often lead researchers to other noteworthy sources.

This page highlights these featured resources. Click on a record’s title in the left-hand column to explore a source further.

Please note that the library collects materials from a wide spectrum of sources and represents numerous viewpoints. Users should not assume that the Church or library endorses every item in these collections or that all resources featured here are authored or approved by the Church.
Historic Mission and Missionary Photograph Collections
Historic photo collections from early Latter-day Saint missions worldwide, featuring missionaries, members, and mission life from the 1800s–1900s.
Liahona, the Elders’ Journal
Liahona, the Elders’ Journal (1903–45) shared missionary news, photos, and member updates across U.S. missions, becoming a key resource for historical research.
Mormons and Their Neighbors
Mormons and Their Neighbors indexes 100,000+ brief biographical references to Latter-day Saints and others in the U.S. West, aiding historical research.
Church Magazines and Newspapers
Church magazines and newspapers share the history, teachings, and global growth of the Church through digitized periodicals from the 1800s to today.
Journal History of the Church
The Journal History is a daily scrapbook-style record (1830–2008) compiling clippings, minutes, and diaries to document Church events and people.
Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Andrew Jenson’s Encyclopedic History (1941) gives alphabetized historical sketches of Church units, places, and topics, widely used for research.
Manuscript Histories of the Church in the United States
Compiled histories of U.S. Church units, preserving early local records, events, and context for researching Latter‑day Saint communities.
Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah
A 1913 volume of 6,000 photos and short biographies of Utah pioneers and leaders, emphasizing genealogy and early Church history.
Charles R. Savage Photograph Collections
Photographs by Charles R. Savage documenting Utah, Church leaders, temples, and 19th‑century Latter‑day Saint life.
Charles W. Carter Photograph Collections
Images by Charles W. Carter featuring early Utah scenes, portraits, and significant Church sites and events.
George E. Anderson Photograph Collections
George E. Anderson’s photos capturing missions, temples, communities, and everyday Latter‑day Saint life around 1900.

Related

Getting Started

Accessing Our Records

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Catalog

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Research Guides

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