The Price of Polygamy: Economic Impact of Federal Prosecution Upon Families of Incarcerated Polygamists

Authors

Timothy Merrill, Brigham Young University
Dr. Brian Cannon, Brigham Young University

Keywords

polygamy, federal prosecution, incarcerated polygamists, unlawful cohabitation

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

History

Abstract

In recent decades many scholars have put polygamy under the spyglass of inquiry—filling volumes with their findings—yet surprisingly little has been written on the Mormon Underground and the prison life of polygamists in the 1880s and 1890s. The extant literature devoted to this important era of Mormon history is piecemeal at best, focusing upon specific locations, particular time periods, or individual persons. In addition, the broader economic implications have not been addressed adequately. With nearly 1000 Mormon polygamists serving prison sentences, how were their families impacted financially?

Recommended Citation

Merrill, Timothy and Cannon, Dr. Brian (2014) "The Price of Polygamy: Economic Impact of Federal Prosecution Upon Families of Incarcerated Polygamists," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 241.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/241