Keywords
Abraham Smoot, Slaveholding, BYU
Abstract
In 2019, a Salt Lake Tribune article described pieces of Abraham O. Smoot's slaveholding past. The article raised controversy over the administration building on BYU campus, which bears Smoot's name. After that Salt Lake Tribune article brought Smoot's negative history into a more public eye, outcry from the general public, the BYU community, the Latter-day Saint community, and the Smoot family themselves erupted. Questions like 'Why do we have buildings that honor slaveholders?' and 'Was he even a slaveholder?' and 'Do we unname or rename the Abraham Smoot Building at BYU?' were raised, and are still being asked in public and private arenas.
Recommended Citation
Hansen, Molly
(2021)
"Abraham Smoot: Complexity in Context,"
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 50:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol50/iss1/5
Included in
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, History Commons, Medieval Studies Commons, Religion Commons