Edward Tullidge

Edward Wheelock Tullidge (September 30, 1829 – May 21, 1894) was a literary critic, newspaper editor, playwright, and historian of the Utah Territory, US. He was a member and leader in several different denominations of the Latter Day Saint Movement, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the New (Godbeite) Movement movement, and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church). He played a significant role in the creation of the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper.

Towards his death, Tullidge was respected even within the LDS Church community for his fair portrayals in his histories. He was a strong advocate for women's suffrage. Historian Claudia Bushman wrote that Tullidge "stood alone as a Mormon feminist historian before the revitalization of the women's movement in the 1970s." He was born into a middle class Methodist home, and apprenticed as a coach builder and painter. His father was John E. Tullidge, who became a noted early musician in the state of Utah.

At the age of 17 he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He approached Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith and received permission to use their journals for his planned biography of Smith. Editorials by Tullidge were criticized by Brigham Young, increasing Tullidge's disgruntlement with what he felt was Young's autocratic style. When seven of the writers of the Utah Magazine were arraigned for a church disciplinary action, Young personally intervened and dismissed the charges against only Tullidge. Young had died in 1877, and the new leader of the LDS Church, John Taylor, was not as sympathetic towards Tullidge. The book gave credit to Joseph F. Smith and Eliza R. Snow for their help reading and revising the manuscript, and Taylor thought it was an opportunistic subterfuge to imply LDS Church sanction of the book. Taylor issued a statement discouraging members from buying the book. Tullidge traveled to Missouri and in late 1879 became a member of the RLDS Church. He was ordained an elder, acted as a clerk at general conference, preached in congregations and became the RLDS historian.

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Plays

(1887 edition by Star Printing Company)