This screening process assured that the most interesting diaries from the full collection are available in the Web collection. For instance, the Web collection contains diaries from John Henry Gibbs, who was murdered in the 1884 Tennessee Massacre during his service in the Southern States Mission. Also online are diaries written by Willis E. Robison, whose missionary service concluded with transporting Gibbs' body home to his family.

"Family, cultural, social and religious historians will be able to use this collection for intense and deep research," said Fales. "At the same time, students from junior high through graduate school will now have the opportunity to read and better understand the mission experience — the joys, sorrows and struggles that can change the lives of missionaries and the individuals they grow to know and love. There is no other collection of missionary diaries like this."

Library patrons may also examine original diaries from the full physical collection unless their condition is too fragile. The physical collection numbers more than 220 writers, 575 volumes and 101,000 pages, and is second only in size to that of the Family and Church History Archives in Salt Lake City.

It includes some prominent individuals in LDS Church history, such as James E. Talmage, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Moses Thatcher, who was later called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Benjamin Cluff, who became the president of BYU.

To see the diaries online, click here. For more information, contact Special Collections at (801) 422-3514.