To reach JWHA leadership and/or committee members, please contact us.
See also:
Executive Committee
|
President (2023-2024) |
|
Mark Staker |
Salt Lake City, UT |
President-Elect (2023-2024) |
|
Matt Harris |
Pueblo West, CO |
Immediate Past President (2023-2024) |
|
Kyle Walker |
Rexburg, ID |
Executive Director |
|
Cheryle Grinter |
Independence, MO |
Treasurer (2021-2027) |
|
Robert Cook |
Macomb, IL |
Board of Directors
|
2022-2025 |
|
Ryan Sargent
Finance Committee |
Pocatello, ID |
2023-2026 |
|
Sally Cook Roth
Membership Chair |
Overland Park, KS |
2024-2027 |
|
Nancy Ross
MHA Liaison |
St. George, UT |
2023-2026 |
|
Magen Edvalson
Social Media |
Silverton, OR |
2022-2025 |
|
Jason Smith
Podcast Liaison |
Duncan, OK |
2023-2025 |
|
Eric Rogers
Awards Chair |
Salt Lake City, UT |
2024-2027 |
|
Kyle Beshear
JW Books Liaison |
Mobile, AL |
Board Members Emeritus
|
|
|
Bill Russell |
Lamoni, IA |
Conference and Scholarship Committee
|
Chair |
|
Matt Harris |
Pueblo West, CO |
Co-Chair |
|
Eric Rogers |
Salt Lake City, UT |
Members |
|
Craig Foster
David Howlett
Makoto Hunter
Robin Jensen
Becky Roesler
Bill Russell
Jason Smith
Barbara Walden |
Layton, UT
Easthampton, MA
Goleta, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Watertown, MA
Lamoni, IA
Duncan, OK
Indianapolis, IN |
Finance Committee
|
Chair |
|
Ryan Sargent |
Pocatello, ID |
Members |
|
Bill Morain
Dan Whittemore |
Lamoni, IA
Denver, CO |
Membership Committee
|
Chair |
|
Sally Cook Roth |
Overland Park, KS |
Members |
|
Kyle Beshears
Leslie Bluhm
Katherine Pollock |
Mobile, AL
Dallas, TX
Neosho, MO |
Nominating Committee
|
Chair |
|
Kyle Walker |
Rexburg, ID |
Members |
|
Taunalyn Ford
Nicholas Literski
Christin Mackay
Bill Morain
|
Draper, UT
Tigard, OR
Independence, MO
Lamoni, IA |
Awards Committee
|
Chair |
|
Eric Rogers |
Salt Lake City, UT |
Members: Book Awards
|
|
John Dinger
Makoto Hunter
Dima Hurlbut
Melvin Johnson |
Meridian, ID
Tempe, AZ
Spokane, WA
Mesquite, NV |
Members: Article Awards
|
|
Bryce Blankenagel
Julianne Briscoe
Robyn Spears
David Wilson |
Lewisburg, PA
Layton, UT
Bentonville, AR
Findlay, OH |
Long Range Planning Committee
|
Chair |
|
Cheryle Grinter |
Independence, MO
|
Social Media Committee
|
Chair |
|
Magen Edvalson |
Silverton, OR |
Podcast Committee
|
Chair |
|
Jason Smith |
Duncan, OK |
Members |
|
Magen Edvalson
Makoto Hunter
Rachel Killebrew
Katherine Pollock |
Silverton, OR
Tempe, AZ
Independence, MO
Neosho, MO |
John Whitmer Historical Association Journal
|
Editor |
|
Ken Mulliken |
Independence, MO |
Book Review Editor |
|
Newell Bringhurst |
Visalia, CA |
Copy Editor |
|
Peter Judd |
Des Moines, IA |
Editorial Board |
|
Matt Harris
Katherine Hill
David Howlett
Rachel Killebrew
Michael Marquardt
William Russell
Mark Scherer
Steven L. Shields
Chrystal Vanel
Clare Vlahos |
Pueblo West, CO
Forrest Grove, OR
Sarasota Springs, NY
Independence, MO
Sandy, UT
Lamoni, IA
Independence, MO
Las Vegas, NV
Paris, France
Independence, MO |
Restoration Studies Journal
|
Editor |
|
Katherine Hill |
Forrest Grove, OR |
Editorial Board |
|
Nancy Ross
Steven L. Shields
Randallynn Smith |
St George, UT
Las Vegas, NV
Vilseck, Germany |
John Whitmer Books
|
Manager |
|
Seth Bryant |
Kirtland, OH |
Editorial Board |
|
Gary Bergera (2024-2026)
Scott Esplin (2023-2025)
Peter Judd (2022-2024)
Mike Riggs (2022-2024)
Jason Smith (2023-2025) |
Salt Lake City, UT
Provo, UT
Des Moines, IA
Baltimore, MD
Duncan, OK |
JWHA Newsletter
|
Editor |
|
Reed Russell |
Lee’s Summit, MO |
JWHA Leaders Past and Present
On 18 September 1972, fourteen people met in Richard Howard’s home in Independence, Mo., and organized the John Whitmer Historical Association. Those in attendance voted to be independent from the RLDS Church.
During a debate on the name for the new group, Warren Jennings suggested John Whitmer, the first historian of the Latter Day Saint movement. Many found it amusing at first, but after several other suggestions were rejected, the group settled on John Whitmer.
A steering committee of Mark McKiernan, chair and Paul Edwards, Robert Flanders, Barbara Higdon, and Richard Howard developed the framework of the new association.
The first Board of Directors meeting was held 6 January 1973. A constitution was drafted in 1974.
The founding members were Alma Blair, Paul Edwards, Robert Flanders, Barbara Higdon, Richard Howard, Larry Hunt, Warren Jennings, Gerald Kruse, Mark McKiernan, Grant McMurray, Gordon Mesley, William Russell, Geoffrey Spencer, and W.B. “Pat” Spillman.
Many thanks to these visionary people who started a movement!
Past presidents of the organization:
Robert Flanders |
1973-74 |
Alma Blair |
1975 |
Kenneth Stobaugh |
1976 |
Bill Russell |
1977 |
Barbara Higdon |
1978 |
Paul Edwards |
1979 |
Clare Vlahos |
1980 |
Grant McMurray |
1981 |
Tom Morain |
1982 |
Norma Hiles |
1983 |
Paul Edwards |
1984 |
Richard Howard |
1985 |
Wayne Ham |
1986 |
Robert Mesle |
1987 |
Linda Newell |
1988 |
Maurice Draper |
1989-1990 |
Roger Launius |
1991-1992 |
Lee Pement |
1993-1994 |
Jessie Embry |
1995-1996 |
Danny Jorgensen |
1996-1997 |
Ron Romig |
1997-1998 |
Barbara Bernauer |
1998-1999 |
Ed Warner |
1999-2000 |
Alma Blair |
2000-2001 |
Mike Riggs |
2001-2002 |
Billie Young |
2002-2003 |
Mark Scherer |
2003-2004 |
Jan Shipps |
2004-2005 |
Newell Bringhurst |
2005-2006 |
Alex Baugh |
2006-2007 |
Barbara Walden |
2007-2008 |
Bill Shepard |
2008-2009 |
Jeanne Murphey |
2009-2010 |
John Hamer |
2010-2011 |
Steve Shields |
2011-2012 |
R. Jean Addams |
2012-2013 |
Lachlan Mackay |
2013-2014 |
Erin B. Metcalfe |
2014-2015 |
Brian C. Hales |
2015-2016 |
Peter Judd |
2016-2017 |
Sherry Mesle-Morain |
2017-2018 |
Rachel Killebrew |
2018-2019 |
Jill Brim |
2019-2021 |
Christin Mackay |
2021-2022 |
Casey Paul Griffiths |
2022-2023 |
Kyle Walker |
2023-2024 |
In addition to the presidents, many people have served on the board of directors, edited the Journal, and helped on committees.
Thanks also to past officers and executive directors.
JWHA has come a long way since. William D. Russell expressed this hope in a 1972 Courage article, “The organization of such a society has been sought by a number of people interested in Latter Day Saint history for a long time.
“Let’s hope that the dream is about to be realized.” The current state of JWHA shows that the dream is coming true.