To reach JWHA leadership and/or committee members, please contact us.
See also:
Executive Committee
|
President (2021-2022) |
|
Christin Mackay |
Nauvoo, IL |
President-Elect (2021-2022) |
|
Casey Griffiths |
Provo, UT |
Immediate Past President (2021-2022) |
|
Jill Brim |
Washington, UT |
Executive Director |
|
Cheryle Grinter |
Independence, MO |
Treasurer (2021-2024) |
|
Robert Cook |
Macomb, IL |
Board of Directors
|
2019-2022 |
|
Dan Whittemore
Finance Committee |
Denver, CO |
2020-2023 |
|
Myra Elliott
Membership Chair |
Peoria, IL |
2021-2024 |
|
Mark Staker
MHA Liaison |
Salt Lake City, UT |
2021-2022 |
|
Scott Esplin
JW Books Liaison |
Provo, UT |
2019-2022 |
|
Katherine Hill
Long Range Planning Chair |
Reykjavik, Iceland |
2021-2024 |
|
Megan Stanton
Awards Chair |
Madison, WI |
2021-2024 |
|
Melvin Johnson
Co-JW Books Liaison |
Mesquite, NV |
50th Anniversary and Scholarship Committee
|
Chair |
|
Casey Griffiths |
Provo, UT |
Co-Chair |
|
Ryan Sargent |
Pocatello, ID |
Honorary Members
(Founders) |
|
Alma Blair
Paul Edwards
Barbara Howard
Richard Howard
Grant McMurray
William Russell
W. B. “Pat” Spillman |
Johnston, IA
Independence, MO
Lee’s Summit, MO
Lee’s Summit, MO
Grain Valley, MO
Lamoni, IA
Blue Springs, MO |
Members |
|
Myra Elliott
John-Charles Duffy
Craig Foster
Rachel Killebrew
Sherry Morain
Katherine Pollock
Ronald Romig |
Peoria, IL
Oxford, OH
Layton, UT
Independence, MO
Lamoni, IA
Neosho, MO
Independence, MO |
Finance Committee
|
Chair |
|
Dan Whittemore |
Denver, CO |
Members |
|
Greg Brim
Seth Bryant
Bill Morain
Ryan Sargent |
Washington, UT
Kirtland, OH
Lamoni, IA
Pocatello, ID |
Membership Committee
|
Chair |
|
Myra Elliott |
Peoria, IL |
Members |
|
Katherine Hill
Katherine Pollock |
Reykjavik, Iceland
Neosho, MO |
Nominating Committee
|
Chair |
|
Jill Brim |
Washington, UT |
Members |
|
Michael Marquardt
Katherine Pollock
Jason Smith
Kyle Walker |
Sandy, UT
Neosho, MO
Duncan, OK
Rexburg, ID |
Awards Committee
|
Chair |
|
Megan Stanton |
Madison, WI |
Members: Book Awards
|
|
Kyle Beshears
John Dinger
Katherine Pollock |
Mobile, AL
Meridian, ID
Springfield, MO |
Members: Article Awards |
|
Bryce Blankenagel
Julianne Briscoe
John-Charles Duffy
Nancy Ross |
Lewisburg, PA
Layton, UT
Oxford, OH
St George, UT |
Members: Special Awards |
|
Scott Esplin
Katherine Pollock
Michael Marquardt
Kyle Walker |
Provo, UT
Springfield, MO
Sandy, UT
Rexburg, ID |
Long Range Planning Committee
|
Chair |
|
Katherine Hill |
Reykjavik, Iceland |
Social Media Committee
|
Co-Chairs |
|
Casey Griffiths
Christin Mackay |
Saratoga Springs, UT
Nauvoo, IL |
Podcast Committee
|
Chair |
|
Jill Brim |
Washington, UT |
Members |
|
Katherine Hill
Rachel Killebrew
Katherine Pollock
Jason Smith |
Reykjavik, Iceland
Independence, MO
Neosho, MO
Duncan, OK |
John Whitmer Historical Association Journal
|
Editor |
|
Bill Morain |
Lamoni, IA |
Book Review Editor |
|
Christin Mackay |
Nauvoo, IL |
Associate Editor/Copy Editor |
|
Susan Staker |
Langley, WA |
Editorial Board |
|
Craig Foster
Matt Harris
Katherine Hill
David Howlett
Melvin Johnson
Rachel Killebrew
Michael Marquardt
Brent Metcalfe
Russell Osmond
William Russell
Mark Scherer
William Shepard
Steven L. Shields
Ryan Tittle
Chrystal Vanel
Clare Vlahos |
Layton, UT
Pueblo West, CO
Reykjavik, Iceland
Sarasota Springs, NY
Zavalla, TX
Independence, MO
Sandy, UT
Jonesboro, AR
Marietta, GA
Lamoni, IA
Independence, MO
Burlington, WI
Las Vegas, NV
Sumiton, AL
Paris, France
Independence, MO |
Restoration Studies Journal
|
Editor |
|
Katherine Hill |
Reykjavik, Iceland |
Editorial Board |
|
Nancy Ross
Steven L. Shields
Randallynn Smith |
St George, UT
Las Vegas, NV
Vilseck, Germany |
John Whitmer Books
|
Manager |
|
Cheryl Bruno |
Marina, CA |
Editorial Board |
|
Jill Brim
Peter Judd
Mike Riggs
Steven L. Shields
Mark Staker |
Washington, UT
Kansas City, MO
Baltimore, MD
Las Vegas, NV
Salt Lake City, UT |
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 |
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.