American Universities and the Birth of Modern Mormonism, 1867–1940

“Excellent scholarship on social and educational history as it pertains to religion. Highly recommended.” — CHOICE

“An important, well-written, and engaging volume. . . . Should now be required reading for any Mormon academic, regardless of their field.” — Association for Mormon Letters

“Simpson’s insights should be incorporated into future discussions on what is often an oversimplified historical narrative.” — Reading Religion

“An admirably nuanced narrative.” — Journal of Mormon History

“After reading American Universities, readers come away sensing some of the impact that higher education has had on the Church” — BYU Studies Quarterly

“Provides an excellent prologue of a critical period leading to the coming of age of modern Mormons.” — History of Education Quarterly

“A convincing case that the American university was one of the midwives of modern Mormonism.”—Southern California Quarterly

“An elegant, original contribution and a must-read for anyone interested in American religion and the life of the mind. Thomas W. Simpson’s scholarly heavy lifting — painstakingly tracing the Progressive Era Mormons who passed through American universities — forces a substantial reassessment of previous 'Americanization' theses. Simpson decenters polygamy (no mean feat) and places intellectual history and education at the heart of LDS navigation of both modernity and national identity.” — J. Spencer Fluhman, Brigham Young University

“American Universities and the Birth of Modern Mormonism tells an important story of the development of Mormon intellectual life. The risks experienced by young Mormons and church leaders alike as students departed the 'kingdom' for education in the early part of the twentieth century is an essential and necessary part of the history of the formation of an educated Mormon community and the creation of a true Mormon intellectual community.” — Jan Shipps, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis