Maureen U. Beecher

Maureen Ursenbach Beecher (March 19, 1935 – November 18, 2025) was a Canadian historian and editor of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[1] She studied at Brigham Young University (BYU) and the University of Utah. She worked in the History Department for the LDS Church from 1972 to 1980, and became a professor of English at BYU in 1981 while continuing her work in Mormon history at the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History. She published a book of Eliza R. Snow's writings.

Early life and education

Maureen Ursenbach was born on March 19, 1935, in Calgary, Alberta, the youngest of four children born to Charles and Margaret Lucille (née Harvey) Ursenbach. She attended Sunalta School in Calgary, followed by studies at University of Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton branches to finish her secondary education.[2]

She studied at BYU majoring in mathematics and English and graduating in 1958. She served as a missionary for the LDS Church later in 1958 in the Swiss-Austrian mission. After returning from her mission, she studied at the University of Utah, receiving her master's in English in 1966 and her PhD in comparative literature in 1973.[2]

As a historian

Prior to her research on Mormon studies, Beecher (her married name) served as the managing editor of the Western Humanities Review.[3]

Beecher was an editor and senior research associate in the History Department for the LDS Church from 1972 to 1980.[2] She was the founding president of the Association for Mormon Letters in 1976.[4]

In 1981, she took a position as an English professor at BYU while also a research professor in the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History. Beecher retired from BYU in 1997.[2]

She was the general editor for the Life Writings of Frontier Women series and published two books on Eliza R. Snow, including a definitive edition of Snow's writings, The Personal Writings of Eliza Roxcy Snow. The book won two awards and was popular, selling out of its first printing.[5]

Beecher was a leading advocate for women's studies through her research on Snow and other Mormon women[2] and Beecher served on the editorial board for Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. She wrote, edited, and promoted Global Forum projects in Ottawa, Canada.[6]

Personal life and death

Beecher married Dale Beecher. They later divorced.[2] She retired and lived in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.[7] She later married Clifford (Cliff) Parfett. Beecher died on November 18, 2025, at the age of 90. She had cancer, and died with medical assistance.[8]

Awards

  • 1992 Best Biography Award, Mormon History Association[9]
  • 1994 Leonard J. Arrington Award, Mormon History Association[9]
  • 1995 AML Award for biography, for The Personal Writings of Eliza Roxcy Snow[10]
  • 1996 Best Book Award, Mormon History Association[9]
  • 1996 BYU Women's Research Institute Best Article Award[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Beecher, Maureen Ursenbach (1996). "On Being Mormon in Canada and Canadian in Utah". Brigham Young University Studies. 36 (2): 167-176 – via JSTOR.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Finding aid authors: David J. Whittaker, Erin Chapman and Judi Crisp (2001). "Maureen Ursenbach Beecher publications". Prepared for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Provo, UT. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  3. ^ "Maureen Ursenbach Beecher". The Daily Universe. No. 78. Brigham Young University. January 13, 1976. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  4. ^ "Tending the Garden with Eugene England" (PDF), Irreantum 3, no. 3 (Autumn 2001): 40–42. (article)
  5. ^ Derr, Jill Mulvay (Spring 2001). "Book Reviews" (PDF). Mormon Historical Studies. 2 (1): 194.
  6. ^ "Contributors" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 33 (1): 197. 2000. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  7. ^ "Beecher, Maureen Ursenbach". Social Networks and Archival Context. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "Obituary information for Maureen (Maura) Ursenbach Beecher". HPMC Garry. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
  9. ^ a b c d "Past Award Recipients". mormonhistoryassociation.org. Mormon History Association.
  10. ^ "AML Awards 1990 – 1999 - Dawning of a Brighter Day". Dawning of a Brighter Day. Association for Mormon Letters. Retrieved September 12, 2018.

Sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.