The Church History Biographical Database (Formerly the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database)
The Church History Biographical Database, formerly the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel database is an important source of information for researchers.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 before the creation of the Church History Biographical Database. Both the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel and Early Mormon Missionary databases were combined to create the Biographical Database of today. This article has been updated to reflect that change.
The word pioneer conjures unique images and definitions for everyone who hears it. At a basic level, a pioneer is someone who does something new. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, pioneers represent a shared heritage—both those who crossed the plains and those around the world who have become members of a new faith or have remained strong in the face of trials or injustice (check out our Pioneers in Every Land web series for stories). The pioneer spirit is compelling, and the annual celebration of Pioneer Day in Utah ignites an interest in the stories of the pioneers who crossed the plains in the historic two-decade Mormon migration.
Whether you have a deep-rooted pioneer ancestry or your connection to the original pioneers is emotional or academic, the Biographical Database is the right place to begin your research. This database is the most comprehensive record of individuals and companies who traveled to the Salt Lake Valley from both the east and west between 1847 and 1868. The database contains entries for nearly 61,000 individuals and is growing daily.
The simplest way to search the database is to go to BiographicalDatabase.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and type a name in the search bar. If you receive no results, try using simplified versions of the name or alternate spellings. Each individual’s page contains basic biographical information (name, gender, birth and death dates, and so on) and the most accurate travel date and information available. Pages might include a photograph, company information, age at departure, names of travel companions, a link to the person’s page on FamilySearch, and references to additional sources. Sources range from newspaper articles, ledgers and account books, and Church records to personal histories, reminiscences, and journals.
Learn more about how the Church History Department gathered pioneer data used in the Biographical Database.
Not every pioneer recorded his or her journey in writing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn about the travel experience. If there are no listed sources on an individual’s page, take time to look at the company records. You can gain valuable contextual information about life on the trail by understanding the experiences of the company a pioneer traveled with.
Library researchers and missionaries are constantly adding new information to ensure the database remains dynamic and current. Efforts are ongoing to ensure that birth and death dates, travel dates, company information, and so on are accurate and supported by documentation. This is complicated historical detective work, and we invite your contributions.
By clicking on the large, blue Submit Additional Information button on the bottom of any pioneer’s page, you can request that information be changed or updated, send a source or a photo, or even suggest an entirely new pioneer profile.