The Power of Place
This post explores a digital photograph collection containing thousands of images taken by Kenneth Mays, documenting historic sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a nearly 200-year history. That history is not a stationary one; it includes more than one epic exodus and a continuing expansion to the far reaches of the globe. A place is so much more than a geographic point on a map. Sites of religious significance inspire genuine topophilia in faithful devotees who want to feel a special bond to locations they have heard about all their lives.
As the world has gotten smaller through ease of travel and technology, a pilgrimage to historic religious sites has become a possibility for more and more people. With historical locations of a rapidly growing Church popping up on every continent, it is unlikely a member of the Church will be able to see them all. An exceptional new digital photograph collection (PH 9809) is now available in the Church History Catalog that documents many historical sites of the Church.
This collection has a unique provenance and a passionate creator. Kenneth Mays began taking photographs of historic sites in the 1980s as a self-described “typical tourist” toting around the family camera. One of his initial intentions was to collect images he could use for his job as a seminary teacher to help his students connect to the places mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants. According to Mays, “Somewhere along the way my interest in increasing my image collection morphed . . . to an almost burning passion to record or document sites of the Restoration.”1 He has traveled extensively over the last several decades to photograph historic markers, sites, homes, cemeteries, landscapes, and locales in seven countries: Canada, England, Fiji, Scotland, Tonga, the United States, and Wales.
Although Mays states that he “never considered [himself] to be a ‘photographer,’”2 many of the photographs he identifies as particular favorites show an artistry and commitment to documenting the feeling of a site. This is exemplified in the following photographs: the Kirtland temple in the sunshine, framed in blooming greenery, and the fading trail in the barren winter landscape of Martin’s Cove.
Preserving the feeling of a place is one of the many reasons these sites are documented and maintained. In an article titled “Why Historic Sites?” historian Jenny Lund explains:
“These places have been sanctified by God’s blessings upon His people and by faithful Latter-day Saints who have dedicated their lives to building up God’s kingdom. They bear witness to the Restoration and remind us of God’s blessings and the faith, commitment, and sacrifice of His people.”3
Mays echoes this sentiment in his hope that the collection will “keep the memory of the sacred sites and the heroic men and women of the Restoration alive.”4 He says that the decision to donate the collection was an easy one when he considered how it could be used. “My mind went to the thought of a dedicated early morning seminary teacher . . . whose lesson might be a bit better by adding some visuals as they teach the history of the Church. If any images I contribute help in that way, it would be a marvelous blessing to me.”5
The collection contains more than 30,000 images, many of them documenting the evolution of sites over time. The digital images are organized by location and are easily navigable with an in-depth finding aid. The Church History Library is pleased to make this collection available to researchers of all types. Whether you are teaching a religious course, looking for the homeland of an ancestor, or writing a book or academic thesis, this collection can enrich your understanding of Church historical sites and help you discover that sense of place.
Kenneth Mays authors an ongoing column in the Faith section of the Deseret News titled “Picturing History” that provides interpreted explanations of his photographs. His photographs have been featured on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, in Church publications, and in curriculum materials.
Mays’s photos have also been used on the Historic Sites website, where you can learn more about historic sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and find information for planning a visit.
(Top image: Joseph Smith’s Red Brick Store House)