Portrait Collections

The Church History Library has extensive holdings of portraits dating back to the mid-19th century. The collections are particularly strong in including portraits of early Church leaders and early citizens of Utah. The following are some of the significant collections:

Daguerreotype collection, circa 1850s–1860s (PH 100)

This digitized collection contains portraits of Church leaders, members, and unidentified individuals.

Savage and Ottinger collection of studio portraits, circa 1862–1872 (PH 200)

This is an archivist-compiled digitized collection of cartes-de-visite photographs of General Authorities, actors, actresses, and unidentified individuals.

Engraved portrait collection, circa 1890 (PH 327)

This digitized collection contains engraved portraits of civic and Church leaders in Utah.

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith photograph collection, circa 1865–1900 (PH 8004)

This digitized collection contains photographs collected by Bathsheba W. Smith and her granddaughter of family members, Church leaders, and other individuals.

Joseph Smith likeness collection, circa 1840–1980 (PH 360)

This unique collection contains engravings and photographs of renderings and sculptures of Joseph Smith, including his death mask and grave site. Available upon request. Contact us through the Ask Us form for more information.

Fox and Symons portraits, circa 1880s–early 1900s (PH 1400)

Portraits of men and women; General Authorities, including copied portraits of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and Brigham Young; local Church leaders; choirs; and students. Available upon request. Contact us through the Ask Us form for more information.

Portrait collection, circa 1840– (PH 1700)

This collection contains portraits of members, missionaries, Church leaders, and others relating to Utah history. Each portrait in this collection has its own bibliographic entry and call number beginning with PH 1700. Many of the individual photographs are available digitally. Search “PH 1700” in the Church History Catalog. Available upon request. Contact us through the Ask Us form for more information.

LDS servicemen photographs, circa 1942–1980s (CR 33 20)

This collection contains photographs of Latter-day Saint servicemen and chaplains in peacetime and wartime in various locations around the world. Available upon request. Contact us through the Ask Us form for more information.