Online Resources
Young Men Organization Research Guide
These resources are available digitally through the Church History Catalog or other online locations. Below are just a few of the digitized resources available in the Church History Library catalog.
Church Records (CR)
Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, 1888-1892, CR 1 169
Letters related to various YMMIA matters. Included are letters from Junius F. Wells, Moses Thatcher, and Franklin D. Richards.
Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, 1896-1906, CR 1 169
Letters and reports related to various YMMIA matters, including information on the managing of The Improvement Era.
Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, 1911-1917, CR 1 169
Letters and reports related to various YMMIA matters; includes information about the Deseret Gymnasium and the Boy Scouts.
Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association letter, 1930 December 31, CR 14 57
Letter from European Mission president John A. Widtsoe to the Young Men superintendency and general board suggesting courses of study for the young men appropriate for Europe and other areas outside of the United States.
Local Records (LR)
Campina Grande Branch Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1974, LR 1345 16
Minutes of the Young Men Organization for the Campina Grande Branch, Brazil North Mission.
Cologne Branch Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1928-1973, LR 1868 16
Minutes of the Young Men Organization for the Cologne Branch, Central German Mission.
Dargaville Branch Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1961-1965, LR 2147 16
Minutes of the Young Men Organization for the Dargaville Branch, New Zealand North Stake.
Eden Ward Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1881-1973, LR 2489 16
Minutes of the Young Men Organization for the Eden Ward, Ogden Utah Stake.
Miao Li Branch Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1953-1966, LR 5517 16
Minutes of the Young Men Organization for the Miao Li Branch, Southern Far East Mission.
Thirteenth Ward Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1874-1903, LR 6133 16
Minutes of the first Young Men organization, Thirteenth Ward, Ensign Utah Stake.
University Ward Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1934-1973, LR 9590 16
Minutes from the Young Men Organization for the University Ward, Chicago South Illinois Stake.
Minutes from the Young Men Organization for the Washakie Ward, Box Elder Utah Stake.
Yuen Long Branch Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1959-1973, LR 10443 16
Minutes from the Young Men Organization for the Yuen Long Branch, Hong Kong Mission.
Manuscripts (MS)
A. Elmina Shepard Taylor collection, 1844-1956 (bulk 1870-1904), MS 13493
Includes programs from the general conferences of the YMMIA and YLMIA.1
Andrew Jenson collection, circa 1841-1942 / Church operations / YMMIA Charts, MS 17956
Assistant Church historian Andrew Jenson created these charts about the YMMIA, including its leadership.
Edward H. Anderson papers, 1888-1924, MS 21338
Includes information about Anderson’s service as secretary of the YMMIA.
James E. Talmage collection, 1879-1933 / ADDRESSES / Addresses, 1919, MS 1232
Collection includes addresses delivered to the YMMIA general board meetings in 1919.
Includes information about YMMIA conferences.
Susa Young Gates papers, circa 1870-1933, MS 7692
A program for the 1927 YMMIA General Conference.
Photographs (PH)
Aaronic Priesthood chorus, PH 2003
Photograph of a group of young Aaronic Priesthood chorus members from the Chicago Stake. See also Improvement Era, February 1948.
George Albert Smith and YMMIA General Board, PH 490
Photograph of George Albert Smith and the YMMIA General Board during the 1925 MIA Jubilee. Some individuals have been identified.
Portraits, 1947-1951, PH 10353, PH 10353
Includes negatives of portraits of stake MIA directors of the East Mill Creek Stake.
M.I.A. jubilee photograph album, 1925, PH 411
Includes photographs of MIA members and leaders, as well as ward and area bands, youth representing the different missions, and the Jubilee parade.
Published Manuals
L.D.S. Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, manual, part one, M257.46 Y743 1891-1892
Researchers can find many different subjects for YMMIA manuals by searching M257.46 Y743. Some of these manuals have been digitized.
Science and the gospel (Joseph Smith as scientist): Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations manual, 1908-1909 / no. 12, M257.46 Y743 1908-1909
Manual includes “Science and the gospel (Joseph Smith as scientist),” an attempt “to show the young men of Zion that the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by Joseph Smith harmonizes with the great teachings of science.”
The making of a citizen: problems in economics, agriculture and public finance : Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations manual, 1911-12 / no. 15, M257.46 Y743 1911-1912a
Manual for the Young Men organization focusing on teaching economics, agriculture, and finance.
The Church as an organization for social service: Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, manual for senior classes 1916-17 / no. 20, M257.46 S477 1916-1917
Manual for the Young Men organization focusing on teaching social services.
Additional Young Men manuals can be found under M257.46 Y743 in the Church History Library catalog.
Other Materials
A history of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, 1875-1938 / Leon M. Strong, M257.49 2923h
Thesis by Leon M. Strong, Brigham Young University, 1939, on the history of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association.
Y.M.M.I.A. choruses / by Evan Stephens, M285.14 Y75 1919
A book of songs used in YMMIA, published in 1919.
The Contributor, M205.1 C764 v. 1-17 1879-1896
The official periodical for the YMMIA until 1896, when The Improvement Era began to be published.
The Improvement Era, M2051 I34 v. 1-73 1897-1970
The official periodical for the YMMIA. It became the official periodical for both the YMMIA and YWMIA in 1930. It was published until 1970 when The New Era became the official periodical for the youth.
Prospectus of Improvement Era: organ of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations of the Latter-day Saints, M205.1 P966 1897
Prospectus to create The Improvement Era, a periodical for the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association.
Wedding announcement: Mrs. Y.L. General Board announces the marriage of her daughter Miss Young Woman’s Journal and Mr. Improvement Era on Saturday, June the eighth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, M257.45 W388, June 1929
A “marriage announcement” for the combining of the Young Woman’s Journal and The Improvement Era to create one periodical for the M.I.A.