The most important source for uncovering the past is documents created directly by the subject of study or those around him.  Termed "primary sources" by historians, these documents (and other artifacts, including pictures) provide a relatively unfiltered glimpse into the life and thoughts of the subject.  For the life of George B. Wallace, the most crucial of surviving primary sources are his diaries, which he apparently and unfortunately kept only while on special assignment for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Thus, there are diaries that cover his term as presiding elder of the New Bedford Massachusetts Branch (1844-45), his trek West (1847), his mission to Great Britain (1850-52), his home mission to central and southern Utah (1855), and his mission to the Eastern States (1869-70).      

 

The New Bedford diary begins on 21 July 1844 at the beginning of his tenure as presiding elder of that branch and continues until 27 October 1845, some months after he had left New Bedford and relocated to Nauvoo.  Typescript; editor unknown; location of original diary unknown.

 

Wallace's Pioneer Company journal begins 18 June 1847, the day the company was organized, and concludes 26 September 1847 when they reached the site of the future Salt Lake City.  The first section of the journal was written by Wallace, with Joesph C. Kingsbury assuming the duty of scribe on 7 July 1847. Typescript; edited by LDS Church Archives; original located in LDS Church Archives; also available at http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/0,18016,4976-6034,00.html. 

 

Wallace's British Mission diaries start 31 December 1850, several months after his arrival and a few months after his appointment as first counselor in the mission presidency.  They end 29 March 1852 during his trans-Atlantic voyage back to the United States at the conclusion of his mission.  Typescript; editor unknown; location of original diaries unknown.

 

The Home Mission diary begins 3 November 1855, shortly after Wallace started on his journey to southern Utah, and ends 31 December 1855 while Wallace was attending a Church conference and legislative session in Fillmore on his way home. Typescript; editor unknown; location of original diary unknown.

 

The  Eastern States diary starts 31 October 1869 as Wallace departs from Salt Lake City and concludes 29 March 1870 when he arrives home.  Typescript; editor unknown; locatino of original diary unknown.  

 

 

Here are a few more primary source documents from the life of George B. Wallace:

 

 

Wallace's patriarchal blessing, given 10 April 1845 at Nauvoo by John Smith.

 

The dedicatory prayer offered by Wallace over the northwest cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple on 6 April 1853.

 

A sketch of Wallace's home in Salt Lake City's 17th Ward, as later drawn by GBW's son, Howes Crowell Wallace.

 

The plan of Wallace's home in Salt Lake City's 17th Ward, as later drawn by GBW's son, Howes Crowell Wallace.

 

The land patent for Wallace's homestead in Granger.

 

Wallace's autobiography, composed late in life and covering only up through 1842. Typescript, edited by Jeff Hardy, photocopy in editor's possession, location of original unknown.

 

The Last Will and Testament of George Benjamin Wallace, dated 29 January 1900.