Mormon History Association Oral History Interview of David J. Whittaker on May 14, 2024

This oral history interview with David J. Whittaker, conducted on May 14, 2024, delves into his extensive career as a historian, archivist, and scholar of Mormonism, highlighting his educational background, key publications, and contributions to the Mormon History Association. Whittaker recounts his academic journey through BYU and California State University, Northridge, focusing on his doctoral research on early Mormon pamphleteering and the intellectual and cultural history of Mormon print. He discusses his pivotal roles as a research assistant for Leonard Arrington, an assistant editor for Dialogue, and an associate editor for BYU Studies, as well as his tenure as curator of Mormon manuscripts at the Harold B. Lee Library. The interview emphasizes his efforts to broaden the scope of Mormon studies to include women's history, international missions, and a nuanced understanding of historical figures, while also touching upon his military service, his family's influence, and his work on the Joseph Smith Papers Project and the Mark Hofmann forgeries.