Mormon History Association Oral History Interview with Richard L. Bushman on March 8, 2024 [Audio and Transcript]

This oral history interview with Richard L. Bushman, conducted on March 8, 2024, delves into his extensive career as a historian, particularly his significant contributions to American and Mormon history. Bushman discusses his educational background at Harvard, his various academic positions at institutions like BYU, Brown, Boston University, University of Delaware, and Columbia, and the evolution of his historical interests from general American history to a focused study of early Latter-day Saint history, particularly Joseph Smith. He highlights the impact of key mentors like Oscar Handlin, Bernard Bailyn, and Leonard Arrington, and details his most impactful publications, Rough Stone Rolling and The Refinement of America. The interview also covers his involvement with the Mormon History Association, including his presidency, and his perspectives on the growth and future of Mormon Studies, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, inclusivity, and mutual respect among scholars. Additionally, Bushman speaks about his role in the Joseph Smith Papers project and the founding of the Mormon Scholars Foundation and the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts, underscoring his ongoing commitment to making Mormonism understandable to a broader audience.