Fanny Alger – Timeline of Events

In regards to the Fanny Alger story, it’s important to become familiar with the whole collection of known sources. Who said what? When did they say it? Who did they hear it from? Those types of questions can help separate the lifetime absorption of various historian opinion and interpretation from the raw facts themselves. The Fanny Alger story has a lot of conjecture, both from modern historians and from the sources themselves. Very late recollections make up 89% of the documentation whole, and 62% of those are 3rd-hand accounts.

Some of the biggest questions arise in Fanny Alger’s story in regards to the quality of the sources themselves. Most experts agree today that 19 known sources exist. There are zero sources are contemporary or 1st-hand. In addition to that, there are relatively few accounts of the details of her life.

Fanny Alger – Analysis of Source Material

• 2nd hand early recollections are from
  1. Warren A. Cowdery (January 21, 1838) – copy of a letter from Oliver Cowdery (no original), later received minor edits from Oliver Cowdery’s nephew Warren F. Cowdery.
  2. Fanny Brewer (1842) – recollections of earlier Kirtland days, written in supportive response to John C. Bennett’s public writings in Summer 1842, or perhaps by way of favor to include in his book.