The historical events related to the white settlement of Utah often inspired early musicians to write songs about their experiences. Mormons wrote about building temples, building the railroad, living in polygamy, and traveling across the plains, among other things. At the same time non-Mormons expressed themselves in songs like Blue Mountain, a loving tribute to the characters and landscape around Monticello, and others.
Elaine Thatcher, Mountain West Center, Utah State University, will present this program. Thatcher is a folklorist and oral historian. She was the recipient of the 2006 Benjamin A. Botkin Prize, an award recognizing outstanding achievement in public sector folklore given by the American Folklore Society.