Maureen Ursenbach Beecher


Maureen Ursenbach Beecher is a historian and editor of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She studied at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. She worked in the History Department for the LDS Church from 1972 to 1980, and became a professor of English at BYU in 1981 while continuing her work in Mormon history at the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History. She published a popular book of Eliza R. Snow's writings.

Early life and education

Beecher was born on March 19, 1935, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the youngest of four children. Her parents were Charles Ursenbach and Margaret Lucille Harvey. She attended Sunalta School in Calgary, followed by studies at University of Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton branches to finish her secondary education. She studied at BYU majoring in mathematics and English and graduating in 1958. She served as a Missionary for the LDS Church later in 1958 in the Swiss-Austrian mission. After returning from her mission, she studied at the University of Utah, receiving her master's in English in 1966 and her PhD in comparative literature in 1973.

As a historian

Prior to her research on Mormon studies, Maureen Uresenbach Beecher served as the managing editor of the Western Humanities Review. Beecher was an editor and senior research associate in the History Department for the LDS Church from 1972 to 1980. She was the founding president of the Association for Mormon Letters in 1976. In 1981 she took a position as an English professor at BYU while also a research professor in the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History. Beecher retired from BYU in 1997. She was the general editor for the Life Writings of Frontier Women series and published two books on Eliza R. Snow, including a definitive edition of Snow's writings, The Personal Writings of Eliza Roxcy Snow. The book won two awards and was popular, selling out of its first printing. Beecher has been a leading advocate for women's studies through her research on Snow and other Mormon women and Beecher served on the editorial board for Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Beecher writes, edits, and promotes Global Forum projects in Ottawa, Canada.

Personal life

Beecher married Dale Beecher. They later divorced. She is retired and lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Awards