Ardis E. Parshall (born 1959[1]) is an "independent historian" who researchesLatter-day Saint history.[2][3][4][5] Parshall has published her research on her blog,Keepapitchinin.[5] In addition to her research work, Parshall worked forthe Salt Lake Tribune as a historical writer from 2005 to 2011.[4][5] She also published a book entitled,The Corianton Saga.[5] Parshall has co-edited books includingMormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia[6] andDime Novel Mormons.[7]
According toW. Paul Reeve, Parshall conducts research that highlights individuals whose stories are largely unknown. In a Salt Lake Tribune article, Reeve expressed that "Ardis [E. Parshall] is one of the most dogged researchers working in the Mormon past" and that "[s]he recognizes...little scraps of history, and their connections to bigger contexts, and is a pro at discovering people who otherwise have been forgotten.[4]
According to aSalt Lake Tribune article, Parshall's research has been used by others "without attribution" on "several" occasions. TheTribune article stated that this "[lack of] attribution" occurs "frequently" in the realm ofreligious research. Quoting media ethics analystKelly McBride, theTribune article noted that "publishers want to attract [religious] audience[s] 'without the elbow grease you should do and without crediting those who did.'"[4]
Keepapitchinin is a Latter-day Saint history blog created by Parshall.[5] Author and editor Gary James Bergera highlightedKeepapitchinin as a blog that "feature[s] some of the most provocative Mormon-related discussions taking place today."[8] ProfessorJared Farmer[9] calledKeepapitchinin "a box of treasures," praising Parshall's "expert historical commentary" included onKeepapitchinin.[9]
In 2010, Parshall made a blog post entitled, "The Best Beards in Mormon History: Results Show."[10] This post won a blogging award from theAssociation for Mormon Letters.[11] In addition to the Association for Mormon Letters blogging award, Parshall'sKeepapitchinin won several Bloggernacle awards, published on a blogging website:Wheat and Tares.[12] In 2008,Keepapitchinin won a Bloggernacle award for "Best New Blog." In 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013, Parshall's blog won a Bloggernacle award entitled, "Best Solo Blog."Parshall'sKeepapitchinin also won Bloggernacle awards for the "Best Historical Post" in 2008 and the "Best Doctrinal Post" in 2010.[13]
According to W. Paul Reeve, theCentury of Black Mormons project is a "digital history project" that "recover[s]...the identities of Black Latter-day Saints" who lived between 1830 and 1930.[14] Parshall contributes to theUniversity of Utah'sCentury of Black Mormons project as a "contributing scholar."[15] Additionally, Parshall works as a member of the project's advisory council, with Reeve also being a member of the advisory council.[4]
In 2018, Parshall received an award from theJohn Whitmer Historical Association alongsideMichael Austin. Together, Parshall and Austin won the Association's "Best Anthology" award for their work onDime Novel Mormons.[16][17]
As noted byJSTOR, theMormon History Association (MHA) is "an independent non-profit...organization devoted to all aspects of the scholarly study of the Mormon past."[18] In 2024, the MHA awarded individuals for their work related tothe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) andCommunity of Christ.[19] MHA identified Parshall as "a pioneer in Mormon Studies public history" who has made "major contributions" to Latter-day Saint public history. MHA named an award after Parshall entitled the Ardis E. Parshall Public History Award. This award is given to individuals who "rigorous[ly]" contribute to public history.[2][3] The award was first distributed in 2021 to Parshall, herself, for her blog,Keepapitchinin.[19]
Parshall's research has been used by many Latter-day Saint scholars. Among these areSteven C. Harper (referenced Parshall's research in his work entitledFirst Vision: Memory and Mormon Origins),[20]Nathan Oman (received "research notes" from Parshall when writing an academic article entitled, "The Blessing That's Anticipated Here Will Be Realized in the Next Life"),[21] W. Paul Reeve (referenced Parshall's research in his book entitled,Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness),[22] andMatthew Grow (mentioned Parshall's research in his academic article entitled, "Biography in Mormon Studies").[23]
In 2022, Parshall wroteThe Corianton Saga, which provides insight into the life of Corianton, a man referenced in theBook of Mormon.[24] Although briefly mentioned in theBook of Mormon, Parshall stated that Corianton's story was "arguably the most popular and well-known narrative from the Book of Mormon" for "earlier generations of Latter-day Saints."[25] InThe Corianton Saga, Parshall supports this claim by exposing readers to various forms of media that highlighted Corianton's story.[24]
This work was co-edited by Parshall and Michael Austin in 2017.Dime Novel Mormons highlights four examples ofdime novels that "represent[ed] different aspects of the Mormon image." The four novels highlighted inDime Novel Mormons were published between the years 1870 and 1903.[7]
Parshall co-editedMormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia alongside W. Paul Reeve. TheEncyclopedia was published in 2010.Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia includes discussions about various topics related to the LDS Church and its history. More specifically, the book highlights various "[e]ras" in Latter-day Saint history. It also discusses "[e]vents," "[p]eople," and "[i]ssues" related to its history.[6]
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