The Deseret Alphabet
The preparation and use of the Deseret Alphabet was
a favorite project of Brigham Young.  It was started at
his suggestion and afterwards was adopted by the Regency
of the University of Deseret.  It was designed with the view
of enabling young people to learn more easily to read
and spell.

This alphabet was designed and arranged principally
by George D. Watt, a phonographic reporter in the employ
of Brigham Young.  The forms of some of the letters were
originated by Mr Watt, those of others were selected by
him from some of the ancient alphabets found in the
front part of Webster's unabridged dictionary as pub-
lished about thirty years ago.

With a view to make the type wear well, neither
top nor tail extensions were incorporated in the forms
of the letters.

The alphabet was used phonetically, modified some-
what after Pitman's style and arrangement of pronun-
ciation.

In June 1859, this alphabet was commanded to be
used in keeping Brigham Young's ledger by Thomas W.
Ellerbeck and was continued in such use by him about
one year.

This alphabet was also used to some extent in
the Historian's Office in this (Salt Lake) City, in jour-

-- PAGE 2 --

nalizing and in compiling history, during a similar pe-
riod in 1859 and 1860.

The alphabet and brief articles in the character were
published in the Deseret News, sometimes weekly, and
at others occasionally, during a similar period in 1859
and 1860.

Then, other matters demanding attention, the Deseret
Alphabet went out of use by a kind of tacit neglect, or
by general distaste for it.


The subject, however, was subsequently revived, though
many persons favored Pitman's phonotype, as being but
slightly varied from the common alphabet, and therefore
easier for most persons to learn, and affording a read-
er transition to and from the ordinary Roman charac-
ter, than was the case with the Deseret Alphabet.  The
Regency of the University of Deseret actually voted to
adopt Pitman's characters.  But on the 2nd of Feb
1868, the Regency rescinded that vote, and voted to adopt
the Deseret Alphabet, and to ask the Legislature for an
appropriation of $10,000 to print school books in the
character.

April 18, 1868, Orson Pratt commenced to prepare
school books in the Deseret character.

In November of the same year the Regency employ-
ed Orson Pratt to transcribe the Book of Mormon into
the Deseret character.

In that year also the Deseret Primer, 88 pages, illustr-

-- PAGE 3 --

ated, was published by the Deseret University in the
Deseret character.

In 1869, the Book of Mormon, Part 1, 116 pages, was
published in New York, in the Deseret character.  The
same year the Book of Mormon entire was published
in that character in the same city.  Both these publi-
cations were under the auspices of the Deseret Universi-
ty, to be used for educational purposes.

Some efforts were made to teach and use the char-
acters in various schools in the Territory.  But it was
an uphill task.  It was found that the tailless charac-
ters, however economical in the wear and tear of type;
were inimical to the eye, the monotonous evenness of the
lines making it more difficult for the eye to follow
and distinguish the words than when set in the ordi-
nary type.  It was also difficult to insure uniform pro-
nunciation and consequently uniform orthography with
the Deseret character.  As is the case in other commu-
nities, the people generally did not take kindly to the
new characters, so that in a short time the Deseret al-
phabet ^fell^ into desuetude, from which it has never been
resurrected, and no desire for its use appears now
to exist.  Besides busier times came on, and railroads,
mining, and other business interestes pressed upon the
attention and absorbed much of it, so that the Deseret
Alphabet was soon found to have been practically and
virtually discarded, lost sight of, and almost forgotten.

-- PAGE 4 --

However, an effort was made subsequently to have
the Book of Mormon printed in Pitman's phonotype,
and with that view Orson Pratt left Salt Lake City for
England in July, 1877, and when there began to make
arrangements to accomplish that work.  But the death
of Brigham Young in August of that year necessitated
the return of Mr. Pratt to Salt Lake City, and the pro-
ject of publishing the Book of Mormon in Pitman's
phonotype was abandoned.  Since that time, there has
been no effort at authorized publication of books in
the English language in any other than the common
type, in or for Utah.

The type used by the Deseret News in 1859 and 1860
in printing articles in the Deseret character was made
in this city by John H. Rumell.  That used in print-
ing the Book of Mormon in New York in 1869 was
procured by him while in that City.

Dr J. H. Park, principal of the University of Deseret,
might be able to inform you of the number of the
editions of books which have been published in the
Deseret character, unless he has already done so in the
communications forwarded to you some time since by me.