Jane Manning James

Common Roles/Uncommon Lives »

One of the first black settlers in Utah. Born in Wilton, Connecticut, James joined the LDS church as a teenager and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, where she became part of the household of Joseph Smith. James finally settled in Salt Lake City with her husband Isaac James. When Isaac left Jane and their six children in 1869, Jane provided for the family by spinning, sewing, soap making, and working as a laundress. As noted by historian Henry J. Wolfinger, “[Jane Manning Jame’s] life was not one which brought financial reward or historical recognition. Rather, her achievements were personal. At a time when the racial attitudes of the larger society and the local community were becoming increasingly rigid, and their practices increasingly discriminatory, she managed the difficult task of maintaining her racial and religious identification without sacrificing a sense of personal dignity.”