03/31/2026
This is one of our more difficult posts to write. Sharing it is an act of appreciation and gratitude for the life of Ardis Parshall. Ardis died suddenly last month at the age of 66.
Peggy Fletcher Stack wrote a beautiful article for The Salt Lake Tribune that began: "Ardis Parshall lived alone with her cats in a Salt Lake City apartment for much of her life. She had no advanced degrees, and, for most of her career, no phone or car. Yet — with her superhuman typing, command of French, determined work ethic, dogged sleuthing, eagle eye for underappreciated documents, and uncanny nose for a good story — she became indispensable to Mormon historians everywhere. From her perch behind a computer screen and beside a tower of beloved books, Parshall created an extensive online community, where she helped scholars connect missing pieces in the present to the jigsaw puzzles of the past."
Ardis spent most of her life giving voice to those whose voices were taken from them and whose lives were tossed into the dustbin of history because they were not deemed important enough to be remembered. Many of those whom she dug out of that dustbin were African Americans. As one of our Consultants she often guided, always taught, was consistently ready to help, and often did research for us. She was also one of our secret monthly supporters. Ardis expressed the value and importance of the work we do by her research support, her encouragement, and her monthly dollars.
We loved and love Ardis and miss her for those whom she found and for the kind, giving, and caring person she was. Our world cannot afford to lose the kind of person Ardis was while here.
Our Executive Director Robert joined with others in Ardis' requested brief graveside service to sing her home. He specially selected the old gospel hymn "Hold On" to honor Ardis.
Whether you knew her not, most of the historical finds you read on social media were touched by her in some way, including many of ours. If you want to help Honor Ardis Parshall by Preserving Her Life’s Work, you can use this link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-ardis-parshall-by-preserving-her-lifes-work?fbclid=IwY2xjawQwJPtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEenRWkcLxNAE8L5UW90-BciKnNs--e1zjK9RqKlSgiMTtw8ZlnQB5YzvMl0MU_aem_K6qTDUwbstiApzf7WiJsWw
This fund will help with funeral expenses, pay for Ardis's headstone, help to permanently archive Ardis’ blog “Keepapitchinin”, and donate to the Ardis E. Parshall Public History Award.
