“I have been under the grimace, of a guard night and day, and within the walls grates and screeching of iron doors, of a lonesome dark dirty prison.” — Joseph Smith¹

Liberty Jail, a two-story building with a dungeon-like lower floor, became a place of intense hardship for Joseph and the others as they awaited trial for their involvement in the "Mormon War." Although they attempted to escape twice, both attempts failed. The brass key to Liberty Jail was part of an antique collection owned by Edgar Archer, a resident of Liberty, Missouri. In 1967, after the death of his widow, the key was donated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by their daughters, Mrs. Sally Archer Smith and Mrs. Margaret Archer Lonborg. Mrs. Archer had specified in her will that the key be given to the Jail Museum, ensuring its preservation.²

1. Joseph Smith, Letter to Emma Smith, 4 April 1839, josephsmithpapers.org

2. “Liberty, Missouri,” doctrineandcovenantscentral.org; “Jail, Liberty, Missouri,” josephsmithpapers.org