This three-box collection contains the papers of John A. Carlson. His papers consist of correspondence, missionary papers, blacksmithing records, genealogical information, and a scrapbook. The majority of Carlson's papers concern his mission in Sweden and his blacksmithing business. Some of the items included in this collection are; the letters written between Carlson and his wife while he was serving as a missionary in Sweden, his blacksmithing ledgers which show work preformed and fees, and a scrapbook containing clippings from Utah Korrespondenten, a Swedish Salt Lake City newspaper.

The materials in this collection have been organized topically and then chronologically. The researcher should be aware that some of the material in this collection is written in Swedish, such as some of Carlson's correspondence and blacksmithing records. Some items from this collection were removed and have catalogued separately. These items include; issues of Utah Korrespondenten, an issue of Fyrbaken, and issues of Nordstjaman and Skandinaviens Stjerne.

Note: Researchers interested in the Carlson family should also see the papers of J.A. Carlson's son; Coll Mss 27: The John W. Carlson Papers.