Samuel Brannan has almost become a legend in the history of the American West. Having led a group of Mormons around the Horn to California in 1846, he became a business and political leader in early California. He gained great wealth in speculation and merchandising, and is noted for his activities in the Vigilance Committee of 1851, his part in heralding the gold rush, and his developments in Calistoga and elsewhere.Although much has been written about Brannan, very little of it deals with the last years of his life. Very little factual information has been available on his activities during this period. These last ten years of his life are the focal point of this thesis. A large number of letters written by Brannan during this period have recently been found and with various secondary sources have shed light on his activities during these years.

New Hope was a small Mormon agricultural community in Central California. It was founded in 1846, by Samuel Brannan, on the hope that Brigham Young would make it the center stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The approximately twenty farmers at New Hope labored diligently under the illusion that thousands of their brethren would shortly join them. When President Young decided to settle in the Great Basin, the New Hope settlement was terminated that same year: 1847.

The play, Samuel Brannan, is the final result of a careful study of the history of Samuel Brannan. The information which has been selected to serve as the base for the plot was gleaned from the works of historians, letters written by Samuel, and individual journals. Although license has been taken with historical facts by the playwright in order to make this play theatrical, the play is based upon authentic happenings. The play is concerned with the events of Brannan's life, his unusual successes, and subsequent failures. It also treats his character, his attitudes, his beliefs, and the factors which motivated him to actions which caused his disintegration.