December 6, 1967, First Presidency meeting . . .

President Tanner reported that following the First Presidency's meeting on Wednesday last, when the box was opened containing certain papyri that had been turned over to the Church through President Tanner by the director of the National Museum of Art in New York, these items were taken to the Council of the Twelve the following day and shown to the brethren for their information. Of particular interest was the original of facsimile #1 that appears in the Book of Abraham. It was agreed that these papyri should be sent to the Brigham Young University for safekeeping. President Tanner said that he got in touch with President [Ernest L.] Wilkinson, ascertained that they had a place of safekeeping and he said the place they have would be as safe as any place he knew of. President Tanner explained to him that we want to make the papyri available to Dr. Hugh Nibley to continue his studies, with which President Wilkinson agreed. President Tanner explained that at the meeting with the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, it was decided that we would keep the original of facsimile #1 in safekeeping here. It is not in proper shape for preservation in its present condition and is very fragile, so yesterday Hugh Nibley and the assistant to the curator at the BYU came up and President Tanner and Howard Hunter, who were assigned by the Council to take care of these things, turned over these documents in the wooden box to Dr. Nibley and this other brother, with the understanding that they would properly preserve them in glass and that they would take the necessary measures to provide proper preservation for the original facsimile #1, and return it to us so that we can place it in safekeeping here until such time as it should be decided where it might be placed permanently.

President Tanner explained that the way they take care of these items is to build up the humidity to what it should be, place the papyri under glass and seal it so that no air or moisture can get into it. In that way it can be preserved indefinitely. President Tanner said that Dr. Nibley suggested that one of these papyri, which is perhaps of least importance, might be placed with pictures of the collection in a window here where people could see them. He did not feel that we should display the originals. President Brown suggested that every precaution be taken to make certain that nothing shall happen to these papyri and that we will know where they are.

I asked President Tanner if he is sure that everything is all right, and PresidentTanner said that he felt quite satisfied with it, and I said that we would hold President Tanner responsible for it.