Life Sketches of James and Ellen G. White

One of the last tasks in which James White was involved was the preparation of the manuscript for a volume published in 1880 titled Life Sketches. It contained the story of James White's life and that of Ellen G. White. Actually it was made up largely of materials published earlier, Life Incidents (1868) for James White, and Spiritual Gifts,, Volume II (1860), for Ellen White. The 416-page Life Sketches was well received and had a good circulation.3BIO 445.4

James White had intended in time to revise and enlarge it, but his death prevented this. As the volume went out of print in the mid-1880s, some study was given to its revision, bringing it up to date. As J. H. Waggoner, a lifelong editor who joined the ranks of Adventists in 1852, became available, W. C. White contacted him in late 1886 or early in 1887 with the hope that he could take hold of the book and perfect it and bring it up to date. Waggoner agreed to this, and soon after joining the workforce in Basel in early 1887, he began the work that eventually yielded the manuscript for the 1888 edition of Life Sketches of James and Ellen White.3BIO 445.5