President [N. Eldon] Tanner reported that Dr. [Aziz S.] Atiya of the University of Utah has made arrangements with the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York City for the Church to obtain possession of the Book of Abraham parchment which they now have in their possession, from which the Book of Abraham was translated. President Tanner explained that Dr. Atiya had been trying for some time to acquire this papyrus for the Church and had expected to exchange some other artifacts for it; that he has now received word that the museum will contribute the parchment to the Church without cost.
He stated that Dr. Hugh Nibley of the Brigham Young University has carefully checked pictures of the manuscript, that he is able to read some of the writings, and says that they are bona fide. It is suggested that Mr. Fisher [Henry G. Fischer], the curator of that part of the museum where the manuscripts are located, would like to present them to the Church the latter part of October or the first of November.
President Tanner asked if it would meet with my approval if he made arrangements with the museum people to meet with me or someone else whom I might designate to receive the parchment. I agreed with this suggestion and authorized President Tanner to make the necessary arrangements for this presentation.
[David O. McKay, Presidential Diary, in Harvard S. Heath, ed. Confidence Amid Change: The Presidential Diaries of David O. McKay, 1951–1970 (Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 2019), 709–710; Mormonr (mormonr.org/sources)]
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