William D. Russell (historian)

William Dean Russell (born 1938) is an American historian focusing on the history of the Latter Day Saint movement.

[1] A member of the Community of Christ, Russell is one of the activists and leaders credited with the church's progressive transformation in the latter half of the twentieth century.

[5] Russell was one of the original three Community of Christ historians to join the Mormon History Association and he later served as president of that organization.

Russell became active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and was co-founder of the Independence, Missouri, chapter of the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE).

In recent years Russell has advocated for full participation of gay, lesbian, transsexual, and transgender members in the Community of Christ.