All public records at the Utah State Archives are accessible through the Research Center. However, once processed the records are easier to use with proper storage and fuller descriptions, including online series inventories. The following list includes record series that were processed during the month of February 2011:
Governor (2005-2009 : Huntsman)
Governor
More on Governors’ Records at the Utah State Archives
Granite School District (Utah). Madison Elementary School
All public records at the Utah State Archives are accessible through the Research Center. However, once processed the records are easier to use with proper storage and fuller descriptions, including online series inventories. The following list includes record series that were processed during the month of January 2011:
Statehood Constitutional Convention
Division of State History
Most also available online through State History’s site.
Division of Parks and Recreation
The Research Center for the Utah State Archives and Utah State History will remain open as normal Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. through the end of December. The Christmas and New Year’s holidays will each be observed on a Friday when it is usually closed. If you have been meaning to do some research and you have time off, drop us a line or come visit!
Birth certificates issued by the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics beginning in 1905 are now online and freely available to the public. The searchable index and digital images created in partnership with FamilySearch may be accessed from archives.utah.gov/research/indexes/81443.htm.
In addition to identity and proof of citizenship, the registration of births assists with monitoring public health issues and the programs created to alleviate them. The original permanent records were transferred from Vital Records to the Utah State Archives and Records Service in 2006, prompted by the Inspection of Vital Records Act passed in 1998 making historical records public. The name index is a collaborative effort of the staff of Vital Records and volunteers and staff of the State Archives, and includes the child’s full name, parents’ full names, and date of birth, sex and county. FamilySearch captured digital images of the original paper records and plans to publish both the images and index at FamilySearch.org. Subsequent years of historical certificates are currently being indexed, and in the meantime may be accessed in the Research Center of the Utah State Archives and Utah State History.
“Many stories emerge from these births registered over a century ago,” says Gina Strack, an archivist with the Utah State Archives. “A couple originally from Japan, for example, registered the birth of not only their son in 1905 (though born in early 1904), but also a set of twins just born. According to death certificates also online however, the twins would both die within the year.” (More about this story)
The Utah State Digital Archives provides over half a million images of historical records online and free to the public, including death certificates from 1904-1959. With worldwide online access, patrons have the ability to do research from anywhere while the State Archives efficiently fulfills its mission “to provide quality access to public information.”
FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
All public records at the Utah State Archives are accessible through the Research Center. However, once processed the records are easier to use with proper storage and fuller descriptions, including online series inventories. The following list includes record series that were processed during the month of November 2010:
District Court (Second District : Weber County)
Provo City School District (Utah)
Public Service Commission
Sanpete County (Utah) County Clerk
Legislative Books in the Research Center
The Utah State Library through its Pioneer databases has made the entire set of the Laws of Utah available online. The restricted access requires a Utah library card. Once through, one may search and browse the session laws published each year after the Utah State Legislature meets.
The session laws are key to legislative research which is explained fully in the Legislative Intent and History Research Guide. Until 1972, laws were not considered to be in effect until they had first been published, a requirement dating from the 1849 Constitution of the State of Deseret.
Legislative sessions were held annually until 1870, usually in the winter, from December to March. After that date biennial sessions were held in even numbered years until statehood. Starting with the second session of the new state legislature in 1897, biannual sessions were switched to odd numbered years. The 13th state legislature held the first special session in 1919, and after that date one or more special sessions began to be held more often.
A 1968 change in the state constitution created the budget session, and the first of these was held in 1970. These were held during the even numbered years when the regular session did not meet, and only government funding issues were considered. The constitution of the state was changed again in 1985 to provide for annual sessions of the legislature, eliminating the biannual budget session. Read more about the background of the Laws of Utah.
Thanks to the Utah State Law Library.
The Indian War Service Affidavits from the Commissioner of Indian War Records is now online. In 1909 the legislature passed a law creating a Board of Commissioners of Indian War Records. Their duties were to ascertain the names of the persons who were members of any organization performing military duties during Indian wars or expeditions against the Indians during territorial years. Veterans completed affidavits of service; two witnesses also completed affidavits supporting the facts. The affidavits were then filed in the office of the chairman of the board, the Adjutant General of the State.
The soldier’s affidavit consists of a preprinted form with blanks for the name of the county in which he was making his oath, the individual’s name, his residence, length of residence, age, date of enrollment, type of company (infantry, cavalry, etc.), his captain, residence at the time, age at the time, length of service, transfer dates and type of company served in following transfer with its captain’s name up to the final organization served with, and date of release. Then there is space for the description of duties and engagements participated in while in each company. The witnesses are named and an oath taken that the information provided was accurate. If the soldier was deceased, the widow or a child could complete a similar affidavit. The accompanying two witness affidavits reiterated the information with an oath that in the belief of the witnesses, the service rendered by the soldier was “honest and faithful.”
FamilySearch created digital images from the original paper records and Utah State Archives staff Rod Swaner matched the images to an existing name index.
Related records (not online):
The birth register maintained by the Sanpete County Clerk from 1898-1905 is now available as a book online. These records contain birth registers recorded from 1898 through 1905. Each entry includes an assigned number, sex, color, race, date and place of birth, parent’s names and residence, attending physician , and remarks.
Beginning in 1898, physicians and midwives were required to keep record of each birth for which they assisted. In their absence, the parents were required to complete a report. They then reported quarterly to the county clerk or in the case of incorporated cities, to the local board of health and they would in turn report to the county clerk (Revised Statutes of Utah 1898, Title 57, p. 474-475).
In 1905, the state passed a law requiring each county to file a uniform certificate with the State Bureau of Vital Statistics.
All public records at the Utah State Archives are accessible through the Research Center. However, once processed the records are easier to use with proper storage and fuller descriptions, including online series inventories. The following list includes record series that were processed during the month of October 2010:
District Court (First District : Cache County)
District Court (Sixth District : Sanpete County)
Myton (Utah)
Provo City School District (Utah)
Utah Juvenile Court and Probation Commission
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
12 – 1 p.m.
Utah State Archives
Courtyard Meeting Room
346 S. Rio Grande St.
Salt Lake City, Utah
“Opening Zion: A Scrapbook of the National Parks First Official Tourists“
When Melissa Clark purchased a box of old scrapbooks online, she knew only that she had bought something relating to the University of Utah and Zion Park. What came in the mail was much more than she had expected. Instead of random mementos, two albums arrived full of photographs and newspaper clippings dating to 1920 that document a trip made by six young women from the University of Utah into the newly formed Zion National Park. With text by John Clark, the scrapbooks are now the basis of a one-of-a-kind publication. John Clark will speak on finding the collection, its value, and its publication. John Clark is author of the Motor Tales series and an avid scholar of Utah automobile history.
