The Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board (USHRAB) is excited to announce the recipients of its 2025 grant cycle! With over $21,000 awarded, four institutions across the state will be able to preserve and share important pieces of Utah’s history through digitization and improved storage.

Here’s what the grant recipients are working on:

Carbon County Clerk’s Office

The Carbon County Clerk’s Office was awarded $4,680 to digitize more than 13,000 marriage licenses and applications spanning 1930 to 2020. These records aren’t just useful for proving marriage—they’re also key for genealogists, people applying for dual citizenship (especially descendants of immigrants from Greece and Italy), and those interested in studying local immigration and community history.

Emery County Archives

The Emery County Archives was awarded $3,007 for their Emery County water records digitization project. The project will focus on ledgers containing minutes of the Huntington Canal and Agricultural Association and the Cleveland Canal and Agricultural Company (which later consolidated into the Huntington-Cleveland Irrigation Company), earliest stock ledgers, 8 folders of Articles of Incorporation, 11 photos, and a copy of the “History of the Emery County Project.”

Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT)

Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) was awarded $7,500 to digitize selected archival materials in honor of RDT’s 60th anniversary and to improve the long-term sustainability of their digital preservation system. With a collection of over 50,000 items—including rehearsal footage, artist interviews, photographs, and educational materials—this project will highlight the rich history and influence of modern dance in Utah.

Weber County Clerk’s Office

The Weber County Clerk’s Office was awarded $6,663 to preserve roughly 150,000 marriage licenses and applications (over 300,000 individual records!) dating back to 1888. The project will ensure these vital records are safely stored in archival-quality boxes, replacing old containers that no longer provide adequate protection.

These grants are part of USHRAB’s ongoing efforts to support historical records work in Utah. Administered by the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service and funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the USHRAB micro-grant program helps institutions across the state preserve and share the stories that shape our communities.