Archives News

The recent successful landing of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at the Utah Test and Training Range[efn_note]Hill Airforce Base, Utah Test and Training Range, https://www.hill.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/672497/utah-test-and-training-range/.[/efn_note] in the West Desert near Dugway created a lot of excitement! But did you know that spacecraft landings in Utah’s deserts could have been a regular occurrence had history played out just a little differently? In 1971, Utah

The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, also known as the AYP Exposition, was a world’s fair in Seattle, Washington, in 1909 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush. It attracted over three million visitors to the University of Washington campus and featured exhibits from countries around the globe, including the United States. One state that was particularly involved in the

Although tax records have a reputation of being boring, they are a super useful tool for finding people in a specific location and time! To prove residency, a patron needed to find a property record in the Piute County tax records. I searched these records on their behalf and found a familiar name instead: Lula Betenson! You might ask, who is

A few months ago, Heidi received a patron request for an adoption record. Within this adoption was a clue leading her to the records of the Children’s Aid Society. Let’s see what she found! In 1909, the Utah Legislature passed a law to protect “Dependent, Neglected, and Ill-treated Children” (Laws of Utah 1909.) By creating the Children’s Aid Society (Society),

While searching through Governor Spry’s correspondence records, Heidi found this colorful cartoon depicting a funny-dressed man with a cigarette in his mouth. “To the Cigarette Pimp” is handwritten below the man, who, presumably, is Governor Spry. On the back of the cartoon is an impassioned letter to the Governor begging him to take a harder stance against selling tobacco to anyone under the

Recently, a patron was reviewing water rights files from the 4th District Court for Utah County (Series 14435 – Civil Case Files, 1896-1958) when she discovered a sealed envelope of dirt or seeds in case #4076, Draper v. Draper. Being the curious archivist that she is, Heidi opened the envelope to discover the mystery material was indeed DIRT! Unfortunately, there

Weeding is used to get rid of non-records (binders, folders, post-it notes, etc.), redundant records (i.e. form letters where we only need to preserve one), and misidentified records in archival collections. Archivists use their authority to weed as a collection management tool to best utilize resources, particularly physical storage and digital space. Archives RIM specialists add the phrase “with authority

Look what Heidi found for Pioneer Day! These elaborate hand drawn dress designs were created for the Centennial Coronation in 1947. Margaret Whitney Essex, a prominent dressmaker and descendant of pioneer Orson F. Whitney, made the velvet pioneer dresses. In the drawing, the red dress features seagulls, the white dress is decorated in gold wagons, and the blue dress is

While doing some research, Local Government Records Specialist Heidi (yes, we have two Heidi’s in our office!) came across this funny little case in the Sanpete County Justice Court: Gunnison Precinct records. On June 13, 1904, six boys appeared before the Justice of the Peach for the theft of ice cream and cake! Looks like all the boys were charged

A recent patron was researching our Sanpete County Territorial Probate Court records and pointed out an unusual court case. Have you ever heard of a “case of profanity”? In May 1863, Albert Lewis was seen in the Manti Justice Court for just that!  “Defendant came forward and acknowledged having been guilty of profanity in taking the name of Deity in vain.”  a