News

February 9, 2012

Battleship Utah Silver Service

Just over one hundred years ago, the people of Utah were asked to raise money for a silver service set to be presented to the new ship named in honor of the state, the U.S.S. Utah. A committee was formed to accomplish this task and their records may be found at the Utah State Archives (Series 1129). As part of
January 5, 2012

The ten-hour day

Most government offices in Utah are now open from 8-5 Monday through Friday. Though some state employees have retained an option to work four ten-hour days, staff members at the Archives look back with nostalgia at the three-day weekend. Others think a ten-hour day is way too long. With diminished budgets and staff, government offices are attempting to do more
November 1, 2011

Historians Seeking Utah Law Enforcement Memorabilia

Thank you to the Salt Lake Tribune for covering the final Archives Month presentation featuring Robert Kirby. By Janelle Stecklein The Salt Lake Tribune State historians on Friday launched an effort to collect law enforcement memorabilia Utahns might have stored away. “It’s important to save our law enforcement history because it’s something being lost every second,” said Melissa Coy Ferguson,
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June 22, 2011

Government Reorganization

For almost as long as there has been government in Utah, there has been the desire to reorganize, optimize, streamline and generally make it better. This past week, Governor Herbert announced the Advisory Council to Optimize State Government to fulfill recent legislation. The Utah State Archives holds records to several past projects of a similar nature and has made many
March 23, 2011

Senate Bills: From Statehood to World War II

There are now over 40,000 images in the Senate Working Bills digital archive. The date range of 1896 thru 1947 cover half of the legislative sessions until the target end date of 1989 (1990 to the present are on le.utah.gov).   In 1946 as a response to recent events, the Senate passed a resolution in a special session to honor
February 28, 2011

World War II Casualty Lists from National Archives

In the immediate aftermath of  World War II, the Department of War and the Department of the Navy both published national lists of casualties for the U.S. Army and Army Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The intent was to disseminate the information to the general public in a timely manner, for the benefit of next of kin,
February 4, 2011

Police Evidence of Extortion in Ogden

Recently, as the Archives staff was working with Ogden City to review historic records from Ogden held in the Archives, we ran across some mysterious records. The records were in the format of 24 large glass negatives, 11” x 14”. They had been identified simply as documents from the Ogden City Police Department. In order to determine more exactly what
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January 19, 2011

Utah State Constitution Online

The Utah State Archives is pleased to announce that the 116-year-old Utah State Constitution is now available with a full text search on its web site. The Utah State Archives is also the custodian of the record which now may be viewed along side a typescript taken from the 1898 Revised Statutes of Utah at archives.utah.gov. The “engrossed” copy of
December 8, 2010

Unusual Records from Ogden City Police Department

“The Tall & Short Man” is a tale of extortion, deceit, robbery, and crime. The story involves crimes against the highest echelon of Ogden society by a shadowy figure under multiple names that eluded the police for eight years.
Featured image for “Beginnings and Endings: The Family of Frank and Iku Arima”
November 4, 2010

Beginnings and Endings: The Family of Frank and Iku Arima

The birth certificates of three different children from one set of parents in one year is liable to catch one’s attention. It turned out that in July 1905, when Frank and Iku Arima filed for birth certificates for twins Estella and Orville born July 18, 1905, they also filed for their first son, Clarence, born February 8, 1904. Further research