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Duplicious: [etymology: duplicate + delicious.] This is a word. It can mean so good it should be shared by all. (“I sent that duplicious tune to all my friends on facebook.”) Duplicitous can mean two-faced or deceptive. (“Watch out! He is one duplicitous hombre!”) Duplicative can mean repetative or the same again, again. [etymology from Late Latin duplicitās a being

A researcher recently requested to look at an obscure record series described simply as “Census records, 1880” (Series 5269).  After retrieving the records, Archives staff became curious and set about trying to figure out what the records really were.  The records include five booklets that were clearly standard forms (form 7-392) printed for the 1880 Federal Census and have notes

According to the Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names in Utah now are Ethan and Olivia. Thanks to a forthcoming index of birth certificates issued in 1905, we may now know the most popular names from over a century ago. Girls Mary Ruth Alice Thelma Helen Florence Elizabeth Margaret Edna Hazel Boys John William George James Joseph Charles

The certificate below popped up in the index as “Myrtle and/or Murray” and further investigation revealed twins on a single birth certificate. It is further complicated by different dates caused by being born around midnight between July 9th and 10th. In this the first year of both birth and death certificates, perhaps everyone was still figuring things out!

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! The Utah State Law Library provides a short history of the holiday: The first presidential proclamation about Thanksgiving was made by George Washington in 1789. He declared the 26th of November as the date of celebration. In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed that the last Thursday in November was a national holiday. Finally, in 1941

Naturalization records maintained by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services since 1906 will be transferred from the Department of Homeland Security to the National Archives and Records Administration beginning in 2010. Public access will be available if the immigrant has passed away or turned 100 years old. Previously, these files were available through a laborious Freedom of Information Act

As some cool Celtic musicians once said, “Everyone is 1/365th Irish.” You know, because of St. Patrick’s Day! However, if you have some real Emerald Isle blood in you (like 12% of Americans), and your ancestors landed in Utah (and maybe stayed awhile), there is a chance the Utah State Archives Research Center has some records about them. Naturalization records

On January 5, 2009 Jon M. Huntsman was sworn in for a second term as the Governor of Utah. It was a smaller ceremony than in the past, as befits more difficult economic times. Records from these past inaugurations are available for many governors in the collections of the Utah State Archives, including: Governor Maw Scrapbooks, 1940-1946. Governor Rampton Inaugural

Following the Summer Olympics in Beijing? It may be interesting to see news coverage from 100 years ago in the Deseret News, posted at the Library of Congress Chronicling America site. The newspaper image is courtesy of the University of Utah, which of course hosts many historical newspapers from Utah at digitalnewspapers.org.