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Have you ever noticed just how different handwriting is between generations? Your parents wrote for different purposes than you do, and their parents did too. Different systems and forms of writing have fallen in and out of favor for hundreds of years, a trend which continues to this day, as many schools phase out cursive entirely. Because of this constant

Summer is off to a busy start at the Utah State Archives! We are excited to welcome our largest intern cohort ever. These talented students and emerging professionals bring a wide range of interests and experiences to the Archives, where they will spend the summer working on projects that support records management, preservation, access, and historical research. The internship program

Records management is never really finished. A few years ago, the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) completed a major overhaul of its records schedules. Working with then-Records Officer Debbi Class, who brought more than 40 years of institutional knowledge to the role, DWS closed 232 record series, updated 101, moved 21, and created 2 new series. For many agencies, a

During the last month, we’ve written and updated the following inventories of historical records: Provo (Utah). City Recorder Municipal election files, 2013-2019 State Hospital Annual reports, 1886-1968 State Hospital Provo Papers, 1957-1976 The following records were accessioned and may be accessed through our Reference Room:  Provo (Utah). Finance Department Audit reports, 1952-2015 Grand County (Utah). County Sheriff Administrative files, 1927-1945

The Utah Division of Archives and Records Service (DARS) is proud to announce that its Digital Initiatives Team has received the 2026 Innovator Award from the Conference of Inter-Mountain Archivists (CIMA). CIMA is a professional association of archivists, conservators, historians, and records professionals from Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, and New Mexico. The Innovator Award recognizes archivists who demonstrate creativity and

We’re excited to welcome Austen Bergstrom to the Utah State Archives! While Austen may already be a familiar face to some staff members, he is now joining the team as an Archivist in the Access and Transparency Services Section. We’re thrilled to have him on board and look forward to the knowledge and enthusiasm he brings to the role. Get

Every April, students in grades 4–12 from across Utah take part in Utah History Day, part of the larger National History Day (NHD) competition. Participants select a historical topic connected to an annual theme, then conduct primary and secondary research using sources from libraries, archives, museums, and other historical repositories. Final projects are presented as exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers, or websites. In honor of

Our archivists write inventories as finding aids to describe records. Here are the ones created and updated during the last month: Division of Finance Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, 2025 Heber City (Utah) Administrative records, 1903-1933 Heber City (Utah) Proof of publication of ordinances, 1920-1951 Spanish Fork (Utah) Codified ordinances, 1885-1893 Heber City (Utah) Financial records, 1930-1968 Spanish Fork (Utah) Administrative

The earliest records of a community often live in formats that require patience to use. They are carefully handwritten, rich in detail, but difficult to search or navigate. In the case of Spring City, that story begins quite literally with the opening of its council diary in January 1871, when the city council first met to appoint officers, draft ordinances,

Our archivists write inventories as finding aids to describe records. Here are the newest ones created during March 2026: District Court (Third District : Tooele County) Civil case files, 1896-1971 Canyons School District (Utah). Mount Jordan Middle School Attendance registers, 1954-1963 Jordan School District (Utah) Sandy Junior High School attendance registers, 1953-1954 The following records were accessioned and may be