Series 3148

Secretary of State Legislative acts, resolutions, and memorial journals, i 1850-1911.

6.50 cubic feet and 10 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

These journals were kept as a record of the official copy of the acts and proceedings of the legislature. Keeping the record of the official acts of the legislature was a duty assigned to the Secretary's office by the Organic Act which created Utah's government in 1850. Usually what has been recorded in the journals is an exact copy of what was finally published as the Laws of Utah after each legislative session. After statehood in 1896, a copy of the published version was pasted into the journals rather than a handwritten copy. Other miscellaneous information pertaining to the laws were noted between 1852 and 1855 as well. After 1911, separate journals were no longer kept, although final copies of all legislation passed continued to be kept on file by the Secretary of State.

Scope and Content

These journals were kept by the Secretary of Utah Territory, and later the Secretary of State, as a record of the official copy of the acts and proceedings of the legislature. Keeping the record of the official acts of the legislature was a duty assigned to the Secretary's Office by the Organic Act which created Utah's government in 1850 ["An Act to Establish a Territorial Government for Utah," Sect. 3 (Sept. 9, 1850) in Acts, Resolutions, and Memorials passed by the First Annual, and Special Session of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah, Brigham H. Young, printer, Great Salt Lake City, Utah 1852, p. 28]. Usually what has been recorded in the journals is an exact copy of what was finally published as the Laws of Utah after each legislative session. After statehood in 1896, a copy of the published version of the laws was pasted into the journals to replace the handwritten copy.
After Benjamin Ferris assumed his duties as Secretary in October 1852, volume two in theseries was opened. Succeeding secretaries evidently then used volume one as a place to record other data pertaining to the legislature. Between 1852 and 1855 several lists of officials entitled to receive copies of territorial laws, a list of individuals elected to serve as members of the legislature in 1854, a list of elected county officials of 1855, and a list of other states which had mailed Utah a copy of their laws, are all recorded following the acts passed before May of 1852. Journals for the sessions of 1886, 1888, and 1890 are missing from the series. After 1911, separate journals were no longer kept, although final copies of all individual acts, resolutions and memorials of the legislature were still kept on file by the Secretary of State.

Arrangement

Chronological

Acts of the legislature are entered chronologically as they were passed and approved. Beginning in 1882, journals are organized by the chapter and section that corresponds to the published Laws of Utah.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

Archival processing was completed in 1987 by Val E. Wilson. The series was microfilmed in 1988.

Other Finding Aids

Indexes: Clerks in the secretary's office created general subject indexes to volumes one and two. Copies are inside the front covers of each volume, covering from 1850 thru 1861.

Related Material

Territorial legislative records from the Legislative Assembly, Series 3150, contain official and working copies of bills and resolutions of the territorial legislature.
Legislative bills from the Lieutenant Governor, Series 4076, are the final copies of passed legislative bills kept by the Secretary of State after statehood.
Laws of Utah from the Legislature, Series 83155, contain the published version of the acts passed by the territorial assembly or the state legislature.

Container List

ReelBoxVolumeDescription
1111850-1853
2121852-1861
3231861-1870
4341870-1876
5451878-1884
6561884
7671892
8681894
9791896
98101897
99111899
910121901; (start-p. 53)
1010121901; (p. 54-end)
1011131903
1012141909
1013151911