Series 83186

San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder Proof of labor index, 1957-1994.

4 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

The San Juan county recorder has created a separate index to affidavits showing proof of labor for mining claims. Federal mining law provides private parties the right to mine valuable mineral deposits on public land, but in order to patent a claim, the law requires the claimant to do development work. Utah law requires locators to do at least $50 worth of work within 90 days after posting the location notice, and at least $100 worth of labor annually as required by federal law.

Scope and Content

The San Juan county recorder has created a separate index to affidavits showing proof of labor for mining claims. Federal mining law provides private parties the right to mine valuable mineral deposits on public land, but in order to patent a claim, the law requires the claimant to do development work. Utah law requires locators to do at least $50 worth of work within 90 days after posting the location notice, and at least $100 worth of labor annually as required by federal law. Utah law also requires an affidavit to be filed in the office of the county recorder upon completion of such work. Such affidavits show the name of the claim and where situated, the number of days' work done and the character and value of improvements, the dates labor was performed and for whose benefit, and a statement of the actual amount paid for the labor or improvements (Utah Code Annotated, 1953, 40-1-6). The San Juan County recorder's index to proof of labor affidavits provides the following information:the name of the claim, the names of locators, the names of persons whose signatures appear on the affidavit, the date filed, and the book and page number where recorded.

Research Note

While the index provides summary information about labor on various mining claims, the actual affidavits are in the custody of the San Juan County recorder.

Arrangement

Alphabetically grouped by name of claim, thereunder chronological.

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

San Juan County proof of labor index Books 1-3 were microfilmed by Utah State Archives in March and June 1990. San Juan County microfilmed Book 4 in March 1995. This series was processed by Rosemary Cundiff in January 2002.

Related Material

Official records from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 6682, contain the affidavits referenced in this index.
Mining records index (locations) from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23583, provides reference to proof of labor affidavits filed before 1957 as well to notices of location, deeds, and other mining records.
Mining records index (locators) from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23584, provide additional reference to affidavits showing proof of labor.

Container List

ReelDescription
11957 Jul-1968 Dec; Book 1
11969 Jan-1976 Aug; Book 2
21976 Aug-1982 Dec; Book 3
31983 Jan-1994 Nov; Book 4