Series 30991
Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. Division of Arts and Museums. Folk Arts Program Community Celebrations records, 1975-2010.
9.20 cubic feet
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
See history of the records' creator.
Summary of Records
Scope and Content
The Folk Arts Program documents agricultural, religious, and occupational celebrations and observances throughout the state of Utah. The program also documents ethnic celebrations such as national independence days and holidays (foreign and domestic), saint days, and commemorative days. Special attention is paid to documenting foodways, performance, crafts and other traditions that are used to express group identity and communal values in the context of community celebration. This series includes video tapes and photos of the celebrations, as well as records of the celebrations such as newspaper clippings, brochures, mailing lists, calendars of events, and locations.
Materials in this series were assigned a project number by the Folk Arts Program, consisting of a three-letter code, creation year, a letter indicating format, and the numerical order of the materials.
Arrangement
Generally by format, thereunder usually by assigned project number.
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.
Custody History
This collection came into the custody of the Utah State Archives and Records Service in 2010 as part of a massive transfer of records from the Folk Arts Program. In 2023 staff from the Folk Arts Program collaborated with the State Archives to bring better intellectual and physical control over that unaccessioned collection.
Acquisition Information
These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.
Processing Information
Archival processing of this collection was done by Elizabeth Setterberg from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums and Carlton Jemmett of the Division of Archives and Records Service between June 2023 and July 2025.
Additional processing of this series was done by Katie McGirt between March and September of 2026.
Indexing Terms
Container List
| Box | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Manila folders with information on various community celebrations, including newspaper clippings, brochures, etc. Folders about "small celebrations" include mailing lists, calendar of events, locations. |
| 2 | VHS tapes featuring celebrations such as Slovenian Picnic, Paiute Restoration Gathering, Layton Buddhist Temple, Tongan Old Boys, Swedish Midsommar, Japanese Obon, Mendon May Day, Old Folks Day. |
| 3 | Black and white photos related to Celebrations over the years like Obon Festival, Polynesian Day, Harvest Homecoming, and other small celebrations. Black and white photo negatives. Manila folders with information about festivals like Swiss Days, Mendon May Day, Pow Wows, Miners Day, etc. DVDs. |
| 4 | Colored photo slides ranging from CEL-77-S-0001 to CEL-91-S-0003. Date ranges 1977-1991. |
| 5 | Colored photo slides ranging from CEL-93-S-0001 to CEL-99-S-0006. Date ranges 1993-1999. |
| 6 | Colored photo slides ranging from CEL-00-S-0001 to CEL-03-S-0002. Also includes small community celebrations photos COM-84-S-0001 to COM-84-S-0034. Also includes Celebrate the City photos CEC-86-S-0001 to CEC-86-S-0003. Date ranges 1984-2003. Also includes black and white photos for various events. CD's with recordings from Old Folks Day (labeled with COM record numbers). |
| 7 | Cassette and DAT tapes related to various celebrations in Utah. |
| 8 | Manila folders with documents and calendars related to small celebrations in Utah. Includes Hal's definition and description of what a small celebration is, applications and sponsors for celebrations, and a copy of a paper written by Carolyn Person in 1982 about small celebrations. |
| 9 | Umatic video cassettes featuring community celebrations (ex. Lamb Days and Slovenian picnic) |
| 10 | Umatic video cassettes featuring community celebrations (ex. Paiute Restoration Gathering and Mendon May Days) |