Utah Division of Archives and Records Service Utah State Archives

Overview

The Utah Division of Archives and Records Service (commonly known as Utah State Archives) is the official state archives of Utah and the primary repository for Utah governmental records of enduring historical value. Affiliated with the Utah Department of Government Operations, the division is responsible for managing, preserving, and providing public access to the records of Utah state and local government from 1850 to the present.

History and Founding

The roots of the Utah State Archives extend to the Utah State Historical Society, established by the Utah Legislature in 1917. Formal archival work began in 1947 when William Palmer was appointed as the first state archivist. In 1957, the archives became a division within the Historical Society and began an aggressive microfilming program to preserve state and local government records. Following recommendations from a Little Hoover Commission study on government organization, the Utah Legislature passed the Archives and Records Service Act in 1969, formally establishing the Utah State Archives and Records Service as an independent division within the Department of Finance (later the Department of Government Operations).

Collections and Holdings

The division holds governmental records from Utah's territorial period and statehood, dating from approximately 1850. Holdings include legislative, executive, and judicial records; county and municipal records; court cases; vital records indexes; land records; and digitized collections accessible through the division's Digital Archives. Notable holdings include records relating to the landmark case The State of Utah vs. Joe Hill. The division also administers a records center for current government records management and supports the Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board, which funds regional archival projects across the state.

Access and Usage

The Utah State Archives is open for in-person research by appointment (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM). Reference archivists provide assistance via phone, email, and in person. The Digital Archives portal provides free worldwide online access to public records of enduring value. GRAMA (Government Records Access and Management Act) governs access to current and recent government records. The archives is located at 346 S Rio Grande Street in Salt Lake City.