Utah State Archives and Records Service

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Utah State Archives and Records Service The official Utah repository for government records.

The Utah State Archives and Records Service, a division within the Department of Government Operations, manages records created by state and local governmental entities in Utah, and provides access to historical government records which are in our permanent collection.

We had a blast celebrating Day yesterday! 🤓 One question from the Society of American Archivists got us thinking: What...
10/15/2026

We had a blast celebrating Day yesterday! 🤓 One question from the Society of American Archivists got us thinking: What are some of the most underrated records in our collections? 🤔

Archivist Katie’s pick? Court exhibits! These records are unique because they typically weren’t created by or for a government entity, so they can preserve things that otherwise would never have survived.

While going through old Ogden small claims court exhibits, Katie found a 1927 mockup of a newspaper ad for a women’s clothing store. That ad might not have survived nearly 100 years if it hadn’t been part of a court case!

It's Day! 🏛️ Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Utah State Archives? Now’s your chance to find out! O...
10/14/2026

It's Day! 🏛️ Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Utah State Archives? Now’s your chance to find out! Our archivists are ready to answer your questions, big or small.

🤔 What exactly does an archivist do?
🧐 Curious about the oldest record in our collection?
😱 Want to hear about a challenging preservation project?

Drop your questions in the comments, and we’ll be here to respond!

Last week, the Utah State Archives received a transfer of records from the Utah Lake Authority! These records are now in...
10/13/2026

Last week, the Utah State Archives received a transfer of records from the Utah Lake Authority! These records are now in the Archives’ care, where they’ll be preserved for future generations. 📦 📦 📦

🍂 Autumn is in the air in Archival Services, and leaves are falling... from the records! Archivist Gina came across thes...
10/12/2026

🍂 Autumn is in the air in Archival Services, and leaves are falling... from the records! Archivist Gina came across these leaves tucked inside a 1907 copy of School Laws. 🍂

A reminder that the Utah State Archives is closed today for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

For generations of families, the Bowman-Chamberlain House in Kanab was home. Today, it welcomes visitors as the Kanab He...
10/09/2026

For generations of families, the Bowman-Chamberlain House in Kanab was home. Today, it welcomes visitors as the Kanab Heritage Museum, where people can explore the history of the surrounding area. It’s a fitting feature for this year’s Utah Archives Month theme, “Home in the Archives.” 🏠

Built in 1894, the house is an outstanding example of Victorian architecture, with its steep turret, asymmetrical design, and elaborate woodwork. It has remained remarkably intact over the years, thanks in part to regular maintenance and preservation efforts.

📸: These photos from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office records show the house in 1980 and 2021. More than 40 years apart, the images reveal just how much of this historic home has endured.

🎂 Happy birthday to our State Archivist, Ken! 🎉 What better way to celebrate an archivist’s birthday than by digging thr...
10/08/2026

🎂 Happy birthday to our State Archivist, Ken! 🎉 What better way to celebrate an archivist’s birthday than by digging through the archives? We pulled out a few photos of Ken from years past to help celebrate the occasion. 😄

What did Salt Lake City schoolchildren dream of becoming when they grew up? ✏️ Teachers, doctors, cowboys, aviators, fir...
10/07/2026

What did Salt Lake City schoolchildren dream of becoming when they grew up? ✏️ Teachers, doctors, cowboys, aviators, firemen, an elevator operator, and even a “rich lady” are among the ambitions recorded by a first-grade class at Franklin School in 1936.

The list comes from the School Children’s Constitution and Flag Monument books, compiled by the Salt Lake City School District to commemorate the monument erected on the west side of Washington Square. Arranged by school and grade, these lists are full of fascinating names and aspirations to discover.

🔎 Explore the names and aspirations in the records in the name index: bit.ly/4ziihN5

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with delegates from the Republic of Georgia’s Ministry of Justice! 🇬🇪An introduction fro...
10/06/2026

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with delegates from the Republic of Georgia’s Ministry of Justice! 🇬🇪

An introduction from the Governor’s Office and the Stirling Foundation gave us an opportunity to share how the Utah State Archives is modernizing records management and archival services. Learning about their work and exchanging ideas made for a rewarding experience, and we look forward to continued collaboration with our colleagues from Georgia!

🎬 “Film Here. Love Life.” 🎥Newly accessioned records from the Utah Film Commission capture how Utah has promoted its lan...
10/06/2026

🎬 “Film Here. Love Life.” 🎥

Newly accessioned records from the Utah Film Commission capture how Utah has promoted its landscapes, locations, and resources to the film and television industry. And, as this promotional material shows, there’s no shortage of familiar Utah scenery on the big screen! Thanks, Visit Utah!

📁 Explore the MASSIVE list of September finding aids here: bit.ly/473HmiI

🍂 “Utah’s mountains add glorious hues of gold and red to the green of their forest covering.” 🍂 That’s how the Utah Stat...
10/05/2026

🍂 “Utah’s mountains add glorious hues of gold and red to the green of their forest covering.” 🍂 That’s how the Utah State Tourist & Publicity Council (now Visit Utah) described autumn in Utah in a mid-20th-century pamphlet promoting fall foliage drives around the state.

The 24 driving routes ranged from Logan Canyon and Bear Lake to Big Cottonwood Canyon, Nebo Scenic Drive, Fish Lake, Zion, and the La Sal Mountains. The descriptions promise everything from “flaming reds” to “brilliant yellow cottonwood foliage” and “extensive aspen growth.”

The pamphlet also offers some practical advice: several of these “spectacular” drives are not recommended for persons fearing heights. 😅 Consider yourself warned!

Address

346 South Rio Grande Street
Salt Lake City, UT
84101

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18015313847

Website

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