Happy Archives Month!

Lauren Katz News and Events, Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board

Each October, Utah joins the nation in celebrating Archives Month as a way to highlight the importance of records of enduring value and to raise public awareness of the role archives play in our daily lives.

2022 Theme

Utah’s 2022 theme is Water, which is THE primary source! Archival records can provide a unique glimpse into the history of our human relationship with water over time, from local government irrigation projects to water rights litigation, the diaries of famous river runners and western explorers to your grandmother’s account of a historic flood. Dip your toes into the history of water by exploring the digital exhibits and primary sources we’ve gathered on our website.

Colorado River Compact Digital Exhibit

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Colorado River Compact, we’ve digitized core records in our holdings that document the negotiation of the Colorado River Compact from Utah’s perspective. Over the course of its history, the legal framework that has emerged to manage development of the Colorado River has come to be known as “the Law of the River.” And it is the Colorado River Compact that has served as the backbone for this vast and complex legal decision-making. In addition to the Research Guide and collection in the Digital Archives, we’re pleased to release our new Colorado River Digital Exhibit. Follow along with Assistant Director Jim Kichas to learn more about the complexities involved with managing water resources in the West.

Utah Historical Society Conference

Our friends at Utah State History are hosting the 70th annual Utah State Historical Society conference in Provo on October 26. Join us in person to hear Dr. Gregory E. Smoak give a keynote on the theme of “Water at the Confluence of Past and Future”. Plus, join the Utah Archives Month themed session, “At the Source: How to Find Water Resources in the Archives”. Historians and archivists from Utah State History, State Archives, BYU Library, and the Uintah County Regional History Center will showcase collections that relate to water and discuss how to find these and other relevant records in their holdings