This is what the Utah State Government looked like just one year after the end of World War II. The population of the state was roughly 638,000 and the State Capitol was still the primary office building for state government. Governor Herbert Maw stands at the front of the crowd on the steps of the Utah State Capitol. Along with him are other elected officials, including the Secretary of State (predecessor to today’s Lieutenant Governor), the State Auditor, the Attorney General, and the State Treasurer. Behind them stand the bulk of state employees at the time.
Today Utah’s population stands near 3,440,000 and the state government employs over 23,000 people to meet the demands of managing the state. That makes state government the largest employer in the state.
The copy of this photo—now preserved at the Utah State Archives—belonged to Katherine Chipman, who worked as a secretary in one of the Capitol offices for several years before quitting to raise a family. Kathryn identified herself with an arrow and the designation “Me – K.” No one else in the photo is identified, but perhaps there is someone you recognize—a family member, a friend, a former neighbor? If you can identify anyone, please email us at statearchives@utah.gov and let us know.
