1875-1876 John D. Lee Case File Online

Jim Kichas Digital Archives, History, News and Events

The Utah State Archives is pleased to announce that the historic Territorial Second District Court case file pertaining to the trial and conviction of John D. Lee for his role in the Mountain Meadows Massacre has been digitized and posted online on the Digital Archives. The records in this case file cover Lee’s first trial that began in July 1875 and …

SLC School Children’s Constitution and Flag Monument Books Now Available Online

Jim Kichas Digital Archives, History, News and Events

Just in time for back to school season, the Utah State Archives is pleased to make available a fascinating collection of student-created records through our online Digital Archives. These 1932-1952 school children’s Constitution and Flag Monument books were compiled by the Salt Lake City School District to document and commemorate the erection of the School Children’s Constitution and Flag Monument on the west …

Military Records Section

Gina Strack History, News and Events

“Only by full help of the public can Utah’s warriors be honored.” – Joan Geyer, Tribune In the midst of World War II on September 12, 1942, Governor Maw issued a proclamation creating the Department of War History and Archives within the Utah State Historical Society. A call was issued to all citizens to help document the military service of …

Salt Lake City Firemen Photos Now Online

Jim Kichas Digital Archives, History, News and Events

We are happy to announce that the oldest known photographs from the Salt Lake City Fire Department have been digitized and are now available online through our Digital Archives! These photographs, found in series 23526, provide early documentation of the fire department and the first professional fire fighters employed in Utah. Between 1852 and 1883 fire protection service in Salt Lake City was …

Downwind in Utah

Jim Kichas History

SHEEP DEATH IN CEDAR CITY The spring of 1953 brought with it unusually large losses in sheep herds that had spent that winter grazing in the mountains of southern Nevada and southern Utah. The winter and spring of 1952/1953 had been unusually dry, and most livestock owners had provided their herds with supplemental feed and water to make it through to summer. Of the …

The Law of the River: The Central Utah Project

Jim Kichas History

  This is the third (and final) in a series of blog posts that will explore records held by the Utah State Archives that help illuminate the story of Utah’s role in the larger western movement to tame and develop the Colorado River as a vital resource in the arid west. ENVISIONING THE CENTRAL UTAH PROJECT Due to circumstances of geology …

The Law of the River: Developing the Upper Basin

Jim Kichas History

This is the second in a series of blog posts that will explore records held by the Utah State Archives that help illuminate the story of Utah’s role in the larger western movement to tame and develop the Colorado River as a vital resource in the arid west. UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN COMPACT With the passage of the Colorado River Compact …

The Law of the River: Compact and Development

Jim Kichas History

This is the first in a series of blog posts that will explore records held by the Utah State Archives that help illuminate the story of Utah’s role in the larger western movement to tame and develop the Colorado River as a vital resource in the arid west. THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN The Colorado River originates in the high Rocky …