Police Evidence of Extortion in Ogden

Alan Barnett History

Recently, as the Archives staff was working with Ogden City to review historic records from Ogden held in the Archives, we ran across some mysterious records. The records were in the format of 24 large glass negatives, 11” x 14”. They had been identified simply as documents from the Ogden City Police Department. In order to determine more exactly what …

Utah State Constitution Online

Gina Strack Digital Archives, History

The Utah State Archives is pleased to announce that the 116-year-old Utah State Constitution is now available with a full text search on its web site. The Utah State Archives is also the custodian of the record which now may be viewed along side a typescript taken from the 1898 Revised Statutes of Utah at archives.utah.gov. The “engrossed” copy of …

Beginnings and Endings: The Family of Frank and Iku Arima

Gina Strack Digital Archives, History

The birth certificates of three different children from one set of parents in one year is liable to catch one’s attention. It turned out that in July 1905, when Frank and Iku Arima filed for birth certificates for twins Estella and Orville born July 18, 1905, they also filed for their first son, Clarence, born February 8, 1904. Further research …

Duplicious/Duplicitous/Duplicative

Susan Mumford GRAMA, History

Duplicious: [etymology: duplicate + delicious.] This is a word. It can mean so good it should be shared by all. (“I sent that duplicious tune to all my friends on facebook.”) Duplicitous can mean two-faced or deceptive. (“Watch out! He is one duplicitous hombre!”) Duplicative can mean repetative or the same again, again. [etymology from Late Latin duplicitās a being …

Mysterious 1880 U.S. Census records solved

Alan Barnett History

A researcher recently requested to look at an obscure record series described simply as “Census records, 1880” (Series 5269).  After retrieving the records, Archives staff became curious and set about trying to figure out what the records really were.  The records include five booklets that were clearly standard forms (form 7-392) printed for the 1880 Federal Census and have notes …

Top Baby Names in Utah 1905 Edition

Gina Strack Digital Archives, History

According to the Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names in Utah now are Ethan and Olivia. Thanks to a forthcoming index of birth certificates issued in 1905, we may now know the most popular names from over a century ago. Girls Mary Ruth Alice Thelma Helen Florence Elizabeth Margaret Edna Hazel Boys John William George James Joseph Charles …

How Not to Record the Birth of Twins

Gina Strack Digital Archives, History

The certificate below popped up in the index as “Myrtle and/or Murray” and further investigation revealed twins on a single birth certificate. It is further complicated by different dates caused by being born around midnight between July 9th and 10th. In this the first year of both birth and death certificates, perhaps everyone was still figuring things out!

Thanksgiving

Gina Strack History, News and Events

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! The Utah State Law Library provides a short history of the holiday: The first presidential proclamation about Thanksgiving was made by George Washington in 1789. He declared the 26th of November as the date of celebration. In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed that the last Thursday in November was a national holiday. Finally, in 1941 …