Utah Church Records: Difference between revisions

Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Utah were The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches. You must determine the denomination of an ancestor to find their records.  

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been the predominant religion in Utah since the pioneers arrived in 1847. For more complete information about the Church's records, see [[Tracing LDS Ancestors|Tracing LDS Families Research Outline]]. To locate records of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it helps to use an index. The LDS Family History Suite 2 and the Early Church Information File are two important indexes used to find Church members and other people of Utah. A source that describes events in Church history from 1805 to 1913 is: ''Andrew Jenson's Church Chronology: A Record of Important Events Pertaining to The History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'' mentioned in the "History" section of the ''Tracing LDS Families Research Outline'' (34080). The following are a few general sources and histories for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most of the sources are indexed in The Pioneer Heritage CD-ROM, LDS Family History Suite, and the Early Church Information File. Some of the complete text is also computerized on the compact disks.  

*A register listing available records and the Family History Library call numbers for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is: Jaussi, Laureen R. and Gloria Chaston. ''Register of Genealogical Society Call Numbers''. Two Volumes. Provo, Utah: Genealogy Tree, 1982. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=979.2258+A3j book 979.2258 A3j; fiche 6031507]). These volumes contain many references to Church and temple records with their call numbers&nbsp;<br>

Most of Utah's other major denominations were well-established by the 1870's and 1880's. There are some records and histories available at the Family History Library and at the Utah State Archives. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located.  

Pastoral Center <br>Diocese of Salt Lake City <br>27 C Street <br>Salt Lake City, UT 84103 <br>Telephone: 801-328-8641 <br>Fax: 801-328-9680 <br>Internet: http://www.utahcatholicdiocese.org/  

*The directory of the diocese covers many parts of Utah in addition to Salt Lake City. Catholic Church, Diocese of Salt Lake City. ''The Official Directory of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City''. [Salt Lake City, Utah: The Diocese], 1988. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=626962&disp=The+official+directory+of+the+Catholic+D%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 979.2 K24c]). The book has a list of parishes with addresses and maps for Salt Lake City showing the 1988 boundaries. It includes a list of clergy, deacons and their wives, and sisters.

Each parish maintains its own records. The Diocese has records for some discontinued parishes. The Marriott Library of the University of Utah has a collection of their records. The Family History Library has a few records including the following:  

*Episcopal Church, ''Diocese of Utah Episcopal Register of the Bishop of Utah'' (Bishop's Personal Register) 1899-1946, 1951-1967 Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=205421&disp=Episcopal+register+of+the+Bishop+of+Utah%20%20&columns=*,0,0 film 908728]). This record has baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials. it covers all of Utah and some areas of eastern Nevada.

Rocky Mountain <br>2800 S. University Blvd. <br>Denver, CO 80710 <br>Telephone: 303-733-3736 <br>Fax: 303-733-1730 <br>Internet: http://www.rmcumc.org/  

*The Ira J. Taylor Archives has the records for some of the discontinued congregations of Utah. Staff there can also help you locate existing congregations.&nbsp;

Each Presbyterian congregation maintains its own records. The Presbytery of Utah can help you locate current congregations and will provide suggestions for finding records of discontinued congregations. The Westminster College Library has a miscellaneous collection of Utah Presbyterian records. Their address is:&nbsp;

*The library also has few church records, such as: *Presbyterian Church (Corinne, Utah). ''Church Records 1870 to 1897''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=15921&disp=Church+records%2C+1870%2D1897%20%20&columns=*,0,0 film 906168]). This record includes minutes, baptisms, congregational records, registers of elders, deacons, and church records.&nbsp;

Each congregation maintains its own records. The Rocky Mountain District office can help you locate current congregations and provide suggestions for finding the records of discontinued congregations. === Others === To locate records for other churches, contact the existing congregations in Utah. The Utah State Historical Society and the Marriott Library of the University of Utah have church record collections. For information about national and regional repositories see the [[United States Church Records|United States Research Outline]]. The following guide can also help you learn about church records in Utah:  

*Historical Records Survey. ''Inventory of the Church Archives of Utah.'' Three Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Historical Records Survey, 1940. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=190429&disp=Inventory+of+the+church+archives+of+Utah%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 979.2 K2h; fiche 6046577]). This was prepared to be a complete inventory of the records of churches. It contains a history of religion in Utah and has a list of books arranged by the name of the denomination. It also contains an inventory for the various religions [[Category:Utah]]