Utah Archives and Libraries

Utah Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

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Local Research Resources

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United States

U.S. Archives and Libraries

Utah

Utah Archives and Libraries

Many archives and libraries have resources such as maps, gazetteers, and other place-finding aids to help you locate information about Utah. They may have collections of previous research, such as family and local histories and biographies. Many have record-finding aids such as guides to their own collections or inventories of records housed elsewhere in the state.

Many societies have libraries and archive holdings, with biographical and genealogical records. These collections will be listed under Utah Societies.

The following libraries and archives are helpful for research in the state of Utah. Search the wiki for the county to locate local libraries, archives, and FamilySearch Centers.

See also United States Archives and Libraries for a more extensive list of libraries on a national basis.

Wiki Articles on Major Repositories in Utah

Utah State Archives · Utah State Historical Society · Church History Library · Daughters of Utah Pioneers · Logan Public Library · Salt Lake City Public Library · BYU Lee Library · FamilySearch Library · BYU Family History Library · Logan FamilySearch Center · Ogden Utah FamilySearch Center · Riverton Utah FamilySearch Center · St. George Utah FamilySearch Center · Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley · National Archives at Denver

Online Resources

Utah Online Genealogy Records Links to online databases and indexes that may include vital records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, maps, military records, naturalizations, newspapers, obituaries, or probate records.

• Archives West

Formerly Northwest Digital Archives. Contains listings of archives in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, and Utah.

• The Mountain West Digital Library is a search portal for an aggregation of digital collections from more than 50 universities, colleges, public libraries, museums, and historical societies in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. It is in partnership with 60 academic libraries, public libraries, museums, historical societies, cities, counties, and state agencies from Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Hawaii (coming soon: over 60 new partners in Arizona!)

• Utah's Online Library includes Centennial county history series; Utah historical serial publications; Utah Session Laws from 1851 (requires a [Utah] library card).

State and County Repositories

Research Center for Utah State Archives and Utah State History: Closed since 2020 due to earthquake damage to the Rio Grande Depot building. See each repository for contact information and research availability.

Utah State Archives and Records Service

346 S Rio Grande St
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: (801) 531-3847
Email: historyresearch@utah.gov
Internet: Utah State Archives

Call or email to make an in-person research appointment. The Utah State Archives and Records Service is a state government agency that works with records created by state and local governmental entities in Utah. Records of historical value are preserved and are available for research. The Archives also has the Records Service: Name Indexes database.

Utah State Historical Society (Utah State History)

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

760 S Highland Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Internet: Utah State History

Closed temporarily to research by phone, email, or in-person as of April 30, 2022. Records of early settlements, Great Basin colonization, Mormon pioneers, mining, and records not available at other repositories. Utah State History’s mission is to preserve and share the past for a better present and future. Services include the Utah Historical Quarterly, Library and Collections, Historic Buildings preservation, and antiquities.

Salt Lake County Archives

Research is by appointment only. The public may call or email to make a request or to schedule a research appointment.
Telephone: (385) 468-0820
Email: archives@slco.org
Internet: https://slco.org/archives/
Historical records created by agencies within the Salt Lake County government, including vital records, property records, and photographs.

Utah State Library

Utah State Library in Salt Lake City

250 North, 1950 West, Suite A
Salt Lake City, UT 84116-7901
Telephone: 801-715-6777
Fax: 801-715-6767
Internet: Utah State Library Division

The Utah State Library works to develop, advance, and promote library services and equal access to information and library resources to all Utah residents. Of note is the Utah's Online Public Library which provides access to resources such as EBSCOhost research databases, HeritageQuest Online, and Utah Newspapers.

Utah Vital Records Office

Utah Vital Records Office
PO BOX 141012
288 North 1460 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012
Telephone: (801) 534-4694
Internet: Vital Records Office

Statewide births and deaths since 1905; marriages and divorces since 1978.

History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Library in Salt Lake City

Church History Library

Church History Library
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints History Library
15 East North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3800
Library Telephone: 801-240-2745
Archives Telephone: 801-240-2272
Internet: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints History Library

The Church History Library collection is especially strong for early Utah and Mormon pioneers. You will need to bring identification with a photograph, such as a driver's license, to use some of the records. Church History Library material does not circulate to FamilySearch Centers.

Pioneer Memorial Museum

The Daughters of Utah Pioneers Memorial Museum in Salt Lake City

Daughters of Utah Pioneers
300 N Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
Telephone: 801-532-6479
Fax: 801-532-4436
Email: info@isdup.org
Internet: Daughters of Utah Pioneers

Houses many records pioneers brought with them including Bibles, photos, diaries, journals, and letters. Also has compiled genealogies on nearly every pioneer that arrived before 1869.

Public Libraries

Brigham City Library

26 East Forest Street
Brigham City, UT 84302
Telephone: 435-723-5850
Email: reference@bcutah.org
Internet: Research Center - Family History]

Good genealogy collection for Utah settlers.

Logan Public Library

Logan Public Library

255 North Main
Logan, UT 84321
Telephone: 435-716-9120
Email: Ask a Librarian form
Internet: Logan Library

The library has received the collection from Everton Library. The Everton collection had around 80,000 genealogical volumes.

Salt Lake City Public Library

Salt Lake City Public Library

210 East 400 South Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Telephone: 801-524-8200
Fax: 801-524-8289
Internet: Salt Lake City Public Library

The Salt Lake City Public Library has a good heraldry collection, and better than average Western Americana collection including books about Latter-day Saint and other ethnic pioneers. They participate in inter-library loan service. Their noteworthy genealogically related databases include: HeritageQuest Online, The Pioneer (Utah's online library), Utah Digital Newspapers, Digital Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1865-1970, Gale Virtual Reference Library, and the Biography Resource Center.

University Libraries

University Libraries may have unique collections useful for history and genealogy. These may include oral history interviews, family collections, and doctoral dissertations, to name a few.

BYU Harold B Lee Library in Provo

BYU Lee Library

Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library
P.O. Box 26800
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602-6800
Telephone: 801-422-6200
Email: Ask a Librarian
Internet: BYU Harold B. Lee Library Internet site

An outstanding research library including county and local histories, records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, diaries, journals, periodicals, newspapers, government documents, maps, and computer databases.

DSU Val A Browning Library in St. George

DSU Browning Library

Dixie State University Val A. Browning Library Special Collections
225 South 700 East
St. George, Utah 84770
Tel. 435-652-7714
Email: library@dixie.edu

A large manuscript collection for early Utah pioneers, and a big genealogy collection with many records about out-of-state people.

SUU Gerald R. Sherratt Library in Cedar City

SUU Sherratt Library

Gerald R. Sherratt Library Special Collections
Southern Utah University
351 W. University Blvd.
Cedar City, UT 84720
Telephone: 435-586-7945
Fax: 435-586-8152
Email specialcoll@suu.edu

U of U Marriott Library in Salt Lake City

U of U Marriott Library

Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Telephone: 801-581-8364
Fax: 801-585-3464

USU Merrill-Cazier Library in Logan

USU Merrill-Cazier Library

Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
Telephone: 801-797-2678
Fax: 801-797-2880

Best western "mountain man" collection anywhere.

WSU Stewart Library in Ogden

WSU Stewart Library

Stewart Library
Weber State University
2901 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408-2901
Telephone: 801-626-6515
Toll Free 877-306-3140
Fax: 801-626-7045

Major FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City

FamilySearch Library

35 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Telephone: 801-240-2331
Fax: 801-240-1584
E-Mail: fhl@ldschurch.org
Internet: FamilySearch Family Tree pedigrees, Memories photos, Search historical records, Genealogies, FamilySearch Catalog, and FamilySearch Wiki

450 computers, 3,400 databases, 3.1 million microforms, 4,500 periodicals, 310,000 books of worldwide family and local histories, civil, church, immigration, ethnic, military, and records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many Utah microfilms are also at branch FamilySearch Centers in local church buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and described in their online FamilySearch Catalog.

The following guide book will help in using the library. It gives suggestions on preparing to visit the library, genealogy research tips, and helps in using the library.

*Parker, J. Carlyle. Going to Salt Lake City to Do Family History Research. 3rd ed. Turlock, California: Marietta Publishing, 1996. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Catalog book 979.2258 J5p 1996.

A history of the Genealogical Society of Utah was written during the centennial of the society. This book covers the beginning of the society to 1994. It contains a history of the library, of microfilming, and an overview of the archives of FamilySearch.

*Allen, James B., Jessie L. Embry and Kahlile Mehr. Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah. 1894-1994. Provo, Utah: BYU Studies, Brigham Young University, 1995. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Catalog book 979.2258 C4a.

The BYU Family History Library is in the Harold B. Lee Library in Provo

BYU Family History Library

Harold B. Lee Library
150 East 1230 North
P. O. Box 26800
Provo, UT 84602-6800
Family History Reference Desk: 801-422-6200
Family History Librarian: 801-422-7661
Fax: 801-538-1050
Internet: BYU Family History Library

An excellent research library and FamilySearch Center with genealogical material from the United States and all over the world, including immigration sources.

Logan Utah FamilySearch Center

Logan Utah FamilySearch Center

50 North Main
Logan, Utah 84323
Reception Desk: 435-755-5594

Unique early Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming sources about ranching, settlers, cattlemen, farmers, trails, and railroads.

Ogden FamilySearch Center

Ogden Utah FamilySearch Center

539 24th Street
Ogden, Utah 84401
801-626-1132
FAX: 801-626-1129

Riverton Utah FamilySearch Center

3740 W Market Center Dr.
Riverton, Utah 84065-8026
801-240-9601

Mostly computers and classrooms; almost no collection.

St. George Family Search Library

St George Utah FamilySearch Center

237 East 600 South
St. George, Utah 84770
Telephone: 435-673-4591
Email: stgeorgefsl@gmail.com

Repositories Outside Utah

Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley in California

Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Telephone: 510-642-6481 Reference desk
Fax: 510-642-7589
Website: The Bancroft Library

Good early Utah collection. Premier Western Americana, and Latin Americana collections, including Native Americans, Spanish encounter and colonial settlement, exploration of western America, maps and atlases, the Mexican War, westward migration, the Gold Rush, mining, land surveys, religious and Utopian communities, and ethnic communities. This library has more about western North America than any other site.

National Archives at Denver (Broomfield, CO)

National Archives at Denver

17101 Huron Street
Broomfield, Colorado 80023
Telephone: 303-604-4740
Fax: 303-407-5707
Internet: National Archives at Denver

Archival holdings consist of Federal records from the mid-1800s to the late 1900s received from over 100 Federal agencies and courts in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Includes Utah plural marriage cases, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and federal naturalizations. The Federal Records Center maintains non-current retired Federal records.

Directories

To locate libraries in Utah, the state library maintains an updated site to public libraries.

Utah State Library Directory The directory has links to each library web page, provides addresses, phone numbers, hours, and maps.