Utah Archives and Libraries
The following archives, and libraries have collections or services helpful to genealogical researchers. When other sections of this outline refer to one of these institutions, return to this section to obtain the address. Before you visit an archive or a library, contact the organization and ask for information on the collections, hours, services, and fees.
Family History 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:' 'www.familysearch.org
This is the largest library devoted to genealogical research in the world. It is associated with Family History Centers throughout the world. The holdings include a large collection of Utah records. Information on the hours, holidays, catalog, collection, services, key resources, and how to prepare to visit the library are described in Library Services and Resources (32957).
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. (FHL 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 Granite Mountain Records Vault.
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. (FHL book 979.2258 C4a.)
Utah State Archives
Archives Building
State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Telephone: 801-538-3013
Fax: 801-538-3354
Internet: www.archives.state.ut.us
The Utah State Archives Internet site has current information, a list of frequently asked questions, genealogical research helps, and information leaflets describing selected records. You may also visit the archives and receive free brochures.
An older guide to the Utah State Archives available on fiche is:
Utah State Archives and Records Service. Guide to Official Records of Genealogical Value in the State of Utah. Salt Lake City: Utah. State Archives and Records Service, 1980. (FHL book 979.2 A33ut; fiche 6051294.) Records created by federal, state, and county governments useful for genealogical research are listed in this publication. This guide lists the holdings as of 1980 and is not a complete list. It is arranged according to the agency creating the record. Descriptions of the records help determine their usefulness and show the time period covered.
National Archives—Rocky Mountain Region (Denver)
Building 48, Denver Federal Center
West 6th Avenue & Kipling
Denver, CO 80225
Telephone: 303-236-0817
Fax: 303-236-9354
Internet:http://www.archives.gov/rocky-mountain/
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 25307
Denver, CO 80225
Utah State Historical Society Library
300 Rio Grande Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1182
Telephone: 801-533-3535
Fax: 801-533-3504
Internet:http://history.utah.gov/about_us/leonardarticle.html
The Utah State Historical Society publishes a quarterly magazine helpful for Utah research. Look in the "Periodicals" section of this outline for more information. A guide to some manuscripts and photographs at the Utah State Historical Society is:
Utah State Historical Society. A Guide to Unpublished Materials at the Utah State Historical Society (Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah. State Historical Society Library, 1989; FHL book 979.2258 A3or 1989). Only large collections of manuscripts are listed. The manuscripts and photographs are listed by person or topic. No index or cross reference is included.
Church History Library and Church Archives
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 East North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3800
Library Telephone: 801-240-2745
Archives Telephone: 801-240-2272
The Church History Library and the Church Archives are in the east wing of the Church Office Building. You will need to bring identification with a photograph, such as a driver's license. Church History Library material does not circulate to Family History Centers.
Harold B. Lee Library
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
Telephone: 801-378-2926
Utah Valley Regional Family History Center
Telephone: 801-378-6200
General Reference Telephone: 801-378-2927
Fax: 801-538-1050
Internet:http://www.lib.byu.edu/
Marriott Library
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Telephone: 801-581-8364
Fax: 801-585-3464
Internet: www.lib.utah.edu/index.phtml
Merrill Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322
Telephone: 801-797-2678
Fax: 801-797-2880
Internet: http://www.usu.edu/
Salt Lake City Public Library
209 East 500 South Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Telephone: 801-524-8200
Fax: 801-524-8289
Internet: http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us/index.jsp
Gerald R. Sherratt Library Special Collections
Southern Utah University
351 Center Street
Cedar City, UT 84720
Telephone: 435-586-7933 or 435-586-1955
Fax: 435-865-8152
Internet: http://www.li.suu.edu/
Stewart Library
Weber State University
2901 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408-2901
Telephone: 801-626-6545
Fax: 801-626-7045
Internet: http://www.weber.edu/
RLIN, a guide to archives and manuscript collections in selected Utah repositories, is an online national database maintained by the Research Libraries Group accessible at member libraries. In Utah, the Utah State Archives, Utah State Historical Society, and Brigham Young University's library catalogs are online. Also, a 1990 edition of RLIN is available on a floppy disk in the Automated Resource Center at the Family History Library or in the LDS Family History Suite.
Guide to Archives and Manuscript Collections in Select Utah Repositories. Salt Lake City, Utah; Utah State Historical Society, 1990. (FHL compact disc no. Four Parts 1-4.) The compact disc copy is available through the Utah State Archives. It is also part of the LDS Family History Suite 2 described in the "Biography" section of this outline.
The Family History Library has published directories for the libraries in Utah. One covers the special libraries and the other lists the public libraries.
Directory of Special Information Resources in Utah Salt Lake City: Utah Library Association, 1987. (FHL book 979.2 J54 1987.)
Directory of Public Libraries in Utah, 1988-1989. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Library Division, 1989. (FHL book 979.2 J54d.)
Some societies have biographical and genealogical records. For example, the Society of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers has a library and has published many histories. See the "Societies" section of this outline for more information.
Computer Networks and Bulletin Boards
Computers with modems are important for obtaining information from selected archives and libraries. In a way, computer networks themselves serve as a library. The Internet, computer bulletin boards, and commercial online services help family history researchers:
- Locate other researchers
- Post queries
- Send and receive e-mail
- Search large databases
- Search computer libraries and on-line catalogs
- Join in computer chat and lecture sessions
You can find computerized research tips and information about ancestors from Utah in a variety of sources at local, state, national, and international levels. The list of sources is growing rapidly. Most of the information is available at no cost.
Addresses on the Internet are subject to frequently changes. The following sites are important gateways linking you to many more network and bulletin board sites:
FamilySearch™ Internet Genealogy Service [Internet site]. [Salt Lake City, Utah]: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 22 March 1999 [cited 26 October 1999]. Available at www.familysearch.org . At this site you can access the Family History Library Catalog, Ancestral File, the International Genealogical Index, SourceGuide, lists of Family History Centers, web sites related to family history, and lists of researchers interested in similar genealogical topics. You can also learn about and order Family History Library publications.
Howells, Cyndi. U.S. - Utah - UT. In Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet [Internet site]. Puyallup, Washington: Cyndi Howells, 26 October 1999 [cited 26 October 1999]. Available at www.cyndislist.com/ut.htm. This list has more links to other Utah genealogical sites and describes more resources than any other site on the Internet.
Utah USGenWeb. In The USGenWeb Project [Internet site]. N.p., 30 December 1997 [cited 26 October 1999]. Available at www.lhttp://www.usgenweb.org/states/index.shtml. This is a cooperative effort by many volunteers to list genealogical databases, libraries, bulletin boards, and other resources available on the Internet for each county, state, and country.
United States Resources: Utah. In RootsWeb [Internet site]. N.p., 22 August 1999 [cited 26 October 1999]. Available at www.rootsweb.com/roots-l/usa/ut.html . This list of sites and resources includes a large, regularly updated research coordination list.
Guant, Christine and John Fuller. Utah Resources. In Genealogy Resources on the Internet [Internet site]. N.p., 6 January 1998 [cited 26 October 1999]. Available at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cgaunt/utah.html . This site provides links to vital record offices, genealogical and historical societies, queries, mailing lists, county-by-county Internet sites, and gopher sites.
UT GenExchange. In Genealogical Exchange & Surname Registry [Internet site]. N.p., 1996–1999 [cited 26 October 1999]. Available at www.genexchange.com . This site brings searchable data to genealogists, including databases (church, cemetery, census, land, immigration, naturalization, and vital records), directories, historical accounts, mailing lists, queries, local surname researchers, and look-up volunteers.
Ancestry.com [Internet site]. Orem, Utah: Ancestry, 1998,1999 [cited 20 October 1999]. Available at www.ancestry.com/. Several of their more general databases are available for free. The databases about Utah ancestors found in the LDS Family History Suite 2 (described in the "Biography" section of this outline) are available at this site for a subscription fee.
For further details about using computer networks, bulletin boards, and news groups for family history research, see the United States Research Outline, 2nd ed., "Archives and Libraries" section.
Some Family History Centers have computers with FamilySearch. These computers do not have access to online services, networks, or bulletin boards. You can use these services at many public and college libraries and at private locations.