Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “History Main Blog”
In January 4, 1896, after decades of struggle, Utah became the 45th state to enter the Union. Utah’s path to statehood was complicated and often controversial, which makes its journey an important American story. Utah’s leaders applied for statehood seven times—and failed six times—over five decades. Here we compiled a list …
The Utah State Historical Society announces the focus of its 69th annual conference to be held September 20-24, 2021. Beginning January 1 we are accepting proposals for papers, sessions, and panels to be presented at the conference. This year Utah and the world have been gripped by a deadly pandemic. …
In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of 1776, the Utah State Historical Society is revisiting The Peoples of Utah, published in 1976. The original Peoples of Utah, which surveyed a number of racial and ethnic communities in the state, has become a foundational resource in Utah history. Our new project …
By Heidi Chudy, Program Assistant, Utah History Day “A man wearing a star stood on the outside platform- the only place where Jews were allowed to ride. He was eager to show his papers, but the soldiers slapped and hit him and took him away. He looked back once, very …
Genealogy research is a booming industry, and Utah is a leader in resources. In 1997, the state legislature created a mandate for the Utah Division of State History to be a repository of cemetery and burial information. Utah is the only state that works to collect burial information from cemeteries …
By Lisa Barr, Historical Collections Curator Recognizing that we were living in historic times, in April, State History staff developed The Covid-19 Memory Project, which is geared towards K-12 students throughout the state. We created questionnaires for students to share their experiences during the pandemic that will become a permanent …
By Valerie Jacobson, Information Specialist Late June 1919 was a day for many to rejoice. The Treaty of Paris was signed, bringing an official end to the Great War. How did the war affect Utahns and what were their reactions? Why do we care what happened over 100 years ago? …
By Kevin Fayles, Acting Director When you see the photo above, did you think it was a historic image? Could you tell it was actually taken just a few days ago when my son returned home from military training? While this photo is not considered historic now, one day it …
Written by Chase Roberts Utah Division of State History and Christopher W. Merritt Utah State Historic Preservation Officer If you ask most Utahns where Daggett County is, and you might get some puzzled looks, or a reference to “That’s right near Flaming Gorge, right?”. But this tucked away county in northeastern …
Editors’ note: J. Michael Hunter’s article “Laying the Foundation for Utah’s Beekeeping Success” appears in the summer 2020 issue of Utah Historical Quarterly. In this Q&A Hunter offers a fascinating look into bees and beekeeping and their significance to the Beehive state’s history. You write about beekeeping, and you keep …
By T. Michelle Tucker, Utah State History Volunteer On July 26, 2020, our nation remembers the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law by President George H.W. Bush thirty years ago. This is a year to commemorate the long fight of people with (dis)abilities to claim …
By Christopher James Blythe In September 1965, many people in northern Utah were convinced that the NAACP had planned a “riot” for the following month’s general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A student writer at University of Utah’s Daily Utah Chronicle summarized the rumors. “According …