Utah Division of Archives & Records Service

We're thrilled to welcome Brandon Lowder as the newest member of the Utah State Archives team! 🎉 Brandon joins us as an Archival Technician in the Records Center. Having previously worked at the Utah State Capitol and for the Department of Beverages Services, he's a fantastic addition to our inactive records team. Brandon’s day-to-day responsibilities will include pulling and mailing records, managing file transfers, and contributing to our Scan-on-Demand program. We are excited to have him on board!

As summer winds down, we're bidding farewell to our amazing summer interns! 🌟 Here’s Pollet proudly showcasing the meticulously organized records she accessioned. We're grateful for the hard work of Pollet, Leisina, and Jessi in making Utah's historical records more accessible to the public!

🏆 Another one for the books! 🏆 Our Local Government Team has won the Program Excellence Award from NAGARA (National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators)! 🎉 This award celebrates their outstanding, innovative work in bringing the full scope of our services to Utah’s local government users—from municipalities and counties to schools, courts, and special districts. This cross-functional team has excelled in helping local entities master best practices in government records access, management, and preservation. We’re incredibly proud of their ongoing success and can’t wait to see what they achieve next! 🏆: Local Government team: Alan Barnett, Heidi Steed, Genesie Miller, and Maren Peterson. 📸: Thanks to Alan who accepted our awards at the 2024 NAGARA conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

🎉 We've got a winner! 🎉 Congratulations to our Local Government Records Specialist, Heidi Steed, for winning the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from NAGARA (National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators)! 🌟 Since joining us in 2017, Heidi has consistently gone above and beyond, delivering exemplary service to a wide range of users. She collaborates with records officers statewide to ensure the efficient management of Utah's local government records. Heidi also plays a crucial role in supporting the Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board (USHRAB), providing resources and building knowledge for public and private entities safeguarding Utah’s permanent historic records.

🗺 #MapMonday Spotlight with the Utah State Archivist! 🗺 We're thrilled to share a special moment with our very own State Archivist, Ken Williams! While he’s usually deep in discussions with legislators or managing budgets, today he's uncovered something personal—a piece of his family's history. Ken’s excitement is palpable as he spots his family’s grocery store on the Sanborn Insurance Map from Green River. Moments like these remind us that the records we preserve aren't just documents—they're connections to our past. 🗺️✨

Thanks to our intern Leisina for the perfect #TinyTuesday find! 🕵️♀️ This teeny address book was submitted as evidence in a 1905 Rich County criminal court case. As part of her internship with the Local Government team, Leisina is accessioning boxes of these fascinating court records, ensuring they are preserved and accessible for future research. 📚✨

Did you know we offer records management training to all state agencies in Utah? Last week, our Records Information Management (RIM) Specialist, Matthew Pierce, visited the Utah Division of Water Resources at the Utah Department of Natural Resources to share best practices for effective records management. Special thanks to Appointed Records Officer Shannon Clough for capturing this moment with us!

📢 REMINDER: Fall semester internship applications are due on August 1st! These competitive, stipend-paid internships are perfect for students seeking hands-on experience in the field. We are offering four positions for the upcoming semester: 📇 Reference Internship 🗃️ Local Government Records Accessioning Internship (2 positions) ✍️ Agency History Internship Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge. Learn more and apply: bit.ly/3KZoZk5 📸: Our summer intern cohort, along with their supervisor Lauren, had the privilege of receiving a private Archives Fundamentals training from our Local Government Archivist, Alan Barnett!

As we close our fiscal year, we’re thrilled to highlight the incredible achievements of our Digital Archives over the past twelve months. 🥳 Our collections showcase records of enduring value and historic significance to Utah, accessible to everyone, everywhere. With over 1.7 million items available online for free, you can dive into research from anywhere in the world. We're committed to providing quality access to public information, fulfilling our mission to preserve and share Utah's rich history. Explore our Digital Archives here: bit.ly/3r9taPC

As the Recorder for City of South Jordan, Anna Crookston plays a crucial role in coordinating the city's records management program. Ensuring that records are well-organized, accurate, accessible, and preserved for future reference is a key aspect of her role, which is why she feels "like a librarian, archivist, and detective all rolled into one!" In this edition of our Records Officer Spotlight blog series, Anna shares lessons learned and how she faces new challenges in our fast-paced world: bit.ly/4cEy8e1