Series 1139

Utah Commission Letterbooks

Dates: i 1883-1895.

4 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

An agency history is available.

Scope and Content

These reels contain letterbook copies of the outgoing correspondence of the Utah Commission. The Utah Commission was established under the federal anti-polygamy act known as the Edmunds Act in 1882. The same act vacated all offices and prevented polygamists from registering to vote, voting, or holding office; the Utah Commission was given oversight of all election related activities to ensure compliance with the act.

These letterbooks include cover letters to accompany election notices and pay vouchers. Most of the correspondence relates to registration instructions and determinations, appointments of election officers, resignations, the canvas of returns, polygamy convictions, and the Women's Christian Industrial Home. The industrial home was created to provide refuge and job training for polygamous wives and children; the Utah Commission served as part of its board.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Records

Account ledgers from the Utah Commission, Series 1125, may contain voucher forms which are related to correspondence in this series.

Minute books from the Utah Commission, Series 1126, detail the activities of the Utah Commission which are touched on in the this series.

Reports to the Secretary of the Interior from the Utah Commission, Series 85194, also contains some correspondence.

Custody History

When the Commission disbanded in 1896, their records were turned over to the Secretary of State. They were transferred to the Historical Society Archives in 1957 and then to the State Archives in 1967.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Processing Note

Microfilming was done in 1960. Archival processing was completed in 1989 by A.C. Cone.

Finding Aids

Indexes: Each letterbook has an index to addressees at the beginning. Entries are alphabetical by the first letter of the surname. The last two indices are incomplete, covering from November 23, 1883 thru 1895.

Indexing Terms

• Polygamy—Utah—Records and correspondence.
• Elections—Utah—Records and correspondence.
• Voter registration—Utah—Records and correspondence.

Container List

REEL	DESCRIPTION
1	Index, Letterbook; May 23, 1883-Jan. 13, 1885
1	Index, Letterbook; Aug. 22, 1888-July 6, 1889
2	Letterbook (cont.); July 14, 1889- July [?], 1889; Nov. 17, 1888-June 13, 1889
3	Index, Letterbook; July 19, 1889-Nov. 29, 1892
4	Letterbook (cont.); Nov. 29, 1892-Jan. 15, 1893
4	Index, Letterbook; Jan. 25, 1893-Nov. 22, 1895