Series 83186
San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder Proof of labor index
Dates: 1957-1994.
3 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
The San Juan county recorder has created a separate index to affidavits showing proof of labor for mining claims. Federal mining law provides private parties the right to mine valuable mineral deposits on public land, but in order to patent a claim, the law requires the claimant to do development work. Utah law requires locators to do at least $50 worth of work within 90 days after posting the location notice, and at least $100 worth of labor annually as required by federal law. Utah law also requires an affidavit to be filed in the office of the county recorder upon completion of such work. Such affidavits show the name of the claim and where situated, the number of days' work done and the character and value of improvements, the dates labor was performed and for whose benefit, and a statement of the actual amount paid for the labor or improvements (Utah Code Annotated, 1953, 40-1-6). The San Juan County recorder's index to proof of labor affidavits provides the following information: the name of the claim, the names of locators, the names of persons whose signatures appear on the affidavit, the date filed, and the book and page number where recorded.
Arrangement
Alphabetically grouped by name of claim, thereunder chronological.
Research Note
While the index provides summary information about labor on various mining claims, the actual affidavits are in the custody of the San Juan County recorder.
Related Records
Official records from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 6682, contain the affidavits referenced in this index.
Mining records index (locations) from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23583, provides reference to proof of labor affidavits filed before 1957 as well to notices of location, deeds, and other mining records.
Mining records index (locators) from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23584, provide additional reference to affidavits showing proof of labor.
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
San Juan County proof of labor index Books 1-3 were microfilmed by Utah State Archives in March and June 1990. San Juan County microfilmed Book 4 in March 1995. This series was processed by Rosemary Cundiff in January 2002.
Indexing Terms
- Mines and mineral resources—Ownership—San Juan County (Utah).
- Mining claims—San Juan County (Utah).
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.