Archives West Finding Aid

The tax assessment photograph collection consists of about 3400 snapshots of residences and businesses in Cache County taken from the 1930s to the 1960s. These photographs were taken by the county for record keeping purposes and were stapled or taped to tax assessment cards. The information in this inventory came from these cards. While nearly all the cards give the property owner, the tax assessed evaluation, and the town lot number, a few cards also included descriptions of the property, the date the structure was built, its address, and a sketch of the floor plan. The cards have also been boxed and are included in this collection.

Because only a few of the photos have an address the best way to search for a photo is by knowing the original owner of the property or the property lot number. Because the photographs were taken more or less systematically from town to town one can also search through the photos in a general area.

It was not always clear when the snapshots were taken. Probably it was before the the tax assessment card was completed which is often noted on the card. The dates (when included) in the Inventory are the first appraisal date, or date on the card.

Instead of using the usual three part numbering system, these photographs use the original tax assessment number from the card. In many cases, this was different from the original number either written on the front of the print or on the board held by one of the County staff. The card from which the photo was removed was marked in brackets to indicate that a print was available and the number under which it is listed.