University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
University Archives and Records Management
666 Guardsman Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Tel: 801-581-8242
Fax: 801-581-8192
http://www.lib.utah.edu/collections/archives.php
Acc0577
Utah Museum of Natural History records
1887-2011
1968-2009
Utah Museum of Natural History
2.75 linear feet + 3 oversized boxes + 3 reams of architectural drawings + 23 oversized maps and charts
As the state's official museum of natural history, the Natural History Museum of Utah has responsibility for the curation of all archaeological and veretebrate paleontological specimens recovered on state lands. The Museum houses major archaeological, biological, and paleontological collections from the Intermountain West as well as conducts educational outreach programs to the community. This collection covers the Museum's period of residency in the George Thomas Building (1969-2011) and the planning and construction of the Museum's present location at the Rio Tinto Center in Research Park.
English
Historical Note
Before the opening of the Utah Natural History Museum (UMNH) in 1969, four separate museums existed on the University campus housing natural history related collections. The Anthropology Museum, located in the Park Building, contained collections of artifacts from prehistoric and early Native Americans. The Geology Museum in the Geology Building housed paleontological collections of both vertebrate and invertebrate fossils as well as mineral and ore samples. The Zoology Museum in the Biology Building contained the skeletons, skulls, and skins of most of the animal species found in Utah. The Herbarium, also in the Biology Building, included specimens of flowering plants, mosses, and cryptograms found within the state. These collections were later transferred to the UMNH during the 1970's and 1980's.
In 1963, the State Legislature passed a bill establishing a museum of natual history at the University of Utah. In 1964, the Board of Regents approved the use of the George Thomas Library which was scheduled to be vacated in 1969. UMNH opened in the George Thomas Building in 1969 with four major exhibit halls for Anthropology, Biological Science, Earth Science, and Paleontology. Beginning in 1970, the Museum began an educational outreach program for elementary students, secondary students, University students, and adults throughout the state. In 1972, the UMNH became the first museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums in the state of Utah. UMNH was designated, during the 1990 state legislative session, as the official State Museum of Natural History with the responsibility for the curation of all archaeological and vertebrate paleontological specimens recovered from state land.
By the 1990's, it had become apparent that the George Thomas Building was no longer adequate to hold the ever growing collection at UMNH. In 1997, the Board of Trustees reserved a 15 acre site in Research Park for a new museum. A 487 acre easement, partially adjacent to the museum site, was added in 1999 as a conservation area. Adequate money for the project was successfully solicited through private grants and a Congressional Funding authorization in 2002. Ground was broken for the new Museum in July 2008. The grand opening for the Natural History Museum of Utah was held in the Fall of 2011.
The bulk of the material in this collection is comprised of records from the directorships of Jesse D. Jennings (1969-1973), Donald V. Hague (1973-1991), and Sarah B. George (1992-2019). This material mostly consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, and exhibition files from the Museum's period of residency in the George Thomas Building. Topics include the Museum's educational programs, exhibitions, cooperation with the State Legislature to pass bills protecting archaeological and paleontological treasures, efforts to obtain state funding, and the Museum's collaboration with other state agencies and higher educational institutions as part of its role as the official natural history museum of Utah.
This collection also holds materials pertaining to the building and the relocation of the Museum into the new facility at the Rio Grande Center in Research Park. This includes correspondence with Utah's Congressional members in order to obtain funding for the new museum. Also included are museum exhibition planning documents that were produced under contract by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Incorporated.
This collection also contains a "Journal of Fauna and Wildlife Sightings" that serves as a record of fauna and wildlife sightings, including specimens brought to University, between 1887 and 1946. Among the contributors to this journal are Angus Munn Woodbury, W. Ivie, M.S. Johnson, Stephen David Durrant, and Morris Rasmussen.
The fourth series of this collection is comprised of three reams of architectural drawings from the Museum's residency in the George Thomas Building. These drawings depict individual displays for anthropological, biological, and earth science exhibitions.
The fifth series consists of two certificates awarded to the museum, a guest book from the Museum's twenty-fifth anniversary in 1994, and twenty three oversized maps and charts.
The collection is arranged in five series. The files are alphabetical within each series.
Materials must be used on-site; advance notice suggested. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
University of Deseret Museum register & miscellaneous articles inventory, 1879-1895; Acc0038.
Utah Museum of Natural History records, 1948-1984; Acc0540.
Jesse D. Jennings papers, 1939-1998; Acc0563.
Initial Citation:
Utah Museum of Natural History records, Acc. 577,
Box [ ]. University Archives and Records Management. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.
Following Citations:Acc. 577.
The majority of this collection came from 16 cubic feet plus various oversize records that were picked by from Ann Hanniball, Assistant Museum Director, at the George Thomas Building in June of 2012. Other materials came from the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections from the deaccessioned Acccn1191 (University of Utah Natural History records, 1897-1993) which was transferred to Archives in 2019.
Processed by David Buhler in 2020.
George, Sarah B.
Hague, Donald Victor, 1926-
Jennings, Jesse David, 1909-1997
University of Utah--Archives
University of Utah--Museums
Utah Museum of Natural History
Museums--Utah
Natural history--Catalogs and collections--Utah
Natural history--Catalogs and collections--Utah
University of Utah -- Rio Tinto Center -- Natural History Museum of Utah
Anthropology
Archaeology
Architectural Drawings
Colleges and Universities
Architectural drawings
Correspondence
Memorandums
Minutes
Reports
1
General Administrative Records
1
1
An Analysis and Recommendations for the Utah Museum of Natural History
1991 October 11
1
2
Annual Progress Reports
1969-1971
1
3
Backyard Monsters - Exhibit
1993-1994
1
4
By-Laws of Associates of the Utah Museum of Natural History
circa 1981
1
5
Citizens for Open Space
1998-1999
1
6
Community Relations Committee
1993-1994
1
7
Congressional Correspondence - Bennett, Senator Robert
1995-2007
1
8
Congressional Correspondence - Cannon, Representative Chris
2001-2007
1
9
Congressional Correspondence - Hansen, Representative James E.
1995-2002
1
10
Congressional Correspondence - Hatch, Senator Orrin
1995-2007
1
11
Congressional Correspondence - Matheson, Representative James D.
2001-2007
1
12
Congressional Correspondence - Miscellaneous
1995-2002
1
13
Congressional Correspondence - Stewart-Tim, Chief of Staff, House Resources Committee
2002-2006
1
14
Congressional Talking Points
2001
1
15
Congressional Testimony - Machen, J. Bernard
2001
1
16
Correspondence - Miscellaneous
1977-2008
1
17
Dinosaurs: A Global View - Exhibit
1993 October 2-1994 January 9
1
18
Divisions of State Archives/Division of State History - Merger
1987-1988
1
19
Docent Handbook
1993
2
1
Economic Minerals and Fossil Fuels Kit Manual
circa 1980
2
2
Exoro Group
2005
2
3-4
Family Legislative Evening at Utah Museum of Natural History
2003-2004
2
5
Federal Angency Strategy: Cooperation with Federal Agencies through Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
2004 October 19
2
6
Federal Collections at the Utah Museum of Natural History
2000
2
7
Great Salt Lake: Our Inland Sea - Exhibit
1992
2
8
An Investigation of the Potential Requirements for Resouces Protection on the Future Site of the Utah Museum of Natural History
2003
2
9
A Jurassic Classic - Exhibit
1993
2
10
Legal Documents and Correspondence
1987-1991
2
11
Legislative and Government Relations Committee
1993
3
1-3
Legislative Dinner
1991
1993
1998
3
4
Legislative Family Winter Picnic
1997 February 20
3
5
Legislative Night - Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
2004
3
6
Legislative Picnic
1994-1995
3
7
Miscellaneous
1978-2009
3
8
Museum on the Move
1997-1998
3
9
Museum Strategic Plan
1992
3
10
Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act
1999
3
11
New Museum Environmental Impact Statement
2003-2006
3
12
New Museum - Groundbreaking and Dedication Ceremonies
2008
2011
3
13
The New Utah Museum of Natural History: Exhibit Renderings - Updated January 2007
2007
4
1
Press Kit
2001
4
2
Range Creek - Horse Canyon Project
2002-2004
4
3
Sagebrush Ocean: A Natural History of the Great Basin
1993-1994
4
4
Salt of the Earth - Traveling Exhibit
1995
4
5
School Trust Land Legislation - HB307
1995
4
6
Timmons & Company, Inc.
2000-2008
4
7
United States General Accounting Office Investigation
1986-1987
4
8
United States Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton Visit
2002 February 11
4
9
Utah Administrative Rules Subcommittee
1990-1991
4
10
Utah. Antiquities Advisory Committee
1987-1989
4
11
Utah. Antiquities Task Force
1988-1993
5
1-2
Utah. Archaeological and Paleontological Resource Protection Act
1988-1989
5
3
Utah. Curation Advisory Committee
1999-2000
5
4
Utah Museum of Natural History Geology/Paleontology Exhibits: Draft Exhibit Specifications
1993 July
5
5
Utah Natural History
1969-1989
5
6
Utah State Legislature - Antiquities Protection
1963-1992
5
7
Utah State Legislature - Correspondence
1982-2008
5
8
Utahns for Clean Water, Clean Air, and Quality Growth
2004-2005
5
9
Wild Expressions - Exhibit
1994
5
10
Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) Tier II. Advisory Board
1997-2002
2
Utah Museum of Natural History 100% Design Reports Prepared by Ralph Appelbaum Associates Incorporated - Oversize
6
1
Exhibit Design Drawing Set
2009 April 2
6
2
Exhibit Design Drawings
2008 June 2
6
3
Exhibit Design Report
2008 June 2
6
4
Exhibit Schematic Design Documents
2006 September 18
6
5
Exhibit Schematic Design Report
2006 September 18
7
1
Graphic Elevations
2008 June 2
7
2
Graphic Package
2009 April 2
7
3
Interpretive Outline
2009 April 2
7
4
Schematic Design Revision
2007 Feburary 9
3
Miscellaneous Oversize
7
5
Salt Lake County Council Debt Review Committee Presentation Binder
2010 July 22
7
6
The Utah Museum of Natural History
circa 1968
8
1
Journal of Fauna and Wildlife Sightings, Including Specimens
1887-1946
4
Architectural Drawings
1
Anthropology Exhibit Drawings
1969-1979
2
Biology and Earth Science Exhibit Drawings
1970
3
Earth Science Exhibit Drawings
1967-1986
5
Material Appended May 2020
9
1
Certificate - American Association for State and Local History
1977 December
9
2
Certificate - Museums Publications Competition Award of Merit:A Woman's Work: Hand-Bound Books - Invitations
1984
9
3
Guest Book - Twenty Fifth Anniversary Celebration
1994 October 25
1-23
Oversize Architectural Renderings, Maps, Organizational Charts, and Development Project List
1994-2005