Utah Museum of Fine Art records Utah Museum of Fine Arts records, 1968-2004

A Department of Fine Arts was first organized at the University of Deseret in 1888. Along with this, an art museum was also established in order to "cultivate good judgement as well as refinement of taste". At the University of Utah's present location, an art gallery was first opened on the fourth floor of the John R. Park Building in 1914. After the University received a substantial gift of art from Winifred Kimball Hudnut in the 1940's, this space was rennovated and officially incorporated as the Utah Museum of Fine Arts in 1951.

The College of Fine Arts was established at the University of Utah in 1947 offering both BFA and MFA degrees. After the College experienced substantial growth in enrollments during the 1950's and 1960's, the need for more space for fine arts education became apparent. Eventually, the new Art and Architecture Center was opened in September 1971 with space for both the art and the architecture departments as well as for a new fine arts museum. This space served as the Utah Museum of Fine Arts until 2001 when the museum was moved into its current location at the Marcia and John Price Museum Building.