The Uintah Basin oral history project (1976-1978) consists of transcripts of interviews with residents of Vernal, Utah. Most interviews took place at the Golden Age Center in Vernal.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Uintah Basin oral history project must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Donated by Roy Webb in 1983.
Processed by Karen Carver in 2008.
Growing up in Brown's Park, serving aboard the
Coming to Vernal about 1917, running the
Background and genealogy, handling bricks, hauling freight, gilsonite mines, coal mining, the Depression, shearing sheep. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 12 pages.
Childhood near Meeker, Colorado. An accidental shooting, sale of the farm and journey to Idaho, a rodeo in Rawlins, marriage and working cattle, working for Charley Crubine in Nevada, the I.W.W., trapping coyotes in Wyoming, the ghost of Cedar View Reservoir, Vernal old-timers. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 16 pages.
Trading with Wong Sing, losing stock in hard winters, influenza epidemic of 1918, Pete and Elmer Dillman, Interviewed by Mike Brown. 7 pages.
Background and childhood in Vernal, family involvement in the LDS Church, teaching in Vernal, marriage and ranching, death of her husband, raising her children in Vernal, second marriage, death of her youngest son, divorce, involvement in church activities and senior citizens organizations, description of children and grandchildren, looking back over her life. Monologue. 13 pages.
Family background, childhood on a homestead, making brick, stories about Indians, courtship and marriage, Jake Workman, coyotes, starting a sheep herd, lonliness on the homestead, raising children. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 18 pages.
Birth in Kentucky and arrival of the family in Brown's Park in 1905, schooling, marriage and childreen, Hy Bernard, Bassett family, cattle, the Depression, social life. Interviewed by Diedra Northern. 11 pages.
Growing up in Jensen, flu epidemic, schooling in Maeser, social life, church-sponsored sports, movies, road construction, marriage, mining, cattle, dairy business, the Carroll family, the Depression, Roosevelt and the WPA, payment in kind, tithing, experience of being a bishop. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 20 pages.
Lumber business, payment in kind for tithing, hauling freight, neighbors. Interviewed by Diedra Northern. 5 pages.
Background and genealogy, boyhood memories, death of his father, move to Logan, death of his brother, World War II and the draft, flu epidemic, social life in the 1920s, the Depression, the cattle killing program, Roosevelt. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 13 pages.
Story of N. J. Meagher Sr., opening of the bank in Vernal, water rights in Utah, shipping bricks through the United States Postal Service, herds owned by foreign mine workers, the Sunshine Ranch, the Depression, political views. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 13 pages.
His father's move from Salt Lake City to Vernal in 1888, earlier settlers, polygamy, running a sawmill, non-Mormon bank, S. R. Bennion, politics, social life, hired girls. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 12 pages.
Homesteading in the Vernal area, running cows from a place on the Green River, hauling freight, working for the Two-Bar Ranch, early buildings in Vernal. Interviewed by Diedra Northern. 11 pages.
Move to Colorado after World War II, trucking business, working for oil companies during the oil boom, Vernal as a boom town, running a business, government regulation. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 7 pages.
Background and genealogy, trouble with an Indian Agent at the White Rocks Agency, growing up in Island Park, Idy Ackerat, sqatting versus homesteading, Thomas Lion, rustling Indian cattle, roundups, Charlie Goslin, Pat Lynch, Minnie Crouse. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 15 pages.
Childhood memories of Vernal, being a non-Mormon in school, Uncle Jake, Pete Dillman, her mother's story. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 20 pages.
Grandfather's association with Brigham Young, father's homestead near Ashley Creek Canyon, childhood on the farm, visiting neighbors, sheep business, homestead near Willow Creek, trouble with cattle men, John Darnell, Skull Creek Jones, drought, the Depression, overgrazing and the BLM, how Diamond Mountain got its name, treasure hunting. Interviewed by Mike Brown. 13 pages.
The Jarvie property, the Jarvie boys, the murder of John Jarvie, Indians in Brown's Park. Interviewed by Bill Tennant. 18 pages.
Ferries, ice harvesting, the Bear Lake monster, cattle, a jailbreak, settlers, rodeo. 33 pages.
Background and genealogy, stories of his parents.Interviewed by Diedra Northern. 3 pages.