A Tribute — and a Look Forward for Native Cultures in Utah

By Renée Leta This month, Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox declared November 2023 as Native American Heritage Month and November 3, 2023 as Indigenous Day. The declaration pays tribute to the Tribes’ rich ancestry and traditions, and calls for the advancement of Native American culture and opportunities. The state’s celebration draws on a 30-year-old national tradition. In 1990, U.S. President …

Preserving Utah history, One Headstone at a Time

By Renée Leta and Ellen Weist For the past decade, Amy Barry has overseen the state’s Cemeteries Program, now part of the Utah State Historic Preservation Office. She maintains the Cemeteries and Burials database, offers preservation workshops, and maintains an alphabetical list and map of all the cemeteries and burial sites throughout the state. She also oversees the state’s annual …

Amplifying the Voices of Utah’s Mariachis

Gritos — emotion-filled yells – punctuated the lively music echoing off the marble walls of the Utah Capitol Rotunda.  More than 400 people attended Sones de Mariachi en Utah on Aug 30, the state’s first-ever competition and exhibition showcasing the popular Mexican folk music. Attendees filled seats and gathered on the Capitol stairs and balconies, the turnout representing the vibrancy …

Dine author Brian Young visits Utah school.

Diné Author Invites Students to Share Their Own Stories

By Reneé Leta In 2018, some 87 percent of Utah students graduated from high school. However, among Native American and Hispanic learners, only one in five met that mark. Research shows that students who are more literate will lead more successful lives and develop the skills needed to transition to adulthood.   This fall, the Utah State Library Division will bring …

Community members photographing a newly installed women's mural at the Rose Park Community Garden

Honoring Women of the Westside

By Renée Leta The Rose Park Community Garden is now home to a new mural of eight of Rose Park’s influential women. The mural honors Bobby Florez, Cristina Caputo, Maria Cardenas, Nettie Gregory, Cencira Te’o, Karina Lufo-Villalba, and Sylvia Abalos.  “With this mural, we’re focusing on highlighting women from communities who are not usually in the history books, because we …

Utah students with Sen. Mitt Romney in Washington D.C.

Utah’s Candy Bomber Showcased in National History Day Research

By Renée Leta This spring. Cooper Maughan and Jared Killpack put their history research and performance skills to the test as part of Utah’s National History Day contests. Then in June, the pair of 7th-graders from Logan performed their research at the national competition. Their performance focused on United States Air Force Colonel Gail “Candy Bomber” Halvorsen. A Utah native who …

Tim Glenn discussing exhibit planning for The Museum of Utah.

Telling the Stories Preserved in Utah’s Archives

Tim Glenn, former executive director of Green River’s John Wesley Powell River History Museum, was hired in January 2023 to direct the Museum of Utah. The state history museum, to be housed in a new building being constructed to the north of the Utah State Capitol, is scheduled for opening in 2026. As construction moves forward, Glenn is working with …

Sanpete Bookmobile on the road in Nephi Canyon

On the Road Again With Utah’s Bookmobiles

By Renée Leta The road trip is a quintessential summer activity for many Utah families, but the day-to-day routes of Utah’s bookmobile librarians rival these epic journeys. For example, U.S. 89 is the longest highway in the state, covering more than 500 miles through the central part of the state. Approximately one-fifth of the road runs north to south through …

Making Connections: Conferences That Build Communities

By Reneé Leta Three June conferences spotlight the public-facing work of the State Library Division, the State Historic Preservation Office, and the Division of Indian Affairs. These summits offer participants the chance to learn from subject experts, as well as network with colleagues and policy makers. Internet for All: Utah Broadband Confluence >> Wednesday, June 7, Utah Valley University Conference …

Youth painting a fish as inspiration for Celebrate Wildlife contest.

Celebrate Wildlife: A call for art recognizing Utah’s creatures

If you live in Utah, chances are you’ve had at least one wildlife encounter. From the bighorn sheep of Zion National Park to the chickadee in your backyard, no matter how you encounter wildlife in our state, we want to hear about it. And how you share your experience can be as varied as our state’s wildlife species. The Utah …

Gov. Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox present an MLK Art and Essay award

Students Showcase Artistic Reflections from MLK’s Legacy

By Reneé Leta // Photographs by Maegan Castleton Members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission honored nine Utah students for their artistic entries in an art and essay contest to honoring Dr. King’s principles of nonviolence.  The commission, a program of the Division of Multicultural Affairs, launched the contest for Utah students in 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. …

Brynn Patterson, of Viewmont High School, reciting her award-winning poem at the 2023 Poetry Out Loud state finals.

Eat Less

By Brynn PattersonEvery year in a health or gym class I have been asked to count the calories I eat in a day andplan out how I am going to burn them.Every year I write an essay titled “Eating Disorders” Instead.I have been told how much I should or should not eat my entire life.All based on how fat or …