ARCHIVES
PAST
AND
FUTURE
By Everett L. Cooley*
As I stand before you this evening, I am mindful of those who have preceded me on this spot to make their annual report to the general membership of the Society. I am indeed humbled by this contemplation. Last year D r . Creer concluded his report with a quotation I would like to use as an introduction. The chief monument of the history of a state is its archives . . . it is unquestionably as much a function of the government to provide for the preservation and use of its archives as it is to make laws and levy taxes. This is recognized in all civilized countries, and to neglect properly to perform this function is not only unbefitting the dignity of a great state, but it endangers an inheritance which future generations have a right to demand shall pass to them unimpaired. W h a t I am going to say tonight about the needs of the Archives, may in some people's minds, place Utah in the category of failing to live up to its responsibilities of preserving its archives for future generations. A n d I must confess that those who have such an idea will be correct. During the past month, the dominant church of Utah has made public its plans to build a twelve story archives building, costing several million dollars, to preserve the permanent records of that church. T h e permanent records of the state of Utah, on the other hand, are presently housed in damp, dirty, musty rooms in the Capitol, in sheds and warehouses, and in the former wine, silver, and jewelry vaults of the Historical Society Mansion. After taking a tour of these spots, as did the Archives Committee recently, I think any person with a sense of history will conclude with me that the government of the state of * Dr. Cooley, as State Archivist, delivered the report on the Utah State Archives at the annual dinner meeting of the Utah State Historical Society on May 7, 1960. He is presently associate professor of history, Utah State University, Logan, Utah.
