AGENCY: Constitutional Convention (1895)
SERIES: 3212
TITLE: Records
DATES: s 1895.
ARRANGEMENT: By document type, thereunder chronological by numbered days (minutes) or numerical (files and committee reports).
DESCRIPTION: In July 1894, the U.S._Congress enacted a law to enable the territory of Utah to be admitted into the Union as a state. The act spelled out the calling of a convention composed of 107 delegates to meet beginning in March 1895 to draw up a state constitution. These records are the papers of that convention. They include a copy of the federal enabling act; roll call; transcripts, published and unpublished, of the proceedings; files of proposals, petitions, and other recommendations for inclusion in the state constitution; and a limited number of committee reports, minutes, and notes.
The proceedings of the 66-day convention were typed verbatim. These were then published, with the exception of rarely expunged portions. The transcripts cover the discussions and debates of the convention in detail. Procedural and administrative matters are covered. Constitutional topics follow specifications in the enabling act or topics considered important by the delegates: preamble and bill of rights; formation and responsibilities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; municipal and non-municipal corporations; public lands and buildings; the militia; labor and arbitration; taxation, revenue, and public debts; water rights; mining; and suggestions for future legislation or amendments. Many topics involved protracted debate, particularly female suffrage and prohibition.
Files and committee reports form the basis of the constitutional articles. They
RETENTION
DISPOSITION
RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION
These records are in Archives' permanent custody.
FORMAT MANAGEMENT
Paper: Retain in State Archives permanently after microfilming.
Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
APPRAISAL
Historical
This series is particularly important in understanding Utah's initial organization as a state and details significant political functions to an extent not available elsewhere.
PRIMARY DESIGNATION
Public