AGENCY: Weber County (Utah). County Clerk
SERIES: 5288
TITLE: Incorporation case files of LDS church wards
DATES: 1882-1903.
ARRANGEMENT: Alphabetical.
DESCRIPTION: These case files contain Articles of Incorporation filed with the Weber County Clerk by LDS Church Wards. Articles of Incorporation were required to be filed with the County Clerk and State to ensure that laws pertaining to corporations were adhered to. The Articles of Incorporation state that the members of the ward "desired to become a body corporate, under and in accordance with the existing laws of Utah Territory, and had met for that purpose." The law of the Utah Territory stated " that any number of person associated together for religious, social, scientific, benevolent or other purposes...when pecuniary profit is not their object...may incorporate themseleves as provided in this Act (Laws of Utah, 1878, chap., 18, sec., 1). The Articles of Incorporation record the following: names of corporate officers, names of ward members, and oaths of office.
Under current Utah law and the laws of the territorial legislature, individuals desiring to incorporate, were to file and record articles of incorporation with their respective county clerk. These agreements specified the nature and place of business, amount of stock to be issued, terms for officers, etc. The clerk in turn issued a certificate of incorporation and recorded the final Articles of Incorporation in the case file.
RETENTION
DISPOSITION
RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION
These records are in Archives' permanent custody.
FORMAT MANAGEMENT
Paper: Retain in State Records Center until processed and then microfilm and transfer to State Archives with authority to weed.
Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
APPRAISAL
Historical
Because of the importance of incorporation information, which documents the organization and existence of companies, the county clerk is required by law (UCA sections 3 and 16) to maintain incorporation case files and record books (and likewise their corresponding indexes).
PRIMARY DESIGNATION
Public