Series 82994
District Court (Third District) Copyright petitions
Dates: i 1870-1875, 1879.
0.20 cubic foot and 1 microfilm reel
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
An original application for copyright for theatrical plays, books, maps, drawings, medicine preparations, slip inscriptions, and labels make up these petitions. A description of the play, book, or map, or a sample of the label or slip design are usually included. Copyright ownership guaranteed to the creator the sole right and liberty of printing, reprinting, publishing, and vending their works for a term of 28 years from the time of recording the title thereof. At the end of the original 28-year term, the copyright could be extended 14 years through application for a second term. These petitions document the legal process of securing intellectual property rights in the territorial third judicial district.
In accordance with an act of Congress entitled "An Act to amend the several acts respecting copy rights" (February 3, 1831), a printed copy of the material to be copyrighted was to be deposited in the clerk's office of the district court of the district in which the author orproprietor resides. The exact language of the petition was specified by the statute. Responsibility for "all acts and duties required by law touching copyrights" was transferred from the district courts to the Library of Congress in 1870 ("Second general revision of the copyright law," July 8, 1870). Despite repeal of the 1831 law in July 1870, copyright petitions citing the earlier statute continued to be filed in the Third District Court clerk's office off and on until 1879. The majority of these applications (18 of 21) fall into that category. Copyright petitions were not assigned a case number nor entered into the CASE INDEX, series 3243. Consequently it is not known how many copyright petitions were filed with the Third District court clerk, who filed them, which (if any) may be missing.
Gaps in Series
Copyright petitions were not assigned a case number nor entered into the territorial CASE INDEX, series 3243. Consequently it is not known how many copyright petitions were filed, who filed them, which (if any) are missing.
Research Note
These copyright petitions were located among the territorial CASE FILES (1851-1896), series 9802. The 1831 copyright statute required that within three months of publication, a copy of the work was to be delivered to the court clerk. A "certified list of records of copyright, including the titles so recorded, and the dates of record," was also maintained. These were forwarded periodically to the U.S. Secretary of State. The 1870 law mandated that the Secretary of State and the district court clerks transfer all copyright records to the Librarian of Congress. Surviving records are now in the custody of the U.S. Copyright Office within the Library of Congress.
Research Note
These copyright petitions were located among the territorial CASE FILES (1851-1896), series 9802. The 1831 copyright statute required that within three months of publication, a copy of the work was to be delivered to the court clerk. A "certified list of records of copyright, including the titles so recorded, and the dates of record," was also maintained. These were forwarded periodically to the U.S. Secretary of State. The 1870 law mandated that the Secretary of State and the district court clerks transfer all copyright records to the Librarian of Congress. Surviving records are now in the custody of the U.S. Copyright Office within the Library of Congress.
Images Available
This series is available on microfilm.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public: Title 17 USC Section 705 (b) states that copyright records and indexes shall be open to public inspection..
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Finding Aids
Other: A list of known petitions has been compiled and is attached to the series inventory. Other: a research guide entitled "Using Court Records" is available for patron use.
Related Records
Case files from the District Court (Third District), Series 9802, were found inter-filed among the territorial case files
Indexing Terms
Copyright--Drama--Utah.
Copyright--Maps--Utah.
Copyright--Art--Utah.
Labels--Utah.
Patent Medicines--Utah.
Copyright--Manuscripts--Utah.
| REEL | BOX | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | 1 | 1870 Jan 13 Title of Map: "Plat of Salt Lake City, Utah" by Bernard A.M. Froiseth |
| 1 | 1 | 1870 Mar 09 Title of Book: "Guide to Salt Lake City, Ogden, and the Utah Central Rail Road" by Edward L. Sloan |
| 1 | 1 | 1870 May 03 Title of Play: "Oliver Cromwell: An Historical Play in Four Acts" by Edward W. Tullidge |
| 1 | 1 | 1870 Jul 12 Drawing: "Celestia Masonic Regalia" by Sidney Hudson |
| 1 | 1 | 1871 Mar 23 Title of Map: "A Map of Little Cottonwood Caņon" by F. DeLauzza |
| 1 | 1 | 1871 Apr 27 Title of Map: "New Mining Map of Utah" by Bernard A.M. Froiseth |
| 1 | 1 | 1872 Apr 04 Title of Book: "The Mountain Warbler, Being a Collection of Original Songs and Recitations" by William Willes |
| 1 | 1 | 1872 Dec 20 Title of Preparation: "Humbug Oil" by Dr. S.A. Marshall |
| 1 | 1 | 1873 Mar 10 Title of Play: "Stage and Steam" by Edward L. Sloan |
| 1 | 1 | 1873 Apr 15 Title of Play: "Virtue vs. Vice: A Drama in Three Acts" by Captain John Martin |
| 1 | 1 | 1873 Apr 15 Title of Play: "Outwitted; or, Factory Scenes, A Drama in Three Acts" by Captain John Martin |
| 1 | 1 | 1873 May 01 Title of Play: "Chicanery, A Drama in Three Acts" by Captain John Martin |
| 1 | 1 | 1873 May 29 Title of Play: "Ida's Warning, or the Aerial Flight, A Drama" by Charles W. Stayner |
| 1 | 1 | 1874 Jan 09 Title of Play: "The Reward of Guilt and Innocence, A Drama in Five Acts" by A.H. Kirk |
| 1 | 1 | 1874 May 15 Title of Play: "Rachel Ben Israel: or From Under the Curse, A Jewish Play in Five Acts" by Edward W. Tullidge |
| 1 | 1 | 1874 Jun 03 Title of Play: "California As it Was, A Drama in Four Acts" by John W. Gilson |
| 1 | 1 | 1874 Jul 28 Title of Play: "Bound to the Stake or Martyrs of the Latter Days" by Mrs. A.G. Paddock |
| 1 | 1 | 1875 Feb 10 Slip (Inscription): "Bath Sand Tablets, Prepared by H.H. Wadman & Co., Chemical Manufactory, Salt Lake City" by H.H. Wadman |
| 1 | 1 | 1875 May 01 Label: "Bourbon County Copper Distilled Pure Old Centennial 1776. Bourbon, Kentucky, Walker Bro's & Co., Sole Agents for the Pacific Coast" by Walker Brothers & Co. |
| 1 | 1 | 1879 Dec 11 Title of Book: "Persecution or the Beauty of Polygamy" by Mrs. Fannie E. Fox |
| 1 | 1 | 1879 Dec 18 Preface to Book: "Preface.. .June 14, 1879" by Mrs. A.G. Paddock |