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Bear River Heritage Barn Surveys

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_Folk Coll 29a

Scope and Contents

14 boxes, representing videos, 67 interviews (cassettes, transcripts, digital files, and interview fieldnotes), maps, guidebooks, documents, and emphemera.

Dates

  • 2002-2016

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Bear River Heritage Area Barn Surveys must be obtained from the Curator of the Fife Folklore Archives and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Historical Note

The Bear River Heritage Area Barn Survey tells the story of the historic barns in Northern Utah and Southeastern Idaho through interviews, photographs, and fieldnotes. Criteria for documented barns included: fifty-years-old and older, those in fairly good condition, and barns with easy public viewing. The project goals included documenting the barn builders, describing the historic the uses of the barns, educating the public about the barns’ architectural features, cultural uses, and symbols. To this end, two separate self-guided tours explore the types of barns and history, as well as the methods of construction for the documented local barns. As well, several educational exhibits and talks also resulted from the work, as well as actual restoration work on a number of the Utah barns and educational workshops and for the public to learn restoration techniques.

During 2002-2004, the first wave of research was conducted in the three counties of northern Utah—Cache, Rich, and Box Elder. Fieldworkers included Alene Alder, Lisa Duskin-Goede, and Elaine Thatcher. During 2005-20016, the second wave of research was conducted in the four counties of southeastern Idaho—Oneida, Caribou, Bear Lake and Franklin. Fieldworkers included Lisa Duskin-Goede, Rachel Gianni, and Myrna Fuller.

Folklorist Elaine Thatcher was the lead scholar and directed both projects. Other scholars and consultants included Michael Johnson, Cindy Hall, Brian Crockett, Lisa Thompson, Tom Carter, Scott Christensen, David Sidwell, Roger Roper, Mont Bona, Robert Parson, and Larry Douglass. Numerous volunteers contributed their stories, opened their barns to tours, and provided other support.

Funding came from the Utah Cultural Heritage Coordination Council, Utah Humanities, Utah State University, Bear River Association of Governments, National Endowment for the Arts, Idaho Travel Council, Mountain West Center for Regional Studies at Utah State University, Utah Conservation Corps, and Utah Division of Transportation.

Dates of publication: Utah guide: 2004 (800 copies); 2007 (225 copies); 2010 (138 copies) and 2017 (500 copies). Idaho guide: 2006 (550); 2008 (50) and 2014 (500).

Extent

14 Boxes (7 linear feet)

Abstract

This collection hosts the products from the Bear River Heritage Area Historic Barn Survey that works to tell the story of the historic barns in northern Utah and southeastern Idaho through interviews, photographs, and fieldnotes. Criteria for documented barns included an age of fifty-years-old and older, those in good condition, and barns with easy access for public viewing. The project goals included documenting the barn builders; describing the historic uses of the barns; educating the public about the barns’ architectural features; cultural uses; and symbols. To this end, two separate, self-guided tours explore the types of barns and history, as well as the methods of construction for the documented local barns. Additionally, educational exhibits and talks also resulted from the work, as well as actual restoration work on several of the Utah barns and educational workshops for the public to learn restoration techniques.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The barn survey is an outgrowth of other fieldwork in the Bear River Heritage Area started in 2000 under the direction of Randy Williams and Cindy Hall. The first wave of research was conducted in 2002-2004, with a second wave of research conducted during 2005-2016. All research was deposited in the Utah State University Special Collections and Archives in 2019.

Existence and Location of Copies

Video Tapes

Cassette Tapes

Images, Prints

Fieldnotes

Documents

Ephemera

Related Materials

The barn survey is an outgrowth of other fieldwork in the Bear River Heritage area started in 2000 under the direction of Randy Williams and Cindy Hall inFolk Coll 29

Processing Information

Processed in December of 2019

Title
Guide to the Bear River Heritage Area Barn Surveys 2002-2016
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Paul Daybell
Date
©2019
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)