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Utah Weather Station Records

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 470

Scope and Contents

The Utah Weather State records contain mostly raw weather data in a variety of forms.

Series I: Record of Climatological Observations. This series contains daily observations of temperature, precipitation, and weather conditions from across Utah. The material is arranged alphabetically by place.

Series II: Winds Aloft Computation Sheet. This series provides information about wind speed and direction in Milford, Salt Lake City, and Wendover. The material is arranged chronologically.

Series III: Temperature and Preciptation Data. This series consists of ledgers used to record mean maximum temperature, mean minimum temperature, mean temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, total precipitation, greatest precipitation, total snowfall, and number of rainy days, for locations across the state. The material is arranged alphabetically by location.

Series IV: Surface Weather Observations. This series includes records of temperature, precipitation, wind, sunshine, and weather occurrances for Wendover, Utah. These materials are arranged chronologically.

Series V: Combined Wind Direction, Velocity, Sunshine, Rain Fall, Recorder Charts. This series contains charts that resemble those of a seismograph but were used to automatically record wind direction, velocity, sunshine, and rainfall at Lincoln, Lake Point, and the International Smelting Company.

Series VI: Newspaper Clippings. This series is composed of newspaper clippings from across the state that address local weather events. They are arranged chronologically.

Series VII: Miscellaneous Weather Data, Records, and Files. This series consists of loose weather data, files, or bound volumes that did not lend themselves to clear categorization. An attempt was made ot group similar materials.

Dates

  • Creation: 1868-1980

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 Utah Weather Station Records must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Historical Note

A March 16, 1992 issue of the Utah Climate Center publication, Utah Climate , recalls the evolution of Utah’s weather observations:

"Each day volunteer weather observers at nearly 200 sites scattered around Utah record weather data for the National Weather Service. The observations include the daily maximum and minimum temperatures, 24-hour precipitation totals, 24-hour snowfall, and depths of snow on the ground. The ritual and many of the instruments have changed very little since the civilian weather service was born in 1891…

…Prior to 1890 climatology observations were recorded for military purposes by the Signal Service of the War Department and a small weather observation network was organized by the Smithsonian Institution. When the Organic Act was signed on October 1, 1890, civilian weather observers, and warning and forecast responsibilities were transferred to the Department of Agriculture. Ultimately, the National Weather Service—at that time known as the Weather Bureau—was created in July 1891."

The weather observations from across Utah eventually ended up at the Utah Climate Center, located on the Utah State University campus in Logan. UCC staff are affiliated with USU’s Department of Plant, Soils and Climate and the Agricultural Experiment Station.

Extent

108 Boxes (89.5 Linear Feet)

Abstract

The Utah Weather State records contain mostly raw weather data from Utah and Nevada, recorded in a variety of forms.

Arrangement

Arranged by document type.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to Utah State University Special Collections and Archives by the Utah State Climatologist’s office in 1990.

Related Materials

Signal Service Corps Ledgers, COLL MSS 341

Bibliography

  • Utah Climate Center. “Watching Weather in Logan for 100 Years.” Utah Climate vol. 3 no. 21 (1992).
  • Utah Climate Center. "Centennial of Utah Climate Stations." Utah Climate vol. 3 no. 10 (1992).

Processing Information

Processed in May of 2013

Title
Guide to the Utah Weather Station Records 1868-1980
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Melissa Allen and Clint Pumphrey
Date
©2013
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 .

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

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)