We invite people to come and do their research at our library.
We have excellent sources for the history of the Mormon pioneers, as well as the many pioneers of other faiths and religions. These sources include: manuscripts, biographies, family-type history books and biographies, locality books and histories, Mormon Battalion histories, American Revolution soldier lists, shipping lists, pioneer company lists, handcart pioneer lists, Polygamists and time served, pedigrees of U.S. presidents, pedigrees of LDS Church presidents, Perpetual Emigration Fund Emigrants, plus many historical magazines filled with information.
A new addition to our library archives is a special collection of Inspirational Pioneer Stories. These are short biographies or vignettes submitted by SUP members and interested friends, telling of the faithfulness and courage of the early pioneers of the Great Basin . To review these stories (and to learn how you too may submit stories of your own ancestors) click on “Pioneer Stories” in the upper right hand corner of this page.
We encourage our members and their families and friends plus other men and women and young people to visit our library and learn to use it for the research of their ancestors. We also encourage people to donate books, manuscripts, and pictures to help our collection grow.
We also offer classes for the use of the computer programs.
Library hours:
Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Address: 3301 East 2920 South, Salt Lake City, UT (CLICK HERE to see map)
Phone: 1-866-724-1847(toll-free) or local 801-484-4441
Following are valuable resources for those doing research on ancestors and early Utah history.
Mormon Battalion
Biographies and various books listing members and the history of the Mormon Battalion.
Biographies and histories
-
Biographies of thousands of pioneers as well as some who were born after arrival in the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding area. Many sources include pictures. Especially valuable is the new SUP four-volume Conquerors of the West, with over 1500 short biographies, genealogies, and pictures of men who came west prior to the railroad in 1869.
-
Thousands of books and magazines with information histories; donated family books.
-
Daughters of Utah Pioneer books: Heart Throbs of the West, compiled by Kate Carter, 12 volumes, (1951). Treasures of Pioneer History, compiled by Kate Carter, Vol. 4,5,6, (1955). Our Pioneer Heritage, compiled by Kate Carter, 20 volumes, (1958). An Enduring Legacy, 12 volumes, (1978). Chronicles of Courage, 8 volumes, (1990).
-
International Society of Daughters of Utah Pioneers: Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, 4 volumes, (1999). Pioneer histories of East Millcreek residents.
-
Histories of every county in Utah, 25 volumes, Utah County Centennial Series; also other books on the various towns and counties in Utah; books on other states and countries.
-
Utah Centennial History, 3 volumes
-
Pedigrees and family histories of LDS Church presidents from Joseph Smith to Harold B. Lee.
-
Pedigrees and family histories of U.S. presidents from George Washington to Ronald Reagan.
-
Many other valuable sources.
Ships and companies
-
Lists of ships, wagon trains and pioneers who crossed the plains, including those who came in the handcart companies.
-
Mormon Passenger Lists (1840-50 and 1857-60), Mormon Passenger Ship Lists (1849-1860), Mormon Scandinavian Ship Lists (1854-1869), Books listing Mormon Emigrants Handcart Pioneers (1856-1860)
-
List of Polygamists and time served.
Books and magazines
-
Valuable research information such as Ensign (1935 to present), Improvement Era, Era . Genealogical Helper, Genealogical Journal, Reference Encyclopedia, Census Indexes 1810-1890, Mortality Indexes, Polk Directories, Tax Lists, Utah Death Index 1898-1905, People of Redd Barns, covering emigration from Sweden 1851-1863, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 4 volumes.
-
Histories of wards, stakes in the area.
-
Various maps, early Salt Lake City street maps, St. George street map, atlases.
Daughters of American Revolution Patriot Index (3 volumes)
Contains name of Revolutionary patriots, both men and women, whose service (between 1774 and 1783) and identity have been established by the National Society. Information includes alphabetically listed names, dates, and places of birth, death, name(s) of wife (wives) or husbands, rank and type of service, and the state where the patriot lived or served.
The SUP library contains far too many sources to list here. In addition, the library contains locked shelves housing valuable old and rare books and other information not generally available in other locations.