Weber State University maintains digital archives containing vast historical records of prominent regional entities, including the Utah Construction Company and the Browning Arms Company. These collections preserve detailed documentation of industrial, agricultural, and business developments across Utah and beyond, spanning more than a century of history.
Utah Construction Company History
The Utah Construction Company archives offer a comprehensive look at the firm's expansion and historical impact. According to Weber State University, the Utah Construction Company history is documented in a five-volume set by E. R. Lubbers, which covers the years 1900 to 1964. This collection serves as a yearly account of completed projects, as well as bids won and lost, and often provides the only existing record for smaller projects.
International Expansion and Projects
The company's international reach is specifically highlighted by its work in Mexico. Weber State University records indicate that in 1928, the Utah Construction Company completed its first project outside of the United States, involving a 110-mile railroad for the Southern Pacific of Mexico. Over the following 30 years, the company continued to undertake various projects in Mexico, including the construction of dams, roads, mining operations, and canals. This history is preserved through a collection of several booklets, correspondence, and approximately 500 photographs.
Corporate and Financial Records
The archives also detail the company's corporate evolution and financial structure. Weber State University hosts the Utah Construction-Utah International annual reports, which cover the period from 1947 to 1976. These reports include management comments to shareholders, an abstract of operations, properties and interests, and financial statements including auditor's reports. Additionally, the collections include stockholder ledgers from 1900 to 1954, with the earliest volumes covering 1800-1907 and 1907-1936.
Merger and Executive Speeches
The merger between Utah International and General Electric is another significant subject within the university's collections. According to Weber State University, the digital holdings include the minutes of stockholder meetings for both Utah International and General Electric. These records also contain correspondence, official merger documents, and a reel-to-reel tape of the merger meeting. Furthermore, the collections include speeches given by Edmund Wattis Littlefield between 1952 and 1997, including a report regarding Utah's mining in Russia.
Browning Arms Company Records
The Browning Arms Company Collection provides insight into the administration and finances of the firearms business. Weber State University notes that this collection documents the personal, legal, financial, and administrative affairs of the Browning family. Key business holdings within the collection include extensive correspondence and financial ledgers that detail the company's relationships with manufacturers such as Fabrique Nationale (FN). The collection is organized into specific categories: Financial Records, Correspondence, Manufacturing and Production, and Legal Documents.
Ogden Business and Residential History
The university's business collections also preserve the history of local commerce and development in the Ogden area. This includes the Ogden Buildings by Street collection, featuring photographs taken by the Weber County Assessor's Office for tax purposes, ranging in date from the 1920s to the 1970s. These images document various businesses and homes organized by city and plot number.
Agricultural and Community History
Agricultural and personal histories are also central to the collections. The Ogden Union Stockyard was a major livestock market west of Denver during its peak from 1916 to 1971, and its activities helped shape the regional agricultural landscape. Additionally, the collections include the Weber and Davis County Community Oral History Project, which features interviews with citizens regarding their everyday life experiences and local history. For genealogical and occupational research, the collections provide Weber County Polk Directories, which cover the years 1870 to 1987 and include alphabetical lists of citizens, their addresses, and occupational information.
