By Jordan Kiyak
When Helen Papanikolas and her team at the Utah Historical Society put together the Peoples of Utah, it was considered groundbreaking. Upon its publication in 1976, it became a foundational text for those interested in learning more about Utah’s history and cultures. Peoples was one of the first compendiums to explore and celebrate the state’s multifaceted ethnic histories, highlighting Greek, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Native American, and many other communities. It helped introduce the idea that those histories were fundamentally part of Utah and always had been.
As our team began preparing for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Peoples loomed large as the obvious project to expand on. It was put together for America’s bicentennial (200th) birthday. In the years since, Utah had changed quite a bit. In 2020, the Utah Historical Society began planting the seeds for what would become the “Peoples of Utah Revisited Initiative.”
Six years later, that initiative has come to fruition in a special exhibit at the new Museum of Utah, a special edition volume of the Utah Historical Quarterly, and a brand new website called “Peoples Online.” Over 40 researchers from all over Utah and the United States came together to develop content and uncover histories that were previously unknown or underrepresented in our state’s literature.
For example, before Peoples Revisited, we did not have much, if any, written history on Utah’s Cambodian community. Today, you can check out a vibrant photo gallery on Peoples Online and walk through the journey to find a home in Utah for some of the families who make up the Wat Buddhikaram Buddhist Temple.
You can also look at what it took to preserve the Nettie Gregory Center, explore why the Nettie is important, and listen to oral histories from those who found community within its walls.
There is so much more to explore as part of this project, and the referenced stories barely scratch the surface. We encourage you to browse the various pieces of Peoples Revisited and reflect on what being a Utahn means for so many who have found belonging in this state.
If you are interested in contributing to the Peoples Revisited project, please reach out to Jordan Kiyak at jkiyak@utah.gov. We are continuing to accept submissions that fit the spirit of the initiative for consideration in Peoples Online and look forward to continuing the work that expands what Utah history means.
