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Utah, a Guide
This list was drawn from a much longer one created on the occasion of the opening of the Utah Governor's Mansion Library. The Mansion Library is a collection of books representing Utahiana in its broadest sense. It is a growing collection of about 900 titles of nonfiction and fiction, children's books, poetry and some journals. That core list has been updated by the addition of some more contemporary items.
All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir /Emma Lou Thayne and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich/1995/ BX8641 U97 1995 Stacks and Special Collections. A lovely set of letters exchanged between two literate and thoughtful Mormon women, one in Salt Lake, the other in Boston.
Under the Banner of Heaven /Jon Krakauer/2003/ BX 8680 M54 K73 2003. Browsing, Stacks, Special Collections. Explores the shadowy world of Mormon fundamentalism by telling the somewhat fabled story of the Laffery murders in 1984. The story of the Mormon Church from the nineteenth century on is woven through the story.
Blood of the Prophets /Will Bagley/ 2002/ F826 B13 2002. Stacks, Level 1 and Special Collections, Level 5. Bagley examines new sources and draws new conclusions on the controversial Mountains Meadows Massacre
Utah's National Parks, Hiking, Camping, and Vacationing in Utah's Canyon Country /Ron Adkison/2000/ GV191.42 U8 A35 2000. Stacks, Level 1 and Special Collections, Level 5. For those traveling to Southern Utah, this is invaluable--a guide to some of the most breath taking wonders on the planet. Over 125 hikes are described from the easiest to the more difficult.
A is for Arches, a Utah Alphabet /Katherine Larson and Becky Hall/ 2003/ On order. Readers are taken on a journey through the alphabet with each letter teaching something about Utah, each page beautifully illustrated--A is for Arches, Z is for Zion National Park and all between, there are loads of facts in this delightful book not only for children.
The Unholy War: BYU vs. Utah /Phil Miller and Dick Rosetta/1997/ Z232.5 P4 M554 1997 Special Collections, Level 5. An absolute necessity if you follow one of sports' most outstanding rivalries.
Utah Historians and the Reconstruction of Western History /Gary Topping/ 2003/ F591 T675 2003. Special Collections, Level 5. The names Bernard DeVoto, Dale Morgan, Juanita Brooks, Wallace Stegner and Fawn Brodie stand among the greats of American historians--all from Utah. Their work fashioned understanding of the West; Topping examines their influence.
Welcome to Utah. /Pat Bagley/2001/ F826.6 B34 2001. Special Collections, Level 5. The chronicler of Utah life, through political cartoons in the Salt Lake Tribune, is at his best here.
Utah Art, Utah Artists, 150 year survey /Vern G. Swanson, Robert Olpin, Donna Poulton, Janie Rogers/2002/ N6530 U8 S943 2001/ Browsing and Stacks. This book surveys 150 years of the extraordinary talent and achievements of Utah artists.
To the Brink: Stockton, Malone and the Utah Jazz's Climb to the Edge of Glory /Michael Lewis/ 1998/ GV885.52 L49 1998. Special Collections, Level 5. A part of Utah culture, like no other, the Utah Jazz basketball team has captured the imagination of Utahans, especially during the "glory" years of the late 90's.
Desert Solitaire /Edward Abbey/1968/ PS3551.B2 Z463 1981 Stacks, Level 2. Autobiographical account of the author's time in the Arches area by the most articulate advocate of Utah's environmental ethic.
Great Basin Kingdom /Leonard Arrington/1958/ HC107.U8 A8 Stacks, Level 1. A complete analysis of the economic history of the state in the 19th century by a highly respected scholar.
History of Utah,1540-1886 /Hubert H. Bancroft/1889/ F826.B35 1964 Stacks, Level 1 The most exhaustive chronicle of the area, by the foremost chronicler of the entire west.
Utah Birds: Historical Perspective and Bibliography /William H. Behle,1990/ QL684.U8 B466 1990 Special Collections, Level 5. The definitive work by the most respected biologist.
Butch Cassidy, My Brother /Lula Parker Bentenson/1975/ F595.C362 B47 Stacks, Level 1 The true story behind the popular movie.
Pageant in the Wilderness /Herbert Eugene Bolton/1950/ F786.V513 Stacks, Level 1. The story of the Escalante expedition of 1776.
No Man Knows my History /Fawn Brodie.1971/ BX8695.S6 B69 Stacks, Level 1. The biography of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion,which has withstood much controversy, but remains a classic. See also Reconsidering No man knows my history: Fawn M. Brodie and Joseph Smith in retrospect/Newell G. Bringhurst/BX8695.S6 B738 1996 Stacks, Level 1 and E-book
Mountain Meadow Massacre /Juanita Brooks/1950/ F826.B87 1962 Stacks, Level 1. First rate account of this significant event in Utah history.
Grand Beehive /Hal Cannon/1980/ NK835.U8 G7 1980 Stacks, Level 2. A look at the folk symbol of the state.
Utah's Historic Architecture /Thomas Carter and Peter Goss/1988/ NA730.U8.C37 1988 Stacks, Level 2. What's what, who's who and where's where of Utah's architecture.
The University of Utah, a History of Its First Hundred Years, 1850- 1959 /Ralph Chamberlin/1950/ LD5533.C45 Stacks, Level 2. See also the sesquicentennial volume The University of Utah: 150 years of excellence /Craig Denton/2000/ LD5533 .D36 2000 Stacks, Level 2 and Special Collections.
Standing Up Country /C. Gregory Crampton/1964/ F88.C79 Stacks, Level 1. A loving and careful look at Utah's canyon country.
Across the Wide Missouri /Bernard DeVoto/1947/ F592.D36 Stacks, Level 1. The best look at the pioneer movement west to Utah.
Atlas of Utah /Deon C. Greer/1981/G1515.A8 1981 Map Collection, Level 4. A complete "look" at Utah from a geographical perspective
Great and Peculiar Beauty /Thomas Lyons and Terry Tempest Williams/1995/ PS571.U8 G74 1995 Special Collections, Level 5. Well selected essays about all aspects of Utah, highly literary.
Jedediah Smith and the Opening of the West /Dale Morgan/1953/ F592.S653 Stacks, Level 1. The best account of the mountain man period, with special emphasis on Utah.
The Peoples of Utah /Helen Papanikolas/1976/ F835.A1 P46 Stacks, Level 1. Wonderful account of various ethnic groups which make up the fabric of Utah life.
Utah History Encyclopedia /Allan Kent Powell/1994/ F826.U856 1994 General Reference, Level 3 An entry on just about everything you may wish to know about Utah's past.
Mormon Country /Wallace Stegner/1942/ F826.S752 Stacks, Level 1. The most beautifully written account of life in Utah.
Jewel of the Desert /Sandra Taylor/1993/ D769.8.A6 T39 1993 Stacks, Level 1. An account of the Japanese-American internment in Utah during the Second World War.
Riders of the Purple Sage /Zane Gray/1912/ PS3513.R6545 R5 1995 Stacks, Level 2. Cowboy fiction, set in Utah, the best of the genre.
Thief of Time /Tony Hillerman/1988/ PS3558.I45 T47 1988 Stacks, Level 2. Murder mystery set in southern Utah
Refuge /Terry Tempest Williams/1991/ QH105.U8 W55 1991 Science, Level 4 Beautiful blending of a woman's life with breast cancer and the natural history of the Great Salt Lake.
Sequences /Leslie Norris/1988/ Z232.5.P4 N647 1988 (in storage) Special Collections, Level 5. Poetry from one of Utah's distinguished poets
Charter for Statehood /Jean B. White/1996/ KFU401.6.S8 W48 1996 Stacks, Level 2. The story of the Utah State Constitution
Additional non-circulating copies of most of these books are available in Special Collections, Level 5. Salt Lake area public libraries will also have copies of many of them. Many are out-of-print, but local second-hand and rare bookstores may have copies.
Paul Mogren Ph.D.
Collection Specialist, Special Collections 4-04
