AGENCY: Emery County (Utah). County Clerk

SERIES: 84033
TITLE: Articles of incorporation record books of LDS church wards
DATES: 1887.
ARRANGEMENT: Chronological

DESCRIPTION: These volumes record copies of Articles of Incorporation files with the Emery County Clerk of the County Court by LDS Church Wards. The record books were kept as the official copy which was available for public use. The actual articles of incorporation record the following: names of the corporation officers including the office of President which was filled by the Bishop of the ward, names of ward members and oaths of office. The Articles of Incorporation state that members of the ward "desired to become a body corporate, under and in accordance with the existing laws of Utah Territory, and had met for that purpose." The law of the Utah Territory stated "that any number of persons associated together for religious, social, scientific, benevolent or other purposes...when pecuniary profit is not their object...may incorporate themselves as provided in the Act (Laws of Utah, 1878, chap. 18, sec. 1).

Under current Utah law and the laws of the territorial legislature, individuals desiring to incorporate, were to file and record articles of incorporation with their respective county clerk. These agreements specified the nature and place of business, amount of stock to be issued, terms for officers, etc. The clerk in turn issued a certificate of incorporation and recorded the final articles of incorporation in these record books.

RETENTION

DISPOSITION

RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION

These records are in Archives' permanent custody.

FORMAT MANAGEMENT

Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.

Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.

Paper: Retain in Office permanently after being microfilmed.

APPRAISAL

Historical Legal

Because of the importance of incorporation information, which documents the organization and existence of companies, the county clerk is required by law [UCA sections 3 and 16] to maintain incorporation case files and record books (and likewise their corresponding indexes).

PRIMARY DESIGNATION

Public