"It Began West..." - documentary, 2003

Item — video: 1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Exploring the history of non-Latter-Day Saint immigrants to the Salt Lake Valley, this film looks at various factors pulling immigrants toward relocation in Utah such as the Trans Continental Railroad, mining, and factors in their homelands which lured populations from Jewish, Greek, Hispanic, and various other communities. Due to the fact that the LDS Church discouraged its members from working in the mines, the mining industry was a strongly diverse opportunity center for immigrants not associated with the LDS culture. The emigrant population working in the mines created their own community on the west side of town full of "blue collar" workers. Little now remains of these communities and most of the buildings still standing have been gutted or altered so much that there is little left to show little of the emigrant heritage of those working in the mines, smelting, and factories of that area.

Dates

2003

Conditions Governing Access

Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.