Incorporation Case Files, 1869-1961 (microfilm): Incorporation Case Files contain at a minimum the original articles of incorporation and any subsequent amendments. Some files also contain notices to pay licensing fees and taxes, oaths of office for corporate officers, annual reports, correspondence, or other miscellaneous documents. Case files were created during the length of a corporation’s existence. They were generated when companies incorporated within Salt Lake County and served as evidence of “due incorporation of the corporation [UCA 16-2].”

Articles of incorporation constitute a contract between the state and corporation, between the corporation and stockholders, and between the stockholders and state. The articles of incorporation record the following: names of the incorporators and their places of residence; length of the corporation’s existence; pursuit of business agreed upon; amount of stock each shareholder received; description of stock classes; number and kind of corporate officers; and number of directors necessary to transact corporate business. (Source: Utah State Archive’s finding aid for series 3888)

Incorporation Case Files, 1869-1896 (paper): Original paper case files flattened and foldered for permanent storage after being filmed.

Indexes: Three types of indexes were created by the Salt lake County Clerk to facilitate access to the Incorporation Case Files:

1)The alphabetical index (alphabetical by corporation name) includes the name of the corporation, case number assigned by the clerk, incorporation record book number, and record book page number. Microfiche

2)The numerical index (numerical by case number) includes the assigned case number and the full name of the corporation. The case number was assigned on the day the clerk filed the documents thus allowing the inference of chronology. Microfiche

3)Incorporation case files of corporations newly organized under the current laws of Utah and conducting business within Salt Lake County. Case files contain the original articles of incorporation and any subsequent amendments.

The Oaths of Office Index for 1916-1917 is alphabetical by corporate officer name and includes date of the oath of office, office held, corporation number, and corporation name. 1918-1931 is alphabetical by corporation name and includes date, number of oaths filed, corporation number, and sometimes the name of the officer and office held. Microfilm