Draper Historical Society seeks local history from residents

The Draper Historical Society - a nonprofit, volunteer-led group - is asking residents to write and submit their family histories or personal accounts about local life in the city before 1940.

All of the information will be used to create Volume 4 of the “People of Draper,” a series of books and informational DVDs documenting the history of the city and residents.

Draper City Public Relations Specialist Maridene Hancock said the “People of Draper” series is a valuable resource available to anyone interested in the unique history of the local community.

She said the mission of the Draper Historical Society is important in a city with the official motto, “The Spirit of the Past is the Strength of the Future.”

“I refer to the books quite a bit,” Hancock said.

Combined, the first three volumes of the “People of Draper” series provide more than 700 personal accounts of local life lived in the area between the time when pioneers first settled Draper in the 1800s, through 1932.

Volume 1 and 3 are collections of family histories; volume 2 in the series outlines a timeline-style account of the history of the city.

Former Draper Historical Society President Paul Smith said the society has already gathered approximately 100 family histories out of the 300 needed to put together a fourth volume in the series.

He said Historical Society volunteers working on the book would like to have residents from all over the Salt Lake Valley -- including residents of Sandy, Herriman, Bluffdale, Riverton and South Jordan - with family history in Draper participate by submitting their stories.

“We’d like to have a full history, or about four pages [per story],” Smith said.

The “People of Draper” series is available to residents through the Draper Historical Society Museum, at 1054 Pioneer Road (12400 South).

The books may be purchased for $25. DVDs cost $5.

Visitors to the Draper Historical Society Museum will also find a display of community historical artifacts and pictures.

In addition, the museum parking lot was recently expanded and a new heating system installed at the building to improve the experience for visitors.

Last fall, the Draper Historical Society was awarded $6,000, the maximum grant amount available for museum development, through a funding program operated by the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.

Utah Division of Arts and Museums Communications Director Wendi Hassan said only 44 museums of 150 throughout the state received the funding this year.

“It’s a competitive process,” Hassan said.

The administrators with the Draper museum declared that they would use the funding to expand the parking lot and improve the museum building with the grant as part of the application process.

The museum is open to the public on Monday and Wednesdays each week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with hours extended through 8 p.m. during the summer months.

Anyone interested in submitting a family history or personal account to be included in the “People of Draper” series should call the museum during open hours at 801-495-3476.