RURAL UTAH SAVING HISTORY

A STATEWIDE INVESTMENT

WITH STATEWIDE IMPACT

• State managed funding program
• Annual legislative appropriation
• $24,000 for participating rural counties
• Funds part-time county archivist
• Funds one statewide RUSH Program Coordinator

RUSH FUND $400,000 - $500,000

Required annually to fund the program

Guides. Supports. Connects.

• Focuses on the gathering, preserving, and sharing needs and possibilities of each rural county
• Manages the application process and approval of county participants
• Individualizes organizational direction
• Coordinates training with state archives and history departments
• Encourages uniform standards
• Increases awareness of grants and funding opportunities in the counties

RURAL COUNTIES. RICH HISTORIES. STRONGER TOGETHER

Every Rural Community Has a Story Worth Preserving

Across rural Utah, dedicated volunteers, historical societies, museums, libraries, and local governments work tirelessly to preserve the stories that define their communities. The Rural History & Archives Funding Initiative Report below captures the experiences of nineteen rural counties, documenting how history is gathered, preserved, managed, and shared, while examining the funding needed to sustain these important efforts. The findings reveal both inspiring successes and significant challenges, providing the research that ultimately inspired the RUSH (Rural Utah Saving History) Program. Download the report to see how collaboration, strategic investment, and community partnerships can help preserve Utah's history for generations to come. 

RURAL HISTORY MATTERS, BUT IT'S DISAPPEARING

Rural County Survey Results

Nineteen rural counties, classes four through six, with populations under 40,000 were interviewed.

Preservation Should Not Depend on Population Size or Available Funding.

We invite community leaders, legislators, historical societies, archives, museums, libraries, tribal organizations, local governments, volunteers, and history enthusiasts to download this report and join us in building a stronger future for Utah's rural heritage through the RUSH Program.

19 COUNTIES. ONE SHARED RISK. ONE SCALEABLE SOLUTION

RUSH! RURAL UTAH SAVING HISTORY PROGRAM

A STATEWIDE SOLUTION TO PRESERVE UTAH'S RURAL STORIES

Nearly 80% of Utah's land area is rural, yet many communities lack the resources to preserve their history.

The Reality in Rural Communities

Rural counties often rely on volunteers, small local budgets, scattered collections, and informal preservation efforts. Without coordinated support, historical records, photographs, maps, oral histories, and community memories are at risk of permanent loss.

• No coordinated archival systems
• Limited or no funding structures
• Collections scattered across locations
• Volunteers without training or standards
• Critical history at risk of permanent loss

RURAL HISTORY MATTERS, BUT IT'S DISAPPEARING

From FRagmented to sustainable

A SCALEABLE STATEWIDE MODEL

The Rural Utah Saving History or RUSH Program proposes a scalable statewide support model designed to strengthen the gathering, preserving, and sharing of local history in underserved rural communities. This cost-effective framework combines state-supported funding, a State Rush Coordinator, part-time County History Coordinators, centralized training aligned with archival standards, and foundational digitization and preservation infrastructure. 

By pairing local community involvement with professional guidance, the initiative creates a sustainable system that helps rural counties protect historical collections, improve public access, build grant-writing capacity, and develop long-term preservation strategies. Through partnerships with state agencies, universities, archives, museums, libraries, and non-profit organizations, this model aims to ensure that preservation support is accessible to all communities—regardless of population size or available funding.

• State-supported funding program
  Sustainable annual funding
  
  
• Part-time State Rush Program Coordinator
  Guides, supports, and connects county coordinators
  
  
• Centralized training aligned with archival standards
  Delivered by Utah Historical Society and Utah Division of Archives and Record Services
  
  
• Part-time County History Coordinator
  Empowers counties with local leadership
  
  
• Digitization and preservation infrastructure
  Protects collections and ensures long-term access for future generations
  
  
• Grant-writing support and navigation
  Helps counties access additional grants, equipment, and project funding
  
  
• Community Connections and collaboration
  Partnerships with state, university, community, tribal, museum, library, and nonprofit organizations

1

COUNTY APPLIES



Three visionary residents with approval and support from the county commission apply for the RUSH program.

2

STATE TRAINING & SUPPORT

RUSH Coordinator and state partners provide individualized training, tools and guidence.

3

BUILD & GROW



Inventory, organize, digitize, gather stories, and build community partnerships with local organizations.

4

COMMUNITY BENEFITS LAST FOR GENERATIONS

Stories are preserved, shared and used to strengthen communities and inspire future generations.

lasting state impact

RURAL EQUITY



Every community's story is preserved and valued.

TOURISM & ECONOMY

Local history attracts visitors and supports local businesses.

EDUCATION



Provides local learning opportunities and resources for all ages

DISASTER RESILIENCE

Protects vital records from loss due to fire, flood and disaster.

STRONGER COMMUNITIES

Builds pride, unity, and engagement through shared heritage.

Every community has a story.

Together, we make Utah's story complete.

wHEN RURAL HISTORY IS LOST, COMMUNITIES LOOSE PART OF THIER IDENTITY

Rural archives preserve more than documents—they protect the stories, people, traditions, and evidence that connect generations, strengthen community identity, support education and tourism, and ensure local voices are not forgotten. Investing in rural preservation is a lasting investment in the cultural, educational, and economic future of communities that would otherwise lack the resources to safeguard their own history.

ARE YOU IN RURAL UTAH?

A COMMUNITY MEMBER, PART OF AN ARCHIVE, A HISTORICAL ORGANIZATION, A MUSEUM, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT?

JOIN THE RUSH NETWORK

Join the Rush Program to play a vital role in preserving your community's rich history. By participating, you contribute to a digital archive that celebrates our unique identity through historical documents, photographs, maps, and captivating stories from every town. This is an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow history enthusiasts, enhance public access to our heritage, and ensure that future generations can explore the rich tapestry of Utah's past.

Be a part of something meaningful.

Join us today!

ARE YOU A SUPPORTER OF HISTORY PRESERVATION?

Support Sustainable

Rural Archives

Sustaining rural archives requires ongoing funding, partnerships, and dedicated resources. Your support enables training programs, infrastructure upgrades, equipment, perservation supplies, and community outreach that protect local history for future generations. Join legislators, foundations, and donors committed to preserving rural heritage through strategic investment and collaboration by filling out this form.

We will connect with you, or call us at 435-893-0484 or schedule an appointment.

ARE YOU PART OF AN ARCHIVE, A HISTORICAL ORGANIZATION, OR A MUSEUM AND WILLING TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR CONNECT?

Share Your Expertise

We are building an Archives Resource Network to connect:

• State archives and agencies
• University archives
• Community archives
• Museums
• Libraries
• Nonprofit organizations
• Independent professionals
• Cultural Heritage Experts

You can:

• Share knowledge
• Teach workshops (virtual or in-person)
• Mentor rural archives
• Share resources, tools, templates, and workflows
• Partner on grants and initiatives
• Coordinate internships

Suggested areas of expertise:

• Digitization
• DACS / archival description
• Metadata
• Preservation
• Oral history
• Grant writing
• Community archives
• Collection management
• Digital preservation
• Outreach and public access
• Audio-visual management
• Collection Scope
  

You can share other ideas and ways you can help in the message section, or leave comments on our initiative or survey.

By connecting expertise from larger institutions with underserved communities, this initiative aims to strengthen preservation capacity and ensure that rural histories are not lost due to a lack of resources or access to professional support.

Thank you for sharing your time and expertise.