Abstract

Much of Utah's history is the story of the relationship of humans and the land. Human perceptions of Utah's land have changed over time and affected the way it has been used. The homestead movement was an important phase in the use of Utah's land. Through federal settlement acts many Utahns obtained title to public land. This study is an attempt to learn more about the relationship between women and the land and about the lives of women in Utah.
The study is based on Utah land records from 1869-1934. Most homesteading activity in Utah took place during this period. Federal land laws were extended to utah in 1869. In 1934 the nature of the federal land system was altered. Emphasis shifted from providing land to citizens for farming and livestock-raising to direct government supervision of public lands, making home steading more difficult.
In spite of the significant role played by women in the settlement of Utah, their history has often been neglected. Historical studies of women in Utah have usually focused on female leaders, political movements such as suffrage, or women involved in plural marriages. Utah land records provide a rich source for looking into the lives of women who otherwise would go unnoticed. A significant number of women in Utah homesteaded. By looking at the women whose names appear in the land records, important information is added to the historical picture of women in Utah.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; History

Rights

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