Staff from The University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library <http://www.lib.utah.edu/> will be interviewing individuals throughout Utah who have been affected by the nuclear weapons testing that occurred in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Beginning in 1951, the era of nuclear weapons testing was a time of tremendous change at both national and local levels. In the name of national security, a variety of nuclear weapons were tested in a remote area of the Nevada desert known as the Nevada Test Site. Fallout and radiation from these tests have affected communities across the nation, in many cases resulting in the loss of property, health and life.

Representatives from the Marriott Library will be visiting public libraries throughout northern, southwestern, and southeastern Utah. Examples of oral histories currently included in the archive can be found here <http://lib.utah.edu/services/geospatial/downwinders/oral-history-interviews.php>.

New interviews will be included in the Downwinders <http://www.downwindersofutah.org/> of Utah Archive, a free resource providing information on nuclear detonations, radioactive fallout and events that
resulted in devastating effects for Utah’s “Downwinder” population.

“The archive focusses on individuals, families and geographic areas that were negatively affected,” explains Justin Sorensen, GIS Specialist at the Marriott Library and creator of the archive. “Our hope is that the archive illustrates the events and impacts in greater detail, while educating future generations in the hope that the mistakes of the past will never occur again.”

Individuals will be interviewed at the locations listed below. Scheduling interviews isn’t necessary; just stop by during the hours listed below. Questions should be directed to Justin Sorensen at justin.sorensen@utah.edu. For more information on the archive, events or the current compilation of oral history interviews, visit www.downwindersofutah.org

Southeastern Utah

Price City Library
159 East Main Street  Price, UT
Wednesday May 22, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Grand County Public Library – Moab Branch
257 East Center Street  Moab, UT
Monday May 20, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

San Juan County Public Library – Blanding Branch
25 West 300 South  Blanding, UT
Tuesday May 21, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Southwestern Utah

Washington County Public Library – St. George Branch
88 West 100 South  St. George, UT
Monday June 3, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Washington County Public Library – Enterprise Branch
393 South 200 East  Enterprise, UT
Tuesday June 4, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Cedar City Public Library
303 North 100 East  Cedar City, UT
Wednesday June 5, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Northern Utah

Provo City Library
550 North University Avenue  Provo, UT
Monday June 24, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Tooele City Library
128 West Vine Street  Tooele, UT
Tuesday June 25, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Weber County Public Library – Main Library
2464 Jefferson Avenue  Ogden, UT
Wednesday June 26, 2019, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF UTAH’S J. WILLARD MARRIOTT LIBRARY