Working Together: A Utah Portfolio

An Oral History Institute Photograph Exhibit 

Working Together: Documenting Utah's Ethnic and Minority Histories

Working Together: A Utah Portfolio was a photo-documentary exhibit that was created from four years of documentary work conducted in Utah's Black, Greek, Jewish, Japanese, Mexican/Hispanic, Chinese, Italian, and Ute communities. Working Together grew out of the Oral History Institute's (OHI's) "Ethnic and Minority Documentary project."The purpose of the project (started in the spring of 1982 and was funded by a a grant from the Utah Endowment for the Humanities, was to document the experiences, contributions, and life-styles of eight of Utah's ethnic and minority communities. Using oral histories and documentary photography by George Janecek and Kent Miles, OHI worked with the elderly of the state's above mentioned communities to preserve and present their experiences and contributions during the years 1920-1985.

Working Together: A Utah Portfolio was the exhibit representing the efforts of the OHI and the communities and people of the state of Utah. For further information see Missing Stories: An Oral History of Ethnic and Minority Groups in Utah, written by Leslie Kelen and Eileen Hallet Stone published by the University of Utah Press. The pictures presented on this website represent only a small sample of the photographs taken for the Working Together project. The full collection is inventoried in the Special Collections Finding Aid. To visit us to view this collection in person, or inquire about high resolution reproductions, please contact Special Collections.

Black Americans

 

An elderly person rests their hand on a cane, wearing a striped shirt, conveying a sense of reflection and wisdom.

Nathan "Woody" Wright, by Kent Miles, 1985 (P0306n13_065)

A caregiver holds a young child in their lap, while another child nearby drinks from a bottle in a cozy indoor setting.


Calvary Baptist Church, Sunday Service, by Kent Miles, 1984
(P0306n13_010)

A police officer stands by the entrance of the Third District Court, wearing a uniform and adjusting the door handle.


Officer Jake Green, Courthouse, by George Janecek, 1985
(P0306n13_004)

Chinese Americans

A man in a formal suit stands with hands clasped in an ornate room, featuring a large tiger painting and plush seating.

Dewey Wong at China Village, by Kent Miles, 1986 (P0306n14_022)

A butcher in an apron stands in a shop, with various ducks hanging from hooks in the background, creating an industrial atmosphere.

Hanging ducks at Wing Fat Enterprises, by Kent Miles, 1986
(P0306n14_018)

A black-and-white photo of several people seated at a café, with a focus on two individuals in the foreground.

Bin and Margaret Yee at Jade Café, by George Janecek, 1986 (P0306n14_009)

Greek Americans

 

A man in a white lab coat stands beside a large table in a fabric warehouse, with stacks of rolled textiles visible in the background.

Steve Sargetakis, by Kent Miles, 1985 (P0306n17_036)

Two individuals cook in a kitchen, one holding a fry basket over a deep fryer filled with doughnuts, surrounded by kitchen equipment.

Unidentified women cooking at Greek Festival, by Kent Miles,
1985 (P0306n17_051)

A seated woman in a dark outfit poses at a table in a softly lit room with a patterned wall and a stained glass window.

Penelope Koulouris, by George Janecek, 1985 (P0306n17_035)

Italian Americans

A standing craftsman in a plaid shirt and apron, holding a tool, surrounded by shelves filled with various workshop items and a clock on the wall.

Dominick L. Besso, Price, Utah, by Kent Miles, 1987
(P0306n16_025)

A group of people gathered around a festive table, beautifully set with plates, glasses, and holiday decorations, enjoying a celebration.

Phil Notarianni and family, Christmas dinner, by George Janecek, 1985 (P0306n16_001)

A man sits beside a colorful wooden statue of a saint, against a backdrop of flower-patterned wallpaper.

Leo Italasano, by George Janecek, 1986 (P0306n16_014)

Japanese Americans

An elderly person with long, white hair is focused on a piece of paper, surrounded by shelves filled with tools and materials in a workshop.

Kuniko Terasawa at the Utah Nippo, by Kent Miles, 1986
(P0306n17_025)

A formal portrait of a man in a suit with a patterned tie, set against a dark background featuring text that reads "University of Utah Photographs."

Dr. Jun Kurmada, by Kent Miles (P0306n17_023)

A woman stands in a vintage living room adorned with floral wallpaper, elegant furniture, and shelves filled with books. Natural light streams in.

Mrs. Osako Uno, Salt Lake City, Utah, by Kent Miles, 1985 (P0306n17_010)

Jewish Americans

A child sits at a table in a dimly lit room, with two candles placed on a white plate in front of them, creating a warm atmosphere.

Iranian girl with candles, by Kent Miles, 1986 (P0306n15_015)

An elderly man reads a book while wearing a prayer shawl and tefillin, as another man stands behind him in a synagogue setting.

Thursday Morning Prayer Service, Kol Ami Synagogue, Salt Lake
City, Utah, by Kent Miles, 1986 (P0306n15_008)

A woman dressed in a black vest and white blouse sits on a floral couch, with two framed, blurred portraits behind her.

Rose Arnovitz, Salt Lake City, by Kent Miles, 1986 (P0306n15_004)

Mexican or Hispanic Americans

A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and an open white shirt, captured in a black and white setting with a blurred background.

Unidentified Migrant worker, Ogden, Utah, by George Janecek,
1987 (P0306n16_040)

Migrant Worker (Ogden, 1987. George Janecek)

Unidentified child in field ("Migrant Worker"), by George Janecek,
1987(P0306n16_048)

A girl in a white dress and veil is adjusting her hair while standing near a wooden chair, surrounded by people in a softly lit setting.

Unidentified child, First Communion, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Church, by Kent Miles, 1986 (P0306n16_050)

Native Americans

A man in a white shirt with arms crossed stands confidently against a textured stone wall, exuding a casual yet poised demeanor.

Forrest S. Cuch, by Kent Miles, 1986 (P0306n13_056)

A monochrome portrait featuring a man wearing a plaid shirt, standing beside a curtain with framed pictures on the wall.

Lester M. Chapoose , by Kent Miles, 1987 (P0306n13_039)

A person adorned in vibrant, feathered attire, showcasing traditional Indigenous regalia, with intricate patterns and textures.

Dancer, Pow Wow, Fort Duchesne, by George Janecek, 1985 (P0306n13_033)

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 Last Modified 5/2/25