Home > History and Archives > Finding Aids and Inventories > State and Local Government Records > Pima County

RG 110
Pima County
Pima County was the last of the four Arizona counties created under the
Howell Code of 1864. It was named for the Pima Indians. Parts of the county
were taken to create the counties of Maricopa, Pinal, Cochise, Graham and
Santa Cruz. The county seat is Tucson.
SG 1. Assessor
Assessments. 1879-1959. 66.6 c.f. (223 volumes)
Records report value of land and improvements in the City of Tucson and surrounding
areas. In the assessment list for 1891, the arrangement appears to be by
city or town. Some notations (figures of valuation) were added by the Board
of Equalization. There is also a bundle of assessment rolls by lot, 1940-1944.
The tax roll of Pima County, 1882-1886, lists value of property for Tucson
School District, in addition to normal tax roll listings.
The assessment and tax roll of the City of Tucson is arranged alphabetically
by taxpayer's name. The mines and mining claims gross product assessment
roll, 1907-1913, begins with the assessment and tax receipt number. Personal
property assessment rolls list non-real estate taxable property.
Inheritance tax list. 1915. Fraction c.f. (1 volume)
This volume lists those paying inheritance taxes for 1915.
Tract book and assessment record. 1971-1978. 30.9 c.f. (103
volumes).
Maps. 1939-1983. 27.3 c.f. (91 volumes).
SG 4. Justice of the Peace
Inquests. 1864-1949. 7 c.f. (7 boxes)
Inquests are for the Tucson precinct, arranged in chronological order.
Cashbook. 1901-1902. Fraction c.f. (1 volume)
This cashbook was an exhibit in case number 3854, Robert Goddes v. Liberty
Mining and Smelting Company, 1905. It lists financial information on the
company.
Justice Court roll. 1871-1881. Fraction c.f. (1 volume)
This volume contains minutes.
Justice dockets. 1873-1919. 10.2 c.f. (34 volumes)
Volumes include both civil and criminal cases with indices. Marriages are
recorded in the back of the Justice Docket book, 1889-1890.
SG 5. Recorder
Instruments for filing. 1886-1913. 1.8 c.f.
(6 volumes).
Volumes include instruments, 1886-1897, entered for the record, and a blotter,
1887-1913, for those recorded, which shows the nature of the instrument filed
or recorded. Instruments were recorded chronologically and later grouped
alphabetically.
Voter registrations. 1876-1946. 9.6 c.f. (32 volumes and
1 roll of microfilm).
Registrations include affidavits of registration for voting, 1903, and great
and general registers, 1876-1946. The 1903 affidavits of registration are
declarations of citizenship. Great registers, 1876-1881, are an alphabetical
list of electors.
The Pima County index to permanent registration of electors is arranged in
alphabetical order, but only includes letters A-G. There is a set of tables
in front showing changes in registration and cancellations over a two-year
period, 1936-1938.
Butchers' reports. 1893-1895. Fraction c.f. (3 folders).
Butchers' reports were made in accordance with an act for the protection
of livestock growers.
Livestock inspector reports. 1893-1895. Fraction c.f.
(3 folders).
These reports are the stock inspector's record of activities forms.
Mines. 1863-1976 and n.d. 44.7 c.f. (149 volumes and 1 folder).
Mine records include deeds of mines, 1863-1948; record of mines, 1880-1949;
a mine book, 1911-1917; location notices of mines, 1929 and 1945-1954; and
a record book of patented mines, n.d. The location notice of the Equator
Mine, 1896, explains the boundaries of the claim. The record book of patented
mines, n.d., is one volume which inside is titled, index to mines and mill
sites. It contains an alphabetical listing of mines and mill sites and fees
paid.
Also included are indices to deeds of mines, by grantor and grantee, 1863-1976;
indices of mining records by claimant, 1880-1976; indices to mining records
by name of mine, 1866-1976; and indices to mining notices of location by
claimant, 1892-1936 and 1951-1961.
Maps and plats. 1880-1976. 8.4 c.f. (28 volumes).
Records include index to maps and plats, 1880-1905; a record of surveys,
1880-1905; a City of Tucson block book, n.d.; an index to roads and streets,
1881-1903; books of maps and plats, 1896-1904; and town platbook, 1949. The
1897-1907 maps and plats are of subdivisions, additions, streets and alleys,
while the 1880-1950 index to maps and plats of Pima County notes street abandonments,
subdivisions, highways, amended plats and easements, and is arranged alphabetically
by name of subdivision, highway or street. The town platbook, 1949, is for
section corners and ties. Also included are road map books, 1919-1976. The
index to roads and streets, 1881-1903, is indexed.
Notary records. 1896-1914. 2.7 c.f. (9 volumes).
These are records of individual notaries' (named) documents witnessed or
acknowledged. Volumes are indexed.
Mortgages and leases. 1864-1968. 82.8 c.f. (276 volumes).
Records include indices to mortgages of real property, mortgagees and mortgagors,
1870-1890; releases of mortgages, real estate and personal property, 1941-1947;
index to release of mortgages of real and personal property listed by mortgagee
and mortgagor, 1880-1910 and 1927-1941; chattel mortgages, 1871-1900, 1892-1923
and 1938-1966; index to chattel mortgages, 1956-1968; assignment of mortgages
and leases, 1875-1947; index to assignment of mortgages and leases, 1887
and 1920-1930; realty mortgages, 1864-1947; leases, 1880-1948; index to leases,
1890 and 1940; and index to mortgages of personal property, by mortgagee
and mortgagor, 1880-1910.
Mortgage records are arranged in chronological order. Indices to mortgage
records are arranged by mortgagee and mortgagor and are arranged alphabetically
by last name. Assignments and releases of mortgages are in chronological
order.
Deeds. 1855-1953. 105.3 c.f. (350 volumes and 1 box).
Records include index to real estate deeds by grantees, 1856-1922, and by
grantors, 1862-1922; real estate deeds, 1855-1951; a record of deeds, n.d.
and 1871-1875; land claims, 1865-1953; and a record of mill sites, with index,
1879-1950. Alphabetical indices and a reverse index available for both grantor
and grantee.
Mexican land grants. 1851-1882. Fraction
c.f. (2 volumes).
Volumes are a Spanish-language transcript of grants from Sonora, Mexico,
and transfers of grants dated 1857; certifications of the U.S. Consul
at Guaymas in 1859 and Pima County Recorder in 1865 and 1882; and a
deed book of land records of Dona Ana County, New Mexico Territory,
1851-1861. The records give "testimony" of title deeds issued
from the State of Sonora, Mexico, to persons living in Arizona, 1857-1882. Indexed.
Cashbooks. 1912-1928. 1 c.f. (3 volumes).
Volumes contain a chronological listing of monies collected as fees.
Oaths and bonds. 1875-1956. 5.1 c.f. (1
box and 16 volumes).
Records include bonds issued, 1877-1920; an index to bonds, 1878-1917;
a bond register, 1903-1910; official bonds of county officers, 1877-1956;
and official oaths, bonds and butchers' bonds, 1875-1893. Oaths,
bonds and butcher bonds have an alphabetical index to where the
actual records were recorded.
Sole Trader register. 1878-1886. Fraction
c.f. (1 volume).
This volume lists women who retained sole proprietorship to businesses after
marriage. It is indexed and arranged chronologically.
Marks, brands, and counterbrands records. 1877-1897. Fraction
c.f. (2 volumes).
Volumes include a register, 1877-1897, and an index, 1877-1896, to brands,
counterbrands and ear marks. Changes are noted on the record and dated.
Contracts. 1882-1966. 13.5 c.f. (45 volumes)
Volumes include water contracts, 1919-1920; conditional sale contracts,
1936-1966, with indices, 1941-1953; bills of sale, 1882-1948; and certificates
of sale, 1882-1903.
Incorporations. 1877-1976. 7.5 c.f. (25
volumes).
Volumes contain copies of articles of incorporation filed by companies, 1880-1947,
with indices, 1877-1976.
Liens. 1849-1958. 3 c.f. (10 volumes).
Volumes include mechanics' liens, 1849-1949; lis pendens, 1849;
and federal tax liens, 1931-1958.
Separate property of married women. 1880-1930. Fraction
c.f. (1 volume).
This volume is an index of homesteads filed by women, 1880-1930, and retained
by them after marriage.
Abattoir record. 1913-1916. Fraction c.f. (1
volume).
This volume is a count of cattle by brand, by owners' name and by ranch.
Improvements on possessory rights. 1944-1948. Fraction
c.f. (1 volume).
Right of way. 1975. Fraction c.f. (1 volume).
This volume contains right of way for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Miscellaneous records. 1860-1976. 48.9 c.f. (163
volumes).
Volumes include miscellaneous record books, 1860-1951; indices to miscellaneous
records, 1860-1976; index to miscellaneous records; honorable discharges,
1943-1953; and affidavits of labor, 1952-1955 and 1974-1976.
Physicians and nurses certificates. 1901-1947. 1
c.f. (3 volumes).
Powers of Attorney. 1875-1948. 2.7 c.f. (9
volumes)
SG 6. Sheriff
Feebooks. 1885-1889 and 1917-1921. Fraction
c.f. (2 volumes).
Feebooks list accounts for fees and commissions.
Attachment and sale records. 1870-1960, with index,
and 1875-1906. 5.2 c.f. (4 boxes and 4 volumes).
The indices are arranged alphabetically by last name. Records include
two volumes of attachment and sale books, 1910-1958.
Registers of actions. 1875-1944. 9.6 c.f. (32
volumes).
Registers contain a statement by the Sheriff. Arranged in rough chronological
order as received.
Prisoners' records. 1892-1914 and 1955-1958. 2.7
c.f. (9 volumes).
Records include a record of territorial prisoners, 1892-1905; a county jail
prisoner record, 1905-1914; an index to prisoners, 1955-1958; prisoner meal
records, 1905-1913; and a county jail register of meals and guard reports,
1897-1905.
Daily reports. 1917-1932. 2.1 c.f. (7
volumes).
These volumes are a combination telephone log and day journal of information
as received or events as they happened. Arranged chronologically.
Tax sales. 1945-1951. Fraction c.f. (2
volumes).
Licenses. 1898-1920. Fraction c.f. (2
volumes).
Records include a separate list of liquor licenses for 1913-1915, arranged
chronologically.
SG 7. Superintendent of Schools
Board of Trustee records. 1876-1940. 3.4
c.f. (1 box, 8 volumes and 10 rolls of microfilm).
Trustee records include teachers' certificates, 1876-1911; certificates of
elections, 1906-1920; petitions, 1893 and 1921; school boundaries, 1927
and 1931; trustee reports, 1892-1899 and 1912-1916; School Board of
Trustee appointments, 1887-1940; opening of school notices, 1897-1898;
and school locations, 1941. Records include two petitions, 1893
and 1921, one about the appointment of a trustee and the other requesting
a boundary change. Trustee reports, 1892-1899 and 1912-1916, deal with
school expenses and attendance.
School census marshals' reports. 1892-1920 and
1888-1963. Fraction c.f. (4 folders).
Reports are not complete for all schools or all years. Files include
City of Tucson School Census Marshal reports, 1888-1963.
School health records. 1933-1936. Fraction
c.f. (2 rolls of microfilm).
Health records are arranged alphabetically by school.
Teachers' reports. 1888, 1933-1943 and 1963. Fraction
c.f. (6 folders and 8 rolls of microfilm).
Reports do not include all schools for all years. There are teachers'
reports for 1888, and teachers' registers and state school registers,
1938-1943 and 1963. These are not in alphabetical order.
Teachers' annual reports, 1933-1935, are for School District One only,
mostly grades 1-6, but a few grades 1-12. A page labeled statistics
asks for teachers' information.
Principals' annual reports. 1901-1925. Fraction
c.f. (3 folders).
Reports include abstracts of monthly summaries of attendance. There
are gaps in the records and not every district is reported each year.
Superintendents' records. 1879-1941. 2.4 c.f. (1
box and 8 volumes).
Records include Superintendents' reports on districts, 1924-1927; annual
reports of district clerks, 1888-1920; financial records, 1879-1936; and
correspondence, 1920-1921 and 1941.
Financial records include daybooks, 1879-1890; school funds, 1891-1894;
journal-school warrants, 1895-1897; school records, 1897-1901,
for numbered school districts; and school ledgers, 1907-1916. Later
financial records include expense ledgers, 1932-1934; disbursements, 1917-1922;
and a voucher and warrant record, 1935-1936
Correspondence, 1920-1921 and 1941, consists of four folders of letters pertaining
to local schools.
SG 8. Superior Court
Clerk of the Court. 1874-1961. 34.4 c.f. (11
boxes and 92 volumes).
Records include an index to actions, 1875-1910, and cross-index to civil
actions, 1930-1938; minute books, 1903-1906 and 1912-1915; judgment dockets
and warrants, 1875-1957; Grand Jury papers and lists, 1881-1918; index to
minute book #4, n.d.; accounts, 1905-1910; ledger, 1875-1882; accounts and
emolument returns to the Board of Supervisors, 1910-1911; Superior Court
jury lists, 1900-1945; index to abstracts of judgment, 1885-1908; certifications
and reports on notary public, 1880-1905 and 1903-1913; optometry registration,
1907; register of actions and feebook, 1882-1886; cashbook, 1892-1917; and
fragments of selected cases, 1873-1927.
The Clerk's records contain index to actions, 1875-1910, for District Court,
with both a reverse and a direct index to actions. Minutes of
the Superior Court, 1903-1906, 1912-1915 and 1951-1961, are also indexed.
The Grand Jury papers, 1883-1906, are mostly District Court cases. A
few jury lists are recorded in the Justice Docket for 1889-1890.
Accounts and ledgers, 1875-1911, deal with the financial expenses and fees
collected by the Court. Jury lists, 1900-1945, are a record of jury
members for various cases. The index to abstracts of judgments, 1885-1908,
is an alphabetical index by defendants' last names. Certifications
and reports on notaries public, 1880-1905 and 1903-1913, contain lists by
county of notaries and certificates. Optometry registrations, 1907,
are optometry certificates issued by the Board of Examiners. Also included
is one dental certificate.
Fragments of selected cases are in the same box as the certificates. They
have no obvious arrangement.
Civil Division. 1864-1956. 84.9 c.f. (84
boxes and 10 volumes).
Records include judgments, 1873-1913; marriage records,
1881-1951; civil registers of action with index, 1885, 1895-1897 and
1931-1940; delinquent tax lists, oaths and bonds, 1864-1928; and case
files, 1864-1912. District Court judgments, 1875-1913, are indexed.
Marriage records, 1881-1909, are original copies or photocopies of marriages
on file and are arranged chronologically. Books 1-3, dated 1881-1909,
include consents for minors to marry. There is also a simple listing
of marriages, 1886-1887, in the back of Justice Dockets Civil and Criminal,
1886-1887, 1898-1899 and 1900-1901. The Blotter of Instruments filed,
1887-1888, lists instruments recorded by the Clerk. Marriage affidavits,
1908-1921, are not indexed.
Civil registers of action with index, 1885, 1895-1897 and 1931-1940, are
arranged in chronological order and indexed in alphabetical order by last
name. Entries may include fines and remarks. Delinquent tax lists,
oaths and bonds, 1864-1928, contain oaths of attorneys admitted to practice
in the First Judicial District, 1864-1884, as well as oaths and bonds of
county officials, civil cases unnumbered and cases, appointments, oaths and
bonds, 1871-1882.
Case files, 1864-1912, are arranged chronologically by case number. Exhibits
to 1956 may be included.
Criminal Division. 1885-1917, 1958-1959 and 1967-1968. 2.7
c.f. (9 volumes).
Records include registers of actions and feebooks, 1885-1887 and 1885-1917,
and criminal dockets, 1958-1959 and 1967-1968.
Probate Division. 1864-1935 and 1950-1959. 20.5
c.f. (1 box and 68 volumes).
Records include an estate register, 1912-1922; journals, 1864-1912; register
of claims in probate proceedings, 1889-1935; record of letters and bonds,
1873-1903; record of wills, 1864-1904; an inventory and appraisement of estates
in guardianship, 1897-1915; estates accounting of fees collected, 1879-1880;
probate docket, 1885-1894; record of letters, 1907-1924; executors and administrators
bonds, 1907-1913; index to bonds and undertakings, 1875-1896; insanity
proceedings, 1899-1913; insanities and writs of habeas corpus, 1887-1897;
insanity judgment books, 1875-1913; probate minutes, 1950-1959; and petitions,
declarations and depositions for naturalizations, 1912-1914. The estate
registers, 1912-1922 and 1864-1912, are arranged chronologically.
Records of letters and bonds, 1873-1903, are indexed letters of administration
with power of authority to take charge of estate. Estates accounting
of fees collected, 1879-1880, is one volume. The record of letters,
1907-1924, deals with letters of guardianship. The volumes also contain
oaths of guardians. Administrators, special administrators and executors
are also in the record.
Inventory and appraisement of estates in guardianship, 1897-1915, contains
matters of the estate and guardianship. Certified appointed appraisers
are named. Oath of appraisers are noted as well as oaths of guardians. There
is an index. Executors and administrators' bonds, 1907-1913, are indexed
by last name. The index to bonds and undertakings, 1875-1896,
is an alphabetical listing.
The insanity group includes writs of habeas corpus and insanity,
register of proceedings, insanity cases and insanity records. The 1912-1914
declarations of intention, petitions for naturalization and depositories
are filed numerically.
SG 9. Board of Supervisors
1866-1985. 3.4 c.f. (11 volumes, 1 folder and 8" of
microfiche).
Minutes discuss the value of property in Pima County, the creation of
Santa Cruz County and bonded indebtedness. These also include
minutes for improvement districts and the Board of Equalization. Some
minute books also include county warrants. Arranged chronologically.
Claims. 1908-1913. Fraction c.f. (2 volumes).
Claims are audited, approved and paid by the county. These demands
are a form submitted for work done or performed.
Extensions of tax rolls. 1928. Fraction
c.f. (1 roll).
Extensions are notes of resulting discrepancies made by the accounting firm.
Official canvass. 1934. Fraction c.f. (1
parcel).
The canvass for the primary election, 1934, lists candidates and votes by
precinct.
Election Bureau exhibits. 1955. Fraction
c.f. (1 box).
Health Department. 1935-1937. 1 c.f. (1
box).
These records relate mostly to co-operative health projects. They
include correspondence, travel memos, reports, timecards and payroll
information for both Santa Cruz and Pima Counties.
Grand Jury records. 1939-1941. Fraction c.f. (2
volumes).
SG 11. Treasurer
Bonds. 1877-1921. 2.1 c.f. (7 volumes).
Bonds include a bond register, 1903-1921 and official bonds, 1877-1920. The
bond register, labeled 1903-1921, is a registry of county refunded bonds.
Taxes. 1882-1950. 6.6 c.f. (22 volumes).
Records include tax rolls, 1882-1886 and 1905; delinquent tax lists,
1887-1901, 1914-1919 and 1946-1948; record of taxes, 1895-1928 and 1946-1947;
three volumes of tax settlements, 1945-1950; tax redemption certificates,
1929-1942; and road and school tax records, 1910.
The road and school tax records, 1910, are indexed. Refunded
road taxes are noted chronologically as received.
Ledgers, warrants and feebooks. 1885-1919, 1927-1935
and 1970. 2.7 c.f. (9 volumes).
Volumes include ledgers, 1887, 1897, 1905-1919 and 1927-1935; warrants, 1887-1907
and 1970; and feebooks, 1885-1887. These are financial records. The
general ledgers, 1927-1935, list only expenses. The warrant register,
1970, is indexed.
Cash journals and books. 1889-1919. 3 c.f. (10
volumes).
Volumes include Tax Collectors' cashbooks, 1897-1919; back tax cashbooks,
1891-1912; unidentified cashbooks, 1908-1919; and cash journals, 1889-1897. Cash
journals, 1889-1897, are arranged chronologically. Cashbooks list the
same types of entries.
Conditional sale indices. 1932-1936. Fraction
c.f. (2 volumes).
Indexed by buyers' names, 1932-1936.
SG 14. Highway Department
Maps. 1914-1978. 5.1 c.f. (17
volumes).
The maps were used in planning roads.
top of page
Updated: 05/08/2009