Founded 3 April 1908, the Utah Academy of Sciences was organized "to promote investigations and diffuse knowledge in all areas of science." Beginning 1923, the Academy started publishing the papers presented in its annual meetings in Proceedings. In June 1933 at the annual meeting, the Academy was enlarged to include the arts and letters, and the name was changed to the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Articles of incorporation and nonprofit organization status were accepted by the Academy membership at the spring meeting in April 1959. In 1977, the name of the journal of the Academy was changed from Proceedings to Encyclia. It became a refereed journal at this time. In the mid 1980s, the scope of the Academy was expanded still further to include 1) Business, 2) Education, 3) Engineering, 4) Library Information and Instruction, and 5) Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. Beginning with the 1998 issue, the journal is now The Journal of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters.

The Academys annual meetings are normally held in April on one of the Utah campuses of higher education. The plenary session is called the Tanner Lecture, endowed by Mr. O. C. Tanner in 1986.

The best paper presented in every division is given a cash award, which is presented at the "Academys Awards Evening" held the following Fall.

The Academy recognizes outstanding contributions to teaching and scholarship by means of annual Distinguished Service Awards, alternating every other year between disciplines.

When the Academy was founded in 1908, membership was by nomination, ratified by the Council, and elected by a "three-fourths vote of members present." Today, the Academys membership is available by application.

All Utah institutions of higher education are members of the Utah Academy. The Academy appreciates their patronage.