Since starting my position in August 2025, I have been to 19 of the 23 counties, meeting with cultural heritage institutions along the way. Each meeting ranges from a simple “Hi, I’m the Roving Archivist,” to a tour of the site. At each meeting, I always ask one question: “What do you feel are areas of concern for your organization?” The answers vary from place to place, but break down to the same three things: funding, storage, and object preservation.
To help Wyoming’s cultural institutions address challenges in staffing, funding, and storage, the Wyoming State Historic Records and Advisory Board, with the American Heritage Center and the Wyoming State Archives, created the Wyoming Roving Archivist Program (RAP). The program is funded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Launched in 2020 after an NHPRC grant-funded assessment survey, the RAP connects cultural institutions with trained archival professionals to improve collections stewardship statewide. As the Roving Archivist, I travel to various repositories providing advice, sharing best practices, and offering encouragement for the management, arrangement, preservation, acquisition, and access of archival collections.
My job begins where data ends. In 2023, a previous Roving Archivist published the Wyoming Cultural Heritage Needs Assessment Survey Report (WCHNA). While this data tells me that 44.25% of Wyoming’s institutions struggle with staffing, funding, and storage, the only way to shift those numbers is to see them for myself.
From the Tetons to the high plains, Wyoming’s cultural heritage institutions have individuals who need advice or support to continue their collecting practices, including on:
- Technical Guidance: Providing resources on indexing, archival processing, and policy development.
- Specialized Conservation: Advising on basic object cleaning, and deferring to an objects conservator when necessary.
- Grant Support: Identifying funding opportunities for institutions to help bridge the gap in staffing and resources.
Whether through a comprehensive site visit report or a monthly “Quick Tips” webinar, my goal is to provide the professional support needed to lighten the load for Wyoming’s cultural heritage institutions.
Is your organization ready to tackle a collection challenge? The RAP is now accepting site visit applications for 2026. Join the institutions already participating in RAP and let’s work together to preserve your community’s unique story.
Apply for a 2026 Site Visit: rovingarchivist.wyo.gov/site-visits
Contact Me: spcr.rovingarchivist@wyo.gov
Post contributed by Wyoming Roving Archivist Morgan Stence.