Author Archives: ahcadmin

Behind the Scenes at the Cone: Arranging Items from History

In a place like the American Heritage Center (AHC), which houses tens of thousands of historical documents, it can be hard to navigate them and figure out what each collection is. Thankfully, the Center has Jamie Greene, the Manager of … Continue reading

Posted in Archival preservation, behind the scenes, faculty/staff profiles, Finding Aids, Interns' projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Behind the Scenes at the Cone: Intaking History

The American Heritage Center (AHC) is home to thousands of different historical materials ranging from letters, diaries, and photos to oral history recordings and original artwork, just to name a few. But how what happens when collections come through the … Continue reading

Posted in Archival preservation, behind the scenes, faculty/staff profiles, Interns' projects, Student projects, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Empowering Narratives: Celebrating LGBTQ+ History with the Award-Winning American Heritage Center and Gregory Hinton

Preserving and celebrating diverse narratives is crucial to understanding our shared history and fostering inclusivity in society. In a remarkable collaboration the American Heritage Center at along with playwright and producer Gregory Hinton, have been recognized for exceptional work in … Continue reading

Posted in announcements, Archival preservation, LGBTQIA+, Out West in the Rockies, Uncategorized, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pieces of the Hindenburg: Treasure Hunting in Wyoming

While doing research in 2013 at the American Heritage Center for the National History Day competition, I came across an amazing discovery. Many History Day students strategically (and wisely) first pick a collection at the AHC and then base their … Continue reading

Posted in Aircraft accident, American history, aviation history, found in the archive, National History Day, Uncategorized, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

James Watt: From Wyoming’s Landscapes to Political Stances, Faith as a Driving Force

James “Jim” Watt, the former Interior Secretary, passed away on May 27, 2023, at the age of 85. While his tenure as Interior Secretary during the Reagan administration defined him, his career spanned various roles and contributions. Born and raised … Continue reading

Posted in American history, conservation, Economic Geology, energy resources, environmental history, Natural resources, oral histories, Political controversy, Political history, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wyoming Women’s History: Choices and Changes Oral History Project

In the United States, the generation born post-Depression, or about 1939 to the end of World War II in August 1945 have been named “War Babies.” The Baby Boomer generation soon followed, beginning in 1946, and has been credited with … Continue reading

Posted in oral histories, Post World War II, Uncategorized, Western history, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Railroad Romance and Reality: Unpacking the Legacy of Railways in America

Documents and photographs found in the American Heritage Center’s collections can be used to explore the ways in which railways have been and are perceived in American society. Examples of these are on exhibit in “The Art of the Railroad” … Continue reading

Posted in Economic History, exhibits, Railroad History, Toppan Rare Books Library, Transportation history, Uncategorized, Western history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Donald Vining Diaries – A Fifty Year Chronicle of a Gay Man’s Life

June is Pride Month, an opportune time to highlight the unique diaries of Donald Vining. Vining was a diarist from the very beginning. At the age of eight, he began documenting his day-to-day activities. He wrote one line, largely practical … Continue reading

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Dreaming of Caucasia: Georgia Then and Now with Joseph Becker Phillips

In 2019, I was visiting a dear friend living at the time in Tbilisi, Georgia. After a week or so getting to know the city—ancient, Soviet, and modern—and experiencing first hand Georgia’s legendary hospitality (including endless toasts with, of course, … Continue reading

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“What Did the President Know, and When Did He Know It?” – The Watergate Hearings of 1973

May 17, 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the hearings of the Senate Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities. More commonly known as the Watergate hearings, the inquiry focused the attention of the American public on the activities … Continue reading

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