Author Archives: ahcadmin

Territory Girl, Statehood Pioneer: Mary Godat Bellamy’s Wyoming Story

Imagine hearing the actual voice of someone who watched Civil War soldiers march past her childhood home, then lived to see the atomic age. That’s exactly what you can experience with Mary Godat Bellamy’s 1947 recordings—a remarkable audio document from … Continue reading

Posted in Collections Highlights, Oral history, Uncategorized, Women in History, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How a Civil War Farmer’s Letters Changed My View of Independence Day

I’ve been an archivist at the American Heritage Center for almost 25 years, and I thought I knew our collections pretty well. But as I was searching for the perfect topic for this year’s Independence Day blog post, I found … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, American history, Civil War, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

From “Caucasians Only” to Hall of Fame: The Remarkable Journey of Wayman Wing

Did you know the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science has a Hall of Fame? Among its distinguished members is Wayman Chung Wing (1923-2020), whose journey from facing discrimination to international acclaim exemplifies resilience, innovation, and barrier-breaking … Continue reading

Posted in Asian American history, Biography and profiles, Chinese Americans, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming Alumni, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Neutral Ground: FDR’s Man in Ireland During WWII

In February 1940, as war engulfed Europe, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent an unlikely diplomat to Ireland – his wife’s 70-year-old uncle who had never held a diplomatic position. David Gray’s mission would become one of the most challenging diplomatic … Continue reading

Posted in Diplomatic history, Irish history, U.S.-Ireland Relations, Uncategorized, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Murder, Memory, and Victorian Gender: The Florence Maybrick Case

“Deep in the heart of the American Heritage Center lies a small but rich series of archival puzzle pieces that tell the story of Mrs. Florence Maybrick, the American lady found guilty of murdering her husband in 1889 Victorian England.” … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, Student projects, Uncategorized, women's history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

At the Copa: Antonio Morelli and the Musical Legacy of Mid-Century Las Vegas

You know what they say: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But then, what is the American Heritage Center of Wyoming doing with personally autographed photos from the likes of Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin? … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment history, Music History, Performing Arts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TransMontana: Preserving the Journey of Bobbie Zenker

This Pride Month, the American Heritage Center highlights the Roberta R. “Bobbie” Zenker papers, an important addition to our collection documenting varied experiences in the American West. Acquired in March 2023, this collection provides researchers with valuable primary source material … Continue reading

Posted in Legal History, LGBTQIA+, Montana History, Transgender people, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Felicia Gizycka and Cissy Patterson: The Relationship that Defined a 20th Century Life

Felicia Gizycka was born in 1905 to Count Josef Gizycki and his wife, Countess Eleanor “Cissy” Patterson. Her early years were colored by her father’s kidnapping of her and her mother’s aloofness. Her adult life was one of “international flapper,” … Continue reading

Posted in 1920s America, American history, American Social History, Biography and profiles, Journalism, Uncategorized, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Decoding Stan Lee’s Spider-Man Movie Notes from 1984

The American Heritage Center houses a vast number of Stan Lee’s personal papers, including handwritten notecards from 1984 that reveal his first ideas for a Spider-Man movie.  Last fall, I had the amazing opportunity to view copies of these notecards … Continue reading

Posted in American Heritage Center, Comic book history, Stan Lee, Student projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cold War Foundations: How Anti-Communist Sentiment Shaped University of Wyoming’s Coe Library

When students hurry through the doors of William Robertson Coe Library today, few may realize they’re entering a building born not just from architectural necessity, but from Cold War politics, academic freedom battles, and the vision of a passionate Americana … Continue reading

Posted in American Studies, Architecture, Campus Heritage, Cold War, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment