Author Archives: ahcadmin

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

The Wyoming Quilt Project: Preserving History Through Quilts

In 1994, a small but dedicated group of Wyoming women came together to start documenting the state’s quilts. The Wyoming Quilt Project was created with a mission of photographing and recording details about Wyoming’s quilts—those that were made in the … Continue reading

Posted in American Heritage Center, Culture and heritage, Oral history, Textile Arts, Uncategorized, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uncovering Wyoming’s Hidden History: How One UW Student Revealed the Truth About an Indigenous Boarding School

When Ava Olson first walked into the American Heritage Center’s reading room, she had no idea she was about to unearth a history that had remained largely untold for nearly a century. Today, we’re proud to announce Ava as the … Continue reading

Posted in awards, Indigenous Peoples, Student projects, Uncategorized, undergraduate students, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Their Own Words: The Revolutionary War’s End Through the Eyes of Winthrop Ballantine

While we often remember how the American Revolution began—with the “shot heard round the world” on April 19, 1775—the story of how it ended deserves equal attention. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the war’s start, the journal of … Continue reading

Posted in American Revolution, Historical Documents, medical history, military history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Penning the Punchlines: Carroll Carroll and the Making of Kraft Music Hall

While Kraft Music Hall (KMH) earned its reputation through unforgettable music performances, as explored in “Take it Away, John Scott,” the show’s enduring charm also rested on its clever comedy. Producing a live, weekly variety show featuring music, comedy, and … Continue reading

Posted in 20th Century Broadcasting, Entertainment history, Golden Age of Radio, radio history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Take it away, John Scott”: John Scott Trotter and the Kraft Music Hall

Aside from being an effective tool for advertising, as explored in On the Air and in the Aisles, Kraft Music Hall (KMH) owed much of its enduring appeal to the caliber of musical performances and the talent behind them. The … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment history, Music History, Performing Arts, radio history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Video Series Brings Union Pacific Railroad Stories to Life

When you think of the Union Pacific Railroad, you might picture massive locomotives or endless stretches of track crossing the plains. But for a recent American Heritage Center oral history project, it’s the people and their stories that take center … Continue reading

Posted in American Heritage Center, American history, Community Stories, Labor History, Oral history, Railroad History, Transportation history, Uncategorized, Union Pacific Railroad, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Remembering Al: A Friend Who Just Happened to Be a Senator

On March 14, we lost Al Simpson. My heart feels heavy as I write these words. At the American Heritage Center, we knew him like so many others did—as a benefactor, yes, but more importantly, as a friend. I’ve been … Continue reading

Posted in Alan K. Simpson Institute for Western Politics and Leadership, American Heritage Center, Memorial Tributes, Political history, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment