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Category Archives: African American history
Studying the Black Power Movement at the AHC
Researchers looking for information on the Black Freedom Movement can find relevant materials throughout the collections held at the American Heritage Center. These include the papers of Wyoming politician Harriet Byrd, bull rider Abe Morris, African American church records, and … Continue reading
Bill Walker: Advocate for Black Actors
William Franklin “Bill” Walker was born in Pendleton, Indiana, in 1896. The grandson of slaves who had escaped to the North on the Underground Railroad, he was the first Black graduate of Pendleton High School. A well-rounded student, he lettered … Continue reading
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr./Wyoming Equality Day
Martin Luther King, Jr./Wyoming Equality Day falls on the third Monday in January. It marks a time of remembrance and reflection on the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his relentless quest for equality, human rights … Continue reading
“The aroma of hypocrisy”: The Development of “Molasses to Rum” in 1776.
As a musical theatre scholar, it isn’t often that my search for archival materials takes me outside of New York City. As a result, it was a pleasure to be able to visit the American Heritage Center in Laramie, Wyoming. … Continue reading
Emancipation Day at Cheyenne’s Allen Chapel AME Church
You’ve probably heard of Juneteenth, but have you ever heard of Emancipation Day? Emancipation Day has been celebrated on different dates in the U.S. since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The tradition of Watch … Continue reading
Posted in African American history, community collections, Digital collections, Local history, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Wyoming history
Tagged Allen Chapel AME Church, AME Church history, Casper Leroy, Cheyenne, Emancipation Day, Liz Byrd, Robert Rhone, Sudie Rhone
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Carrie Burton Overton, UW’s First African American Female Student
Author, Wyoming historian, and sixth generation Laramie native Kim Viner wrote a wonderful article in WyoHistory.org about Carrie Burton Overton, the University of Wyoming’s first African American female student. In this post I’d like to spotlight information that Kim discovered. … Continue reading
The Searchlight Club: Elevating Cheyenne’s African American Women
August 26 marks the date in 1920 when American women were enfranchised equally with their male counterparts. Nonetheless, African American women continued facing barriers to voting for decades, as well as negative stereotypes, harassment, and unequal access to jobs, housing, … Continue reading
The Vivid Life and Photographs of June Vanleer Williams
June Vanleer Williams was born on June 24, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the first African American woman to be in a Stanford University Journalism fellowship program. She was part of the program from 1969 to 1970. As a … Continue reading
Posted in African American history, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, popular culture, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities
Tagged Anthony Perkins, Billy Dee Williams, Claudine, Cleveland, Diahann Carroll, Diana Ross, James Earl Jones, Jay Vanleer, June Vanleer Williams, Karamu Theater, Mahogany
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Archives Rewind Vol. 5
Welcome back! It’s that time again — more highlights from rewinding our “Archives on the Air” series. Let’s get Volume 5 on rewind… Episode 163 – Wyoming Defends Woman’s Suffrage – Morton E. Post Famly Papers Women’s Suffrage has been … Continue reading
Posted in African American history, Archives on the Air, Blacklisting, Bolivian history, Communism, Gale McGee, Local history, Martin Luther King Jr., Motion picture actors and actresses, Politics, Suffrage -- United States, Women -- suffrage, women's history, Wyoming, Wyoming history
Tagged 19th Amendment, Gale McGee, Harriett Elizabeth Byrd, Martin Luther King Jr., McCarthyism, Sesame Street, Suffrage, women's history, Wyoming, Wyoming House of Representatives, Wyoming Public Radio, Wyoming Senate
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