Category Archives: Under-documented communities

A Cowboy State Tour of “A Sissy in Wyoming”

Larry Goodwin was a man’s man in almost every respect – Vietnam War veteran, former rodeo cowboy, power plant operator, and aircraft mechanic. And he had the build of a linebacker. But one characteristic separated Goodwin from most other men … Continue reading

Posted in LGBT, LGBTQIA+, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Powell Tribune’s La Pagina Español

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans the period from September 15 to October 15, was first observed as a heritage week under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 then became a federally recognized heritage month under President Ronald Regan in 1988. … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural history, community collections, Digital collections, Hispanic Heritage Month, Immigration, Immigration Policy, Mexican-American history, Racial bias, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Laramie’s Latin American Club

September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Wyoming has a historically significant Hispanic and Manito population, some of whom came and went for work while others made Wyoming their home. Spanish-speaking people from northern New Mexico, called … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration, Laramie, Local history, Manitos, Mexican-American history, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Heart Mountain through Pencil and Paper

It was 1942; Japan had just bombed Pearl Harbor, and the American people were worried about Japanese spies on American soil. Amid the tension of WWII following the bombing, the U.S. government believed that the best course of action to … Continue reading

Posted in American history, Asian American history, Heart Mountain, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Japanese internment, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, World War II, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Opening Chutes and Closets – Gay Rodeo

The chute flies open and out comes a bucking bronc, with a rugged cowboy astraddle, trying their best to stay mounted – this iconic image is associated with rodeos across the West. And since 1975, a similar scene has played … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural history, LGBTQIA+, Out West in the Rockies, Rodeo history, Sports and Recreation, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Western history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Groundbreaking Character Actor Richard Loo

To celebrate May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the AHC would like to feature the life and career of Chinese American actor Richard Loo. Loo was born in Maui, Hawaii, in 1903. As a young man he … Continue reading

Posted in American Perspectives on Asia, Asian American history, Biography and profiles, Current events, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, Pacific Islander history, Post World War II, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dirty and Difficult: Laboring in Wyoming’s Early Sugar Beet Industry

Like many American industries, the sugar beet trade grew from perceived opportunity and weakening in other formerly profitable U.S. markets. A decline in mining and agriculture in the 1890s led some entrepreneurs to seek their fortunes elsewhere. The sugar beet … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural history, Economic History, Immigration, Immigration Policy, Latin American history, Migrant labor, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wyoming’s China Mary

In celebration of Chinese New Year on February 12, we’re featuring the life of Wyoming’s China Mary, a longtime resident of Evanston. Most Americans opted to call the Chinese living among them “John” or “Mary” in lieu of learning their … Continue reading

Posted in Asian American history, Chinese Americans, Holidays, Immigration, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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

Posted in African American history, Biography and profiles, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, University of Wyoming history, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment