Category Archives: University of Wyoming history

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 →

Posted in African American history, Martin Luther King Jr., Political history, Social justice, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrating Homecoming with Cowboy Joe – A Wyoming Icon

October 1922 is attributed as the first officially documented date of the University of Wyoming’s homecoming. Celebrations included class reunions, open houses, a homecoming dance, parades, and of course, the homecoming football game. Wyoming football origins date back as early … Continue reading →

Posted in Athletics, Homecoming, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming Football, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

University of Wyoming’s Afghanistan Mission, 1953 to 1973

The current troubling events in Afghanistan brings to mind the bond that the University of Wyoming once enjoyed with that country. Under George “Duke” Humphrey – UW’s president from 1945 to 1964 – the university began developing international programs to … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Agricultural history, Agriculture, Political history, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

The Tour de Fleece and Wyoming Wool!

The annual international Tour de Fleece is underway! Yes, the bike race the Tour de France is also underway, but this is the Tour de Fleece! Spinners (on spinning wheels, e-spinners and drop spindles) from around the world gather virtually … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiber Arts, Sheep Ranching, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Senator Gale McGee Buttonholed by Mom and Dad

The presidential inauguration last week brings to mind a couple of fun stories told by former U.S. Senator Gale McGee of Wyoming. In 1982, an oral history was conducted with McGee for placement in the John F. Kennedy Library. McGee … Continue reading →

Posted in Political history, Politics, Post World War II, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Check Out the American Heritage Center’s Virtual Exhibits!

2020 was a banner year for new American Heritage Center virtual exhibits. Take a look this selection of what we’ve been working on this past year. “Stampede” by Jerry Palen During the course of its 43 year run, “Stampede” became … Continue reading →

Posted in announcements, cartoons, Digital collections, exhibits, found in the archive, Photographic collections, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Celebrating UW Veterans

Being a land-grant university, the University of Wyoming is no stranger to military service. Currently home to the Army ROTC Cowboy Battalion and the Air Force ROTC 940th Cadet Wing, military service at UW stretches back to the university’s early … Continue reading →

Posted in University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming history, World War I, World War II, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We Asked, You Answered: Documenting Life During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Why is the Diary of Anne Frank one of the most important works of literature of all time? How did this book influence how we remember World War II, the Nazi Regime, and the Holocaust? Although the Holocaust can be … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, announcements, Collection donor, Coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19, Current events, Digital collections, Flu, medical history, Pandemics, Public health, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming history, Western history, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Past Pandemic In Wyoming: The Spanish Flu, 1918-1919

Though disease epidemics were common throughout America and the West in earlier times, the worst epidemic in terms of loss of human life came to Wyoming early in the 20th century, in the fall of 1918.  From October of that … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19, Disease outbreaks, Flu, Pandemics, Public health, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, World War I, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment