Category Archives: western politics and leadership

Wyoming Statesman Alan K. Simpson

Al Simpson is pillar of Wyoming politics, a well-known name across the country, and a benefactor of the American Heritage Center. Simpson enjoyed a long political career spanning the years 1964 to 1997. He is both a politician and a … Continue reading

Posted in Biography and profiles, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Immigration Policy, Interns' projects, Uncategorized, Western history, western politics and leadership, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Votes for Women – The 1920 Ratification Campaign

Grace Raymond Hebard and Carrie Chapman Catt On June 4, 1919, the Senate passed the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment stated: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or … Continue reading

Posted in Local history, Politics, Suffrage -- United States, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming history, Western history, western politics and leadership, Women -- suffrage, women's history, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Back to the Future in Wyoming: Addressing 1980s Energy Boom Impacts in Evanston

“I’ve got to see it to believe it” was Evanston mayor Dennis Ottley’s first reaction when he heard about the Overthrust Industrial Association (OIA). A 1983 issue of the Christian Science Monitor, reported that Ottley was incredulous that an industry-backed … Continue reading

Posted in Economic Geology, Economic History, energy resources, Local history, Natural resources, Western history, western politics and leadership, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrating a Wyoming Irishman: U.S. Senator Joseph C. O’Mahoney

Joseph O’Mahoney (1884-1962) was a journalist, lawyer, and politician. A Democrat, he served four complete terms as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming on two occasions, first from 1934-1953 and then again from 1954-1961. O’Mahoney was Irish to the core. He was born … Continue reading

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In the Midst of McCarthyism: Wyoming Senator Edward Crippa’s Brief Senate Stint

Though a small collection, the Edward D. Crippa papers are of historical interest.  Crippa (1899-1960), who had served in World War I and been Wyoming state highway commissioner from 1941 to 1947, was appointed to represent Wyoming in the U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in Alan K. Simpson Institute for Western Politics and Leadership, Cold War, Communism, Politics, Uncategorized, western politics and leadership, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nellie Tayloe Ross: The (First) Governor Lady

On Nov 4, 1924, Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected governor of Wyoming, and became the first woman governor in the United States. Ross was elected a month after her husband, Governor William B. Ross, died suddenly of appendicitis. On the … Continue reading

Posted in Politics, Ross, Nellie Tayloe, western politics and leadership, Women in History, Women in Politics, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mick McMurry’s Contributions to Wyoming Extended Far and Wide

In 2010, the AHC began an oral history project to look at the effects of natural gas development on Sublette County, Wyoming.  We interviewed more than forty people; many were residents of Sublette County, but there was also a number … Continue reading

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Black History Month Highlight: Elizabeth Byrd, Wyoming Politician

We continue our celebration of Black History Month by drawing much-deserved attention to Elizabeth Byrd.  She was another Wyoming “First,” in that she was the first African-American to serve in the Wyoming House of Representatives, as well as in the … Continue reading

Posted in African American history, Black history, Black History Month, Political history, Politics, western politics and leadership, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

University Preserves Legacy of Late Senator Wallop

The following press release was created by UW Public Relations in the wake of former U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop’s death on September 14, 2011. September 16, 2011 — The University of Wyoming is preserving the legacy of the late Malcolm … Continue reading

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Exploring a Legal Legacy – Thurman Arnold’s Digitized Papers

The AHC has digitized over 7,000 items from the collection of Thurman Wesley Arnold. Arnold, the son of lawyer C.P. Arnold, was born in Laramie, Wyoming, and educated at the University of Wyoming, Princeton, and Harvard, where he earned a … Continue reading

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