Category Archives: Wyoming history

The Legacy of Zdeněk Salzmann for the Arapaho (Hinónoʼeiteen)[1]

November is Native American Heritage month. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) refers to it as a “month to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native People.”2 That celebration started … Continue reading →

Posted in American Indian history, Arapaho, Wind River Reservation, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Putting the Women Back into Women’s Suffrage

In 1869, Wyoming passed its groundbreaking woman suffrage law. Wyoming’s women were voting and holding public office decades before the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920. Indeed, the successful implementation of woman suffrage in Wyoming and other western states was critical … Continue reading →

Posted in grants, Laramie, Local history, Suffrage -- United States, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming history, Women -- suffrage, women's history, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Once A Cowboy, Always A Cowboy: The History of Homecoming at the University of Wyoming

Today, homecoming celebrations are often associated with fall and football, but it may not always have been true. The tradition of homecoming is generally a celebration of welcoming former students and members of high schools, colleges, or churches within the United … Continue reading →

Posted in Athletics, community collections, Current events, Student Life, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Fandom to Fanfiction to Nonfiction: Researching the Wyoming Territorial Penitentiary

In 2008, when I rediscovered Alias Smith and Jones (ASJ), a 1970s TV show I watched as a kid, I had no idea that several years later I’d be writing a book about the Wyoming Territorial Penitentiary.  Revisiting ASJ on … Continue reading →

Posted in grants, Laramie, Local history, motion picture history, Research grants, television history, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Foremost Fungi Authority: W.G. Solheim

Wilhelm G. Solheim was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, in 1898. He earned his M.A. degree in 1926, followed by his Doctorate in 1928, from the University of Illinois. He came to UW that next year and worked as professor emeritus … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural history, Agriculture, environmental history, faculty/staff profiles, Interns' projects, Local history, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tales and Traditions: Folklife in Wyoming

Folklife is a complex, important and large component of culture. It encompasses the art, traditions and knowledge that passes down among a group of people and can be seen through dance, music, artwork, storytelling, ceremonies and belief sharing. While sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Local history, oral histories, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Traveling With the Ninth Cavalry

The 9th United States Cavalry was formed during the Civil War as a segregated unit with African American troopers and white officers. The regiment was stationed in the West in 1867 and served in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, … Continue reading →

Posted in African American history, military history, Western history, Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wyoming Statesman Gale McGee Encounters a Bolivian Coup D’état

Between 1978 and 1980, the country of Bolivia was constantly in a state of crisis. There was a series of military governments that ruled briefly, each overthrown by the next. Rodger McDaniel’s 2018 book, The Man in the Arena: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan K. Simpson Institute for Western Politics and Leadership, Bolivian history, found in the archive, Gale McGee, International relations, military history, Organization of American States, Political history, Politics, Uncategorized, Violence - history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wyoming Legislator Liz Byrd’s Quest to Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 21 is Wyoming Equality Day. Perhaps you wondered this morning as you sipped your coffee about how Wyoming Equality Day originated? Cheyenne native and Wyoming state legislator Harriett Elizabeth “Liz” Byrd was the guiding individual behind it, although a … Continue reading →

Posted in African American history, Current events, found in the archive, Martin Luther King Jr., Uncategorized, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments