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Designing the University of Wyoming: Hoyt Hall

Posted on May 27, 2024 by ahcadmin

Join us for another installment in our series on the University of Wyoming’s building history. These posts offer glimpses into the stories behind UW’s well-known buildings. Today we spotlight Hoyt Hall.

Dr. Tony Denzer, UW Professor of Architectural Engineering, remarked in 2015, “Hoyt grabbed me instantly, and all these years later I still believe it is the most interesting building on campus… Why do I love it? Hoyt Hall is simply a beautiful architectural composition. Dubois designed the façade with a wonderfully complex and balanced rhythm. The vertical divisions and subdivisions are endlessly fascinating to study, in the same way English majors might analyze a poem by Keats.”

Color postcard of Hoyt Hall, ca. 1945. Photo File: Colleges and Universities – UW – Aerial and General Views, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Hoyt Hall was the second dormitory constructed on campus. On December 12, 1913, UW President Clyde Duniway presented a campus plan to the trustees that included a new women’s dormitory. The trustees passed a resolution “to ask the next session of the legislature for an additional building for women to be used as a Dormitory and for Home Economics.” Dean of Women, Emma Howell Knight, attended a legislative session in January 1915 to lobby for the dormitory.

The plan moved forward and on June 8, 1915, Cheyenne architect William Dubois presented plans to the trustees for the new dorm. In August, Archie Allison, a Cheyenne builder, was awarded the building contract. Construction began soon after and the building’s foundation was completed by mid-September. By March 1916, the building, with capacity to house about 40 students, was nearing completion. Like Merica Hall, Hoyt Hall would be completed in multiple phases.

On June 6, 1916, the trustees, in an ironic turn of events, named the building to honor the university’s first president, Dr. John Wesley Hoyt. Born in Ohio in 1831, Hoyt graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1849 and later received his medical degree from the Eclectic Medical Institute in Ohio in 1853. He played a pivotal role at UW, serving as one of its initial board of trustees before becoming president. During his tenure, he expanded state funding, initiated land grants, and taught multiple courses, all while maintaining his position. Hoyt also served as a Wyoming territorial governor in 1886 and was elected to the State Constitutional Convention in 1889, where he drafted the wording for the Education Article, most of which still exists in the state’s present constitution.

Dr. John Wesley Hoyt (1831-1912), the University of Wyoming’s first president and the namesake for Hoyt Hall. Image ah002515, Photo File: Hoyt, John W., American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

However, the board of trustees dismissed him in 1890, citing him as “too visionary and impractical.” He left for Washington, D.C., where he pursued an unsuccessful endeavor to establish a national university before passing away in 1912, not long before the completion of his namesake building.

Hoyt Hall was ready for the summer school session on June 12, 1916. However, the students had no beds, as the shipment was still in transit via the railroad. The beds finally arrived and were assembled and in place by June 15.

A peaceful scene in Hoyt Hall, 1918. Image ah300035, Ludwig & Svenson Studio Photographs, Coll. No. 167, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

At its November 12, 1920, meeting, the trustees began planning for the expansion of the dormitory. William Dubois also designed the addition. John Howard, a Cheyenne builder, was awarded the building contract on May 2, 1921. The original building consisted of the central portion. The expansion added wings to the existing structure. Construction began immediately, and the project was completed almost exactly a year later on May 1, 1922. It was available for graduation receptions, other year-end festivities, and summer school that began in early June.

Hoyt Hall was soon adapted to serve evolving needs. The next year, 1923, the building was adapted to provide needed office space for faculty in the English, Creative Writing, and Modern and Classical Languages departments. When UW hosted famed poet Robert Frost in spring 1939, his visit was hosted in Hoyt Hall in a room subsequently renamed the “Frost Library.”

The story is told that English professor Wilson O. Clough once delivered a lecture in Hoyt Hall from a ground floor room on a beautiful day. Taking advantage of the fine weather, Clough spoke while seated on the sill of an open window. Leaning back to emphasize a point, he lost his balance, tumbled backward out the window, landing on the grass a few feet below. Much to the astonishment of the class, without a beat, he promptly reappeared at the window and continued his lecture with a nonchalant, “As I was saying…”

Professor Wilson O. Clough, 1928. He joined the UW faculty in 1924 and served as the head of the English Department from 1946 to 1949. Image 303199, Ludwig & Svenson Studio Photographs, Coll. No. 167, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

UW students in a parade float with Hoyt Hall in the background, 1940. Image ah002747, Box 3, S.H. Knight Collection, Coll. No. 142, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

As new dormitories were being planned, the trustees approved the conversion of Hoyt Hall completely into office space at its August 3, 1962, meeting. Planning for the conversion began in the fall of 1964. In the spring of 1965, university officials determined the renovated hall would best be utilized by the departments of English, Modern Languages, and Philosophy, as well as International Studies and some College of Education offices. On October 15, 1965, the building contract was awarded to Spiegelberg Lumber and Building Company, of Laramie. When the project was completed, an open house to tour the remodeled building occurred on June 6, 1966.

Half a century later, in 2016, Hoyt Hall underwent another significant renovation to modernize the building and ensure its continued functionality. The $2.9 million project focused on addressing life-safety and accessibility requirements, enhancing interior finishes, and upgrading energy-efficient systems. The renovation included improvements to offices, classrooms, and study areas, as well as the installation of new lighting, electrical, and data systems. These changes have helped Hoyt Hall remain a vital part of the university’s academic facilities, serving the needs of students and faculty for more than a century.

Hoyt Hall, 2022. Photo by Theoren Sheppard, AHC Photography Lab Supervisor.

Stay tuned for the next chapter in our exploration of UW’s historical buildings, where we uncover the story behind the longtime battle to build UW’s first library as well as the beginnings of Aven Nelson’s iconic career at the University.

To gain further insight into UW’s architectural history, we invite you to explore the AHC’s virtual exhibit “Keeping History Alive: 136 Years of Progress.” This informative showcase blends historic UW campus images with modern-day photographs from 2022, offering an insight into the campus’s ever-evolving narrative and its timeless features. For additional perspectives on campus development and architecture, explore our exhibit “University of Wyoming: A Brief History of Campus.”

Posted in Uncategorized, University Architecture, University of Wyoming history | Tagged 1910s, 1920s, Dormitories, Historic Preservation, Hoyt Hall, Robert Frost, University Archives, William Dubois, Wilson O. Clough | Leave a comment

James L. Ehernberger Wins Prestigious Senior Achievement Award!

Posted on May 20, 2024 by ahcadmin

On April 20, 2024, long-time friend, donor, and benefactor of the American Heritage Center and the University of Wyoming, James L. Ehernberger, was honored with the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society’s Gerald M. Best Senior Achievement Award for his more than 70 years as a dedicated railroad historian and celebrated author.

Jim Ehernberger’s archival collection at the AHC is one of the most comprehensive collections of railroad history, particularly the Union Pacific, ever assembled. It amasses over 1,100 boxes of material, including over 50,000 photographs, and more than 100,000 negatives either taken by or acquired by Jim over the many years of his collecting. And it’s still growing!

The massive collection is completely available to the public and is a frequently used and oft-quoted resource for railroad enthusiasts and historians from all over the country.

As one of the premier collections in its holdings, the American Heritage Center is proud to house this incredible legacy, and even prouder of its long association with Jim Ehernberger.

The Center wishes to congratulate our good friend Jim Ehernberger on this richly deserved award, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with him to preserve railroad history for future generations.

Post contributed by AHC Assistant Director and Collections Manager William Hopkins.

Posted in awards, Railroad History, Uncategorized | Tagged American Heritage Center, Gerald M. Best Senior Achievement Award, James L. Ehernberger, Railroad author, Railroad Employees, Railroad enthusiasts, Railroad historian, Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Union Pacific, University of Wyoming | 1 Comment

From the Archives to the Airwaves: Taylor Swift’s ‘Clara Bow’ and the AHC’s Scrapbook

Posted on May 13, 2024 by ahcadmin

Sometimes you find remarkably topical surprises in the archives, like the recent discovery of a scrapbook devoted to Clara Bow in the Samuel Anthony Peeples papers at the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming. This treasure trove of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and photographs documents Clara Bow’s life and career, from her early days as a rising star in the 1920s to her retirement from acting in the 1930s. The scrapbook provides a glimpse into the public’s fascination with Bow and the media’s role in shaping her image, while also raising intriguing questions about why Peeples, a writer and producer active in the 1960s and 70s, collected these materials.

Peeples is primarily known for his work in the Western genre and science fiction television, having written for series such as The Virginian, Lancer, and Star Trek. His association with these genres makes his interest in Clara Bow, a silent film star from the 1920s, all the more interesting.

There are several reasons why Peeples might have been drawn to create a scrapbook about Clara Bow. As a writer, he may have found inspiration in her life story and viewed elements of her personality as a basis for developing complex characters in his own work. Also, Bow’s experiences with fame and the challenges she faced could have resonated with Peeples as he navigated the entertainment industry. The scrapbook might have also been a way for Peeples to explore the history of Hollywood, pay tribute to a pioneering figure, or satisfy a personal connection or admiration for Bow.

Front cover of *Picture-Play* magazine, featuring Clara Bow, February 1927. Box 216, Samuel Anthony Peeples papers, Collection No. 7498, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

While we may never know the full story behind the scrapbook, its presence in the archives has taken on new significance in light of recent events. In 2024, Clara Bow found herself back in the spotlight thanks to Taylor Swift’s song “Clara Bow” from the album The Tortured Poets Department. The song draws parallels between the lives and experiences of these two iconic figures from vastly different eras, both connected by the common thread of fame.

Let’s look at some of the lyrics from “Clara Bow” to understand Swift’s perspective and the echoes of Bow’s life within them. Swift starts by singing,

You look like Clara Bow in this light

Remarkable

All your life, did you know

You’d be picked like a rose

and continues in the song,

Take the glory, give everything.

Promise to be dazzling

You’re the new god we’re worshiping,

Promise to be … dazzling

Only when your girlish glow

Flickers just so

Do they let you know

It’s hell on earth to be heavenly

Swift’s lyrics capture the pressure to be “dazzling” and the sacrifices demanded of celebrity women. The phrase “It’s hell on earth to be heavenly” encapsulates the dark side of fame that both Bow and Swift have navigated.

In an interview with Variety.com, Swift discussed the inspiration behind “Clara Bow,” stating, “I used to sit in record labels trying to get a record deal when I was a little kid. And they’d say, ‘You know, you remind us of’ and then they’d name an artist, and then they’d kind of say something disparaging about her, ‘but you’re this, you’re so much better in this way or that way.’ And that’s how we teach women to see themselves, as like you could be the new replacement for this woman who’s done something great before you.”

Newspaper clippings featuring Clara Bow in a scene from *Love Among the Millionaires*. Box 216, Samuel Anthony Peeples papers, Collection No. 7498, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

This idea of one celebrity being seen as a “replacement” for another is a recurring theme in the public’s perception of famous women. Bow, who rose from humble beginnings to become the quintessential flapper and silent film star of the 1920s, was often pitted against other actresses of her time. Similarly, Swift has been compared to and contrasted with her contemporaries throughout her career. These comparisons can be reductive, overshadowing the unique talents and contributions of each individual.

Newspaper clippings featuring Clara Bow’s then boyfriend, later husband, Rex Bell. Like Taylor Swift today, Bow’s personal life was a constant source of media and fan attention. Box 216, Samuel Anthony Peeples papers, Collection No. 7498, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

The Clara Bow scrapbook in Samuel Anthony Peeples’ papers may remain a mystery, but it provides a tangible connection to Bow’s life and the era in which she lived, while Swift’s lyrics bring her story into the present day, inviting listeners to draw connections between the two women’s experiences. Together, these elements create a bridge between the past and the present, highlighting the timeless nature of the challenges faced by women in the public eye.

Post contributed by AHC Writer Kathryn Billington and AHC Archivist Leslie Waggener.

Posted in Celebrity Culture, Film History, music, Pop Culture Icons, popular culture, Uncategorized, Women in Hollywood, Women in Music | Tagged 1920s, American Heritage Center, Celebrity Comparisons, Celebrity Culture Critique, Clara Bow, Fame, Flapper Era, Historical Parallels, Hollywood, Iconic Women, Media Influence, Pressures of Fame, Public Perception, Samuel Peeples, Scrapbooks, Silent Film, Song Lyrics, Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department, Women in Entertainment, Women's Experiences | Leave a comment

Native American Day in Wyoming: Celebrating Nellie Scott

Posted on May 6, 2024 by ahcadmin

In 2004, the Wyoming State Legislature enacted House Bill HB0094, establishing the second Friday of May as Native American Day. This day is observed by public schools, state and local governments, and other organizations throughout Wyoming. This year, the American Heritage Center is honoring Nellie (Nell) F. Scott, the first woman to serve on the Arapaho Tribal Business Council.

Nell Scott, 1975. Box 1, Loretta Fowler papers, Coll. No. 11403. American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Nell Scott joined the Tribal Business Council in 1935, becoming its first female member. She served for thirty-seven years, becoming president of the council by 1940.

During her presidency, Nell was instrumental in several important political dialogues. In May 1941, she traveled with the Arapaho and Shoshone Tribal Business Councils to Washington D.C. to participate in discussions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. These discussions focused on issues such as, the Land Use Program, Grazing Permits, and a proposed division of the Wind River Reservation. The council planned their visit from April 30, for approximately a week to ten days, aiming to resolve various issues and to be heard on the reservation division proposal. During these conferences, Nell advocated for the Arapahos’ desire to establish a separate agency should the reservation be divided.

Nell’s advocacy in Washington continued beyond this trip. On March 15, 1947, she participated in hearings before the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the Committee on Public Lands. She testified regarding a bill to authorize the segregation and expenditure of trust funds jointly held by the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes.

In her testimony, she highlighted the dire need for funds among the Arapaho, stating that the tribe’s population of 1,395 members faced severe hardships due to lack of funds, leading to starvation. She poignantly remarked:

We wonder who is starving the Indians. It is the Indian Office, or the Government itself that is starving the American Indian.

Nell also highlighted the irony faced by returning tribal soldiers who fought for freedom and democracy in World War II, only to find their families suffering at home. She strongly advocated for the immediate release of funds owed to the Arapaho to alleviate these dire conditions on the reservation.

Nell Scott (center) in at the U.S. Capitol, ca. 1955. She is shown with Wyoming’s U.S. Representative Keith Thomson. Identify not known of women on the right. Box 1, Loretta Fowler papers, Coll. No. 11403, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

For 37 years, Nell was a fierce advocate for her tribe, taking multiple trips from Wyoming to Washington, DC, to lobby for legislation benefiting the Arapaho Tribe and addressing the challenging living conditions on the reservation. She also pushed for the separation of the Wind River Reservation between the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes, especially regarding federal funding.

The photo below, taken in 1935, commemorates Nell becoming the first woman to serve on the Tribal Business Council. She continued to serve the tribe in various capacities, including as president of the council, until her retirement in 1972.

Under pressure from the Indian Bureau, both tribes formed representative, elected business councils to conduct day-to-day operations and act as a link between federal policymakers and Indian people. Final sovereignty rested then and still remains, however, with the general councils—decision-making bodies of all tribal members—of both tribes. Here, the two councils, Arapaho in the back row, Shoshone in front, in the late 1930s. Nell Scott is first on the left in the back row. Charles Washakie is second from left in the front row. Box 3, Loretta Fowler papers, Coll. No. 11403, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming. (Caption courtesy of WyoHistory.org)

Supporting Wyoming’s Indian Education for All

The story of Nellie Scott and other Native American leaders, along with the AHC’s extensive archival holdings and its K-5 Teaching Resources – Indigenous Tribes of Wyoming exhibit, serve as valuable resources for educators implementing Wyoming’s Indian Education for All mandate.

These primary source materials—including photographs, documents, manuscripts, and more related to Wyoming’s Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes—are available through digitized resources, online exhibits, and with assistance from Reference Department staff to help teachers educate students about the cultural heritage, history, and contributions of Wyoming’s tribal nations while supporting Wyoming Social Studies Standards.

For more information about the Center’s resources, contact the AHC’s Reference Department at ahcref@uwyo.edu.

Post contributed by Processing Archivist Brittany Heye.

Resources consulted:

“The Proposed Division of the Wind River Reservation,” Montana State University library, Collection #2204.

United States Congress, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Trust Funds, Shoshone, and Arapaho Indian Tribes: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the Committee on Public Lands, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, First Session, on H.R. 1098, a Bill to Authorize the Segregation and Expenditure of Trust Funds Held in Joint Ownership by the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes of the Wind River Reservation. 1947. U.S. Government Printing Office.

Posted in Advocacy and Activism, Arapaho, Tribal Leadership, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged Arapaho Tribe, Loretta Fowler papers, Native American Day, Native American Women Leaders, Nellie Scott, Shoshone Tribe, Tribal Business Council, Wind River Reservation, Wyoming Legislature | Leave a comment

Studying Stan – The Creation of Stan Lee: Beyond the Book

Posted on April 29, 2024 by ahcadmin

Hazel Homer-Wambeam (front), Rhiannon McLean (center), and Liam Leslie (behind) snap a selfie in the American Heritage Center stacks during their summer curation for *Stan Lee: Beyond the Book*. Photo by Hazel Homer-Wambeam, 2023.

In June 2023, a team of three University of Wyoming student interns began researching the papers of Stan Lee, which are housed at the American Heritage Center (AHC). Their interns’ intention was to create an exciting and informative exhibit about the iconic comic book visionary. In addition to attending college full-time, devoting time to extra-curricular activities, and trying to carve out personal time, the three students, Hazel Homer-Wambeam, Liam Leslie, and myself, Rhiannon McLean, are about to see the fruition of our hard work. After almost a year of research and planning, the exhibit, Stan Lee: Beyond the Book, will open on May 1, 2024, at the AHC. This blog summarizes the process that has led up to this moment.

Avengers Assemble

Assembly of the curation team began in the Spring of 2023 when AHC Director Dr. Paul Flesher emailed Hazel to pick her brain about the collection. Hazel had already worked with the Stan Lee Papers for a project she completed for National History Day in 2015. “Back in high school, I participated for seven years in the National History Day (NHD) program. One of my projects was a documentary on Stan Lee, and I utilized the American Heritage Center’s Stan Lee Papers for the bulk of the research,” said Hazel. “As a 13-year-old NHD student, I took advantage of the AHC’s relationship with Stan Lee to set up a ten-minute phone interview with him, which I included in the documentary.” Dr. Flesher did not just want to pick her brain; he wanted her to take on the role as Lead Intern for the Stan Lee exhibit curatorial team. This project, she says, is a “full circle moment” for her.

At that time, I had just lost my bid for President of the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming, an organization I had been a part of for three years. Although I had won my senate race, losing the presidential race meant that I did not have summer employment. To announce my loss to family and friends, I jokingly posted on social media that I was “looking for a summer job”. Hazel, who I had met through ASUW when she was Chief of Staff in 2021, messaged me privately to ask if I knew anything about Stan Lee. A lifelong comic collector, I jumped at the chance to apply. Fortunately, despite Hazel and Dr. Flesher’s shock at my love for DC Comics over Marvel, I was offered a position on the team.

Liam was at an Honors College event seated next to Hazel when he learned of the project. “Given the legacy of Stan Lee, my curiosity was immediately piqued. At that point, the projected responsibilities of the interns were still relatively vague, but I knew that it was an endeavor that I wanted to be a part of,” Liam said of his interest in the project. He applied for the project while on study abroad in Japan, and even interviewed from Tokyo. “My desire to be a part of the project increased during my time there as I came across many Marvel stores and witnessed people from all over the world wearing apparel depicting Stan Lee’s most famous characters.”

In addition to the three student interns, Robert Kelly and Patty Kessler were brought on to supervise the curation process. Robert, currently a staff member in the AHC’s Reference Dept., had previously used Stan Lee’s papers to research the 1960s Batman television series. His familiarity with the collection as well as AHC procedures made him well-suited to guide us. Patty, a retired History and American Studies professor and now an AHC Archives Aide, brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. Her recent curation of a part of the AHC’s The Art of the Railroad exhibit demonstrated her ability to effectively organize and present historical materials. With the team put together, the time came to venture into the hundreds of boxes of material.

Exploring Excelsior

In June 2023, the curation process officially began with all three interns diving into the collection boxes. Initially, we had little idea of what direction we were headed. Dr. Flesher’s vision at that time was to develop a team of researchers that would explore the collection in depth, and through that process, find major points of interest to turn into an exhibit. In the early days of curation, finding material was difficult – not because it was not plentiful and interesting, but because it was all extremely interesting. Every signature, drawing and first draft was jaw dropping, but we were tasked with narrowing that material down into sections.

We chose to approach the material topically rather than linearly. The timeline of Stan Lee’s life is easy and has been done before. Lee’s career spanned from the 1930s to the 2010s, meaning that it would have potentially been a messy viewing experience. In order to get a closer look at Stan Lee as a creative, businessman and individual, we divided our research into categories, with each intern curating a third of the final product.

We developed a system where the interns would take several boxes and note what was in each. If those boxes had material primarily pertaining to another intern’s area of interest, we would let them know and we would change course. In doing that, we were able to narrow things down to eight distinct parts.

I am a political science major, so my interest quickly turned to Stan Lee’s political cartoons and relationships with politicians. I also became fascinated with the donor files, which outlined the AHC’s relationship with Lee through their correspondence. This became the subject of the opening of the exhibit and my first blog post.

Hazel, on the other hand, became interested in the globalization of comic books and the thousands of pages of fan mail that Stan Lee kept. Marvel’s comics were sold all over the world, and fans would write to him to share the impact the comics had on their lives. Lee also received fan mail from celebrities such as Paul McCartney and Gene Simmons, which are featured in the exhibit. Hazel described what she discovered in another AHC blog post.

Liam, an education major and student teacher, excavated the papers for material about Stan Lee’s love of education and literacy. As detailed in Liam’s blog post, Lee toured the country speaking at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to promote comic books as a tool for literacy. Liam also took on Lee’s business practices. The collection features multiple boxes focused solely on Marvel’s growth and business dealings, including the creation of Marvel Film Productions. In addition, this material included Lee’s activities after he left Marvel, at which time he went on to create POW! Entertainment and Stan Lee Media.

Given the specific nature of our sections and the massive amount of material, some things did not make it into the main exhibit but were too interesting to cut entirely. The exhibit will feature additional information showcased in the section, “Marvelous Misfits,” also curated by the interns. These objects did not fit into the eight distinct segments we picked for the main exhibit but were still fascinating and warranted their own spot. Marvelous Misfits features six objects and stories from the Stan Lee Papers, including Stan Lee’s relationships with artist Jack Kirby and male magazine publisher Hugh Hefner. These will be located inside the AHC’s Loggia, separate from the rest of the exhibit, and we hope that they encourage the public to dive into the archive themselves.

The curation and design stages were the longest phase of the process. In August 2023, to ignite our imaginations, we traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to visit the Bob Dylan Center and the Woodie Guthrie Center. Here we were able to ask questions of and collaborate with the curators of these two institutions about their approach to planning, developing, and implementing an exhibit based on the life of a creative and entertainer. This experience was integral to the final installation of Stan Lee: Beyond the Book, and a great bonding experience for our team.

Rhiannon, Liam and Hazel at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa learning about the center’s curation methods. Photo by Matthew Troyanek, 2023.

Students Liam (left), Rhiannon (center left), and Hazel (center right) with supervisor Robert Kelly (right) in front of the Woody Guthrie Center’s mural of his famous “This Machine Kills Fascists” guitar. Photo by Matthew Troyanek, 2023.

After the material was chosen, scanned, and organized, the AHC’s photography lab supervisor Theoren Sheppard helped us design the exhibit and begin the mounting process. I personally really enjoyed the curation portion but really struggled with the design and mounting phase of the exhibit. Hazel’s mastery with graphic design and Theoren’s expertise in exhibit creation was integral to this process.

Beyond the Book

So, finally, after almost a year of research and curation, our team is ready to show the world our exhibit. We could not have accomplished this, however, without the assistance of the American Heritage Center Staff, including but not limited to those named in this blog, and the University of Wyoming community. Additionally, we want to thank Kartoon Studios for the material that they are sending to be featured in the loggia during the exhibit’s run.

Stan Lee: Beyond the Book opens May 1, 2024, in the American Heritage Center Loggia and will run through the fall of 2024.

‘Nuff Said

Post contributed by AHC Intern Rhiannon McLean.

Posted in American Heritage Center, behind the scenes, Comic book history, Current events, Entertainment history, exhibits, Uncategorized | Tagged Archival Research, Bob Dylan Center, Comic Books, Curation, Exhibit Design, Fan Mail, Hugh Hefner, Jack Kirby, Kartoon Studios, Marvel Comics, POW! Entertainment, Stan Lee, Stan Lee Media, Student Interns, University of Wyoming, Woody Guthrie Center | Leave a comment

Designing the University of Wyoming: Merica Hall

Posted on April 15, 2024 by ahcadmin

Welcome back to our series exploring the University of Wyoming’s building history. In these posts, we’re digging into the narratives behind UW’s most iconic structures.

When UW opened for classes on September 12, 1887, no campus housing was available. Students secured room and board with local residents.

These young woman at UW circa 1890 had to arrange housing within the community since no on-campus housing existed at that time. Photo File: Colleges and Universities – University of Wyoming – Class Pictures, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

For more than a decade, the trustees attempted to secure funding for campus housing. Finally, in the fall of 1906, plans for a new women’s dormitory began to take shape.

University President Frederick Tisdel met with members of the Wyoming State Federation of Women’s Clubs on October 13 to discuss the Federation’s support for the completion of a dormitory that could accommodate up to 25 students. State funds along with financial support from the Federation allowed the project to move forward.

On June 5, 1907, Cheyenne architect, William Dubois, presented a building proposal to the trustees. Plans were approved in December to construct a slightly smaller dormitory to fit within the budget, with an additional wing to be added later. The building contract was awarded to C.R. Inman, of Cheyenne, on February 8, 1908, to construct a red brick dormitory.

Construction of Women’s Hall, later Merica Hall, in 1908. Note workers on top level in scaffolding. Box 33, Item 50, B. C. Buffum papers, Coll. No. 400055, University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center.

Children play on the UW campus as Women’s Hall nears completion in 1908. Box 84, Samuel H. Knight papers, Coll. No. 400044, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Women’s Hall, as it was originally known, was not completed when students arrived for school on September 22. Temporary housing arrangements were made until the new dormitory opened on October 15. The first dorm’s director was Minna Stoner, who also was appointed as the UW’s first Dean of Women.

Image above is the newly completed Women’s Hall with some of its first occupants. The image below is a close up of this excited group of young students. Box 85, Samuel H. Knight papers, Coll. No. 400044, Box 85, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

The planned additional wing was completed in the fall of 1909. The dorm included a section for the Home Economics Division, including a kitchen and dining hall and large classroom, which also was used for art and sewing classes.

Box 3, Samuel H. Knight papers, Coll. No. 400044, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

The trustees approved the change of the building’s name from Women’s Hall to Merica Hall at its August 7, 1922, meeting. The name was an ode to Charles Merica, UW’s President from 1908 to 1912. Perhaps it was a reward for his past frustrations. Although an ambitious builder, Merica’s plans for other structures were consistently thwarted by the Wyoming Legislature.

Charles Merica at work at his desk while UW President. Box 2, James D. LeCron papers, Coll. No. 1976, University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center.

In 1925, an initiative was launched to transform a large classroom into a formal gathering space. By the fall of 1926, the conversion was complete, and the room was dedicated in tribute to Nellie Tayloe Ross, who had the distinction of being both Wyoming’s governor and the first woman elected as a governor in the U.S. The dedication ceremony took place on May 11, 1927, with Ross, by then the former governor, in attendance. This venue quickly became a popular location for parties and festive events.

‘Parting is such sweet sorrow.’ A young couple on the steps of Merica Hall in 1931. Ludwig & Svenson Studio Photographs, Coll. No. 167, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Near to Merica Hall to the northwest, there was a small pond affectionately known as the “Peanut Pond” by the campus community across generations. It served as the battleground for the annual tug-of-war between freshmen and sophomores, a cherished tradition. According to the Branding Iron student newspaper, it also played host to fly casting contests that continued into the late 1940s. Soon after, the pond was drained, probably due to the mosquito problem it was said to have created.

Tug-of-war at the Peanut Pond in 1927 as part of a University of Wyoming Arbor Day program. Ludwig & Svenson Studio Photographs, Coll. No. 167, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

When additional housing was added, Merica Hall was slowly converted for academic and office purposes. The School of Pharmacy occupied the basement in 1948. As the College of Pharmacy expanded to occupy most of the building, the trustees, on January 14, 1955, approved the name change to Merica Pharmacy Building. After a new Pharmacy Building opened in 1969, Merica Hall began housing numerous academic offices and campus services.

Merica Hall circled in yellow on this aerial photo of the UW campus in the 1970s. And the campus has only grown since then. But Merica Hall retains its charm amidst the more modern structures. Photo File: University of Wyoming – Aerial Views, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Merica Hall, 2022. Photo by Theoren Sheppard, AHC Photography Lab Supervisor.

As we continue our journey through the architectural past of the University of Wyoming, our next stop describes the fascinating story behind Hoyt Hall.

In the meantime, explore the AHC’s virtual exhibition titled “Keeping History Alive: 136 Years of Progress.” This display intertwines historical images of the UW campus with contemporary photographs from 2022, revealing the evolution as well as enduring elements of the campus over time. For additional perspectives on campus development and architecture, explore our exhibit “University of Wyoming: A Brief History of Campus.”

Posted in architectural history, Architecture, Campus Heritage, Historic Buildings, Laramie, Student Life, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged Charles Merica, College of Pharmacy, Merica Hall, Minna Stoner, Nellie Tayloe Ross, On-campus Housing, Peanut Pond, University of Wyoming Campus Evolution, William Dubois, Women's Hall, Wyoming State Federation of Women's Clubs | 1 Comment

Titans of Terror: Godzilla and King Kong as Pop Culture Icons

Posted on April 8, 2024 by ahcadmin

As the film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opens, we consider the history and legacy of the two most famous giant monsters in film history. Both monsters are represented in posters and stills from the collection of Forrest J. Ackerman, the founding editor of the magazine “Famous Monsters of Filmland.”

Godzilla first appeared in the Japanese film Godzilla, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda, which was released in Japan in 1956 and in America two years later in a re-edited version featuring Raymond Burr and titled Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Poster from Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956). Box 115, Forrest J. Ackerman papers, Collection No. 2358, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Stills from Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956), Forrest J. Ackerman papers.

Released in Japan less than a decade after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Godzilla has been called “an unflinchingly bleak, deceptively powerful film about coping with and taking responsibility for incomprehensible, manmade tragedy. Specifically, nuclear tragedies.”

As film critic J. Hoberman has noted, the incident that opens the original film and leads to the discovery of the ancient sea creature – the destruction of a Japanese freighter – parallels the contamination from nuclear fallout of the crew of a Japanese fishing boat by an American thermonuclear test at Bikini Atoll. Godzilla has gone on to appear in more than thirty films over the last seventy years, including Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964) (aka “Mothra vs. Godzilla”) and Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971) (aka “Godzilla vs. Hedorah”).

Stills from Godzilla v. the Thing (1964), Forrest J. Ackerman papers.

Stills from Godzilla v. the Thing (1964), Forrest J. Ackerman papers.

King Kong, the creation of American filmmaker Merian C. Cooper and British writer Edgar Wallace, first appeared in the 1933 film King Kong, in which the monster famously co-starred with Fay Wray and the Empire State Building. In that film, an American film crew arrives at Skull Island, where Kong lives, and takes him, in chains, to New York City to exhibit him as the “eighth wonder of the world.” The original film is now recognized as an unsettling racial allegory.

Posters from releases of King Kong in 1933 and 1976, Forrest J. Ackerman papers.

As one scholar has argued, “King Kong serves as the sublime object not only of fear and terror but also of the disenfranchised black, exotic other who must be put back into his place so as not to be a threat to the status quo.”¹

Faces of Kong in the 1933 release, Forrest J. Ackerman papers.

Kong as seen in 1976, Forrest J. Ackerman papers.

According to another scholar, when Kong is captured, enslaved, and exhibited, he “bears a striking similarity to the undressed slave on the auction-block showcased for fetishistic, visual dissection.”²

In the film clip below from Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, a Nazi (!) describes the parallels between “the Negro in America” and Kong.

King Kong has gone on to appear in multiple sequels, remakes, and reboots, including Son of Kong (1933), a sequel to the original film, King Kong Escapes (1967), and King Kong, a 1976 remake starring Jeff Bridges, Jessica Lange, and Charles Grodin. And Godzilla and Kong first appeared together in the 1963 Japanese film King Kong vs. Godzilla which was directed by Ishirō Honda, the director of the first Godzilla film.

Son of Kong
King Kong v. Godzilla
King Kong Escapes

One final note: Perhaps the most unusual item involving one of these giant monsters is not in the Forrest J. Ackerman collection, but in the papers of writer Jerry Sohl. Sohl, who wrote for such television series as The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Outer Limits, and the original Star Trek series, wrote a seventeen-page treatment (never produced) set near the end of World War II and titled “Godzilla vs. Frankenstein”!

First five pages of the “Godzilla v. Frankenstein” story treatment from the Jerry Sohl papers.

Post contributed by AHC Archivist Roger Simon (our resident film expert).

¹Valerie Frazier, “King Kong’s Reign Continues: ‘King Kong’ as a Sign of Shifting Racial Politics,” CLA Journal, vol. 51, no. 2, 2007, pp. 186–205.

² Robin Means Coleman, Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present, (Routledge, 2011), p. 43.

Posted in Film History, Pop Culture, science fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged American Cinema, Atomic Age, Crossover Films, Famous Monsters of Filmland, Forrest J. Ackerman, Giant Monsters, Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Frankenstein, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Ishiro Honda, Japanese Cinema, Jerry Sohl, Kaiju Cinema, King Kong, Merian C. Cooper, Nuclear Allegory, Postcolonial Themes, Sequels and Remakes, Unproduced Scripts | Leave a comment

Gale Cleven and George Niethammer: The Wyoming Connection in “Masters of the Air”

Posted on April 1, 2024 by ahcadmin

If you are interested in the history of the Second World War, or interested in aviation, you may have been watching Masters of the Air, a new television series on Apple TV+.

A companion to Band of Brothers and The Pacific, Masters of the Air focuses on the 100^th Bomb Group (the “Bloody Hundredth”) of the Eighth Air Force during the daylight strategic bombing campaign during WWII. If you are like me, you may have also been surprised to hear Austin Butler’s character, Gale Cleven, introduce himself as being from Casper, Wyoming, during the first episode.

Even more surprising, in a later episode of the show, a second character from Wyoming is also introduced, George Niethammer, played by Josh Dylan. Upon further research, both men were students at the University of Wyoming, and were even college friends before the war. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at these two men and their connection with Wyoming and the University of Wyoming (UW).

Gale Cleven was born on December 27, 1918, in Lemmon, South Dakota. As a child, he and his family moved to Wyoming for his father’s work in the oil fields. Cleven attended Midwest School for high school. After graduation, Cleven began attending UW around 1937, first appearing in the 1940/1941 Wyo yearbook as a junior, studying mathematics.[1] In the summers, Cleven worked as a roughneck in the oil fields around Casper to pay for school.

Gale Cleven in 1940/41 *Wyo* yearbook, pg. 38.

Cleven seems to have been quite active in student life, appearing multiple times in the Branding Iron student newspaper, attending social events such as dances and in the Wyo as an interfraternity council member for Phi Theta Delta. Cleven appears to have had an early interest in military service; he is reported in The Sheridan Press of December 4, 1938, as being a first alternate choice for one of Wyoming’s appointment slots for the service academies.

Gale Cleven (shown to the right) on the Interfraternity Council. 1940/41 *Wyo*, pg. 162.

Cleven enlisted in the Army in 1940 and proceeded to train as a flying cadet.

George Niethammer[2] was born September 12, 1919, in Red Lodge, Montana. He graduated Natrona County High School in 1937 and attended UW afterwards. Like Cleven, Niethammer was active on campus and was also frequently mentioned in the school newspaper. He was elected president of the freshman class in 1937 and was involved in a committee to investigate a subpar whitewashing of W Hill.[3] He ran track and won low hurdles at a meet against Denver in April 1939.[4]

In October of that year, the Branding Iron reports that another student had been elected to class president, as Niethammer was not returning to school that semester. His draft registration card dated October 1940 listed him as living in Casper and being employed at the Casper Packing Company, a meatpacking plant his family owned. He was a member of the Wyoming National Guard before the war, and after activation for wartime service at some point transferred to the Army Air Corps for training as a bomber pilot.

Flying B-17 or B-24 heavy bombers, the crews of the US Army Air Forces flew missions over German-occupied Europe to bomb strategic targets such as submarine bases, industrial factories, railroad yards, etc. with the goal of disrupting the German economy and war machine to hasten the end of the war. While the British RAF flew at night to bomb targets, the USAAF flew during the day, suffering heavy casualties from anti-aircraft artillery and German fighter attacks.

Both Cleven and Niethammer flew combat missions as pilots in their units, Cleven as a B-17 pilot, and Niethammer as a B-24 pilot. Niethammer was mentioned again and quoted in the Branding Iron of May 4, 1944, recounting in a letter home being shot down and having to ditch in the Adriatic Sea and being rescued.

Cleven and his crew were shot down October 8, 1943, and became prisoners of war. Niethammer and his crew were shot down in May 1944, and crash-landed in Germany, also becoming prisoners of war. The two friends were reunited when they were interned together in Stalag Luft III in modern day Poland, a German prisoner of war camp for downed allied airmen.[5] As the Soviet army advanced westward, the Germans force marched prisoners west to be interned in different camps. During one such march, Cleven and Niethammer escaped. During the escape bid, Cleven and Niethammer were separated.

Cleven successfully made it to Allied lines, not knowing what had happened to Niethammer. He was repatriated to England to continue service. After the war, he resumed his studies at UW, graduating in 1946 and returning in 1956 to acquire a master’s degree. He remained in the Air Force throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars, before retiring from the service and holding a range of other jobs, including in aeronautics and as the president of Webber College in Florida. He died November 17, 2006, in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Tragically, Niethammer was shot and killed during his escape attempt. His remains were located in 1949.[6] Niethammer is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Liège, Belgium.[7]

Gale Cleven was a pallbearer at his memorial service in Casper.

Post contributed by Marcus Holscher, Toppan Rare Book Library, American Heritage Center.

[1] The 1940/41 Wyo yearbook was the first produced after a hiatus of several years due the Great Depression.

[2] George Niethammer’s name is spelled varyingly “Niethammer” and “Neithammer” in newspaper publications, the former is used on his draft card and used throughout this post.

[3] Branding Iron, Volume 43, Number 3, October 7, 1937.

[4] Branding Iron, Volume 14, Number 26, April 27, 1939.

[5] The same camp made famous by the British “Great Escape” of May 1944.

[6] The Casper Tribune Herald, October 11, 1949.

[7] George F. Niethammer | American Battle Monuments Commission. (n.d.). https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/niethammer%3Dgeorge (accessed March 29, 2024).

Sources Used:

Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016 [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Memorial page for Col Gale Winston “Buck” Cleven (27 Dec 1918–17 Nov 2006), Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave Memorial ID 18089976, citing Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA; Maintained by Paula and Dale (contributor 46489742). (accessed March 29, 2024.

American Battle Monuments Commission website.

Miller, Donald. Masters of the Air. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2006.

WYO Yearbook, 1940/41.

Wyoming Digital Newspaper Collection.

Posted in Actors, Adaptations, American history, aviation, Biography and profiles, military history, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, World War II, Wyoming history | Tagged 100th Bomb Group, Bloody Hundredth, Bomber Pilots, Eighth Air Force, Gale Cleven, George Niethammer, Masters of the Air, Prisoners of War, Stalag Luft III, WWII, WWII Heroes | 1 Comment

A Friendship in the Books

Posted on March 25, 2024 by ahcadmin

For dearest Olga—who knows, loves and writes books—from a kindred soul with love and admiration. Ishbel Ross.
Christmas 1964, inscription in An American Family: The Tafts, 1678 to 1964.

For Olga Arnold—dear and understanding friend. Devotedly, Ishbel Ross.
Christmas 1967, inscription in Taste of America: An Illustrated History of the Evolution of Architecture, Furnishings, Fashions, and Customs of the American People.

For dear Olga—I hope you will find this fun reading, if nothing more. Devotedly, Ishbel.
May 1969, inscription in Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve.

For Olga Arnold—who may or may not like women doctors—but, anyway, Elizabeth was different! Ishbel Ross. October 11, 1949.
inscription in Child of Destiny: The Life Story of the First Woman Doctor.

These inscriptions are just several examples of the notes that author Ishbel Ross addressed to Olga Moore Arnold in books given to Arnold throughout their long friendship. The inscriptions hint at the friendship between the two women and also their relationship and respect for each other as authors as well.

The careers of these two women mirrored each other as both started as newspaper women. Both women knew from a young age that writing was important and something they aspired to spend time on during their career.

Olga Moore Arnold, writing as Olga Moore, published interviews, short stories, and essays featured on women’s pages in newspapers around the country and Ishbel Ross spent over a decade covering crime and trials in The New York Herald Tribune.

Olga Moore’s image as seen in a 1921 University of Wyoming yearbook.

Both women turned from the newspaper to writing books with Ross gaining acclaim for her biographies of women including first ladies Julia Dent, Nellie Taft, and Mary Todd Lincoln, Clara Barton, Rose O’Neal Greenhow, and numerous women journalists. Arnold’s career shifted towards lobbying, but she continued to write pieces related to her work, but also published several books including her autobiography, I’ll Meet You in the Lobby and a novel titled Windswept.

Despite working in the same professional circles, it does not appear that Arnold and Ross met until during World War II. By the 1940s, Ishbel Ross had lived in New York City for many years, having moved to New York City in 1919 from her home in Scotland (with a brief time in Canada). She married journalist Bruce Rae in 1922 and continued working as a reporter until the early 1930s when she quit to raise their daughter.

Olga Moore Arnold’s journey to New York City took longer. She was born near Buffalo, Wyoming, and attended the University of Wyoming where she was the editor of the university’s newspaper, The Branding Iron, and advocated for a new library at the university. For Arnold, the writing and activism went hand in hand, and she later realized that “all roads led to lobbying” and championing various political causes. Olga Moore Arnold was married to UW Law professor Carl Arnold. In addition to Wyoming, they also lived in Washington, D.C. and after his death, Olga lived in D.C., New York City, Wyoming, and Europe and also traveled through the United States.

On St. Patrick’s Day in March 1943, Olga Moore Arnold began a new position in New York City as a features writer for the Office of War Information. As detailed in her autobiography, recently widowed Arnold left her lobbying position to take the OWI position. She spent time writing about each of her new coworkers in the office providing detailed descriptions of each’s personality. She described Ishbel Ross in her autobiography.

We had Ishbel Ross, the pride of the division, blond, dimpled, and Edwardian, with a creamy Scotch complexion and violet eyes. She looked like a lace-edged Valentine and talked like a stiff snort of Scotch. She was a canny realist and a hard worker, her typewriter hummed smoothly all day long, its rhythm broken only at four in the afternoon by Ishbel’s need for a cup of tea.
Moore, I’ll Meet You in the Lobby, 164.

The women did not work together very long, but it appears to be the start of a friendship that continued through the 1970s, likely until the death of Ishbel Ross in 1975.

Ishbel Ross’s author photo from her book, *Child of Destiny: The LIfe Story of The First Woman Doctor*. From the Barrat Family Collection in the Toppan Rare Book Library.

An October 31, 1937, article in the Casper Star-Tribune calls Olga Moore Arnold “one of the most eminent writers Wyoming ever has produced and numbered among the most popular fictionists of the day” but neither Arnold or Ross has biographies or longer studies of their work.

Both women used their work to highlight the importance of women, and copies of their publications are still available. Despite writing biographies (and in many cases the first biography) of several prominent women, contemporary sources only occasionally cite Ishbel Ross. Her seminal 1936 work, Ladies of the Press is still pointed to as a significant work on women journalists.

While the American Heritage Center only has the inscribed books from Ross in Arnold’s book collection, the mentions of Ross in Arnold’s autobiography help fill in the gaps of their friendship, especially in how they met and worked together. Another interesting link regarding Ishbel Ross and the AHC is found in the Grace Robinson book collection (the AHC also holds the papers of Robinson). According to a note from Grace Robinson in a copy of Ishbel Ross’s publication, First Lady of the South, Robinson and Ross were long-time friends and colleagues.

The book collection of Olga Moore Arnold, who passed away in 1981, is part of the Barratt family sub-collection in the Toppan Rare Book Library at the AHC. This collection was donated by the family in 2022.

Over the last year, my staff and I have prioritized collecting, cataloging, and publicizing the works by and collected by women. While we have always collected women’s book collections, there is still a great deal of work to be done talking about the works and lives of lesser-known women authors.

Post contributed by Dr. Mary Beth Brown, Toppan Rare Book Library Curator.

Posted in Authors and literature, Biography and profiles, Book Category, Journalism, Uncategorized, Women in History, Women Writers, women's history | Tagged Book Inscriptions, Ishbel Ross, Ladies of the Press, Newspaper Career, Office of War Information, Olga Moore Arnold, Toppan Rare Book Library, University of Wyoming, women journalists | 3 Comments

Stan Lee and the Comic Book Boom

Posted on March 18, 2024 by ahcadmin

Beginning the late 1960’s, Stan Lee and Marvel Comics started to reach beyond the audience of just the United States and into global popular culture. Marvel’s characters and stories possessed universal themes and relatable qualities that touched readers from all walks of life, the presence of characters from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and religions resonating with international fans.

Lee quickly recognized the desire for an international market and began to engage in extensive distribution efforts, including publishing comic books in multiple languages. These translations allowed non-English speakers to enjoy Marvel stories in their native language which resulted in more accessibility and inclusivity, transcending cultural boundaries.

Marvel Comic Book Stan Lee special, published in France, 2000. Stan Lee Papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Like many booming franchises, Marvel received mountains of fan mail throughout the 20th century, a large amount of which was addressed personally to Stan Lee. Readers of all ages, all genders, and from all corners of the world would write to Lee with their own ideas for new superheroes and fresh stories. Lee encouraged this interaction by personally responding to as many letters as possible, offering both praise and constructive criticism.

The Stan Lee papers at the American Heritage Center contain boxes upon boxes of fan mail sent to Lee between the 1960s and the 2000s, along with many of his personal responses to his fans. While much of this mail is from the United States, many of the letters come from fans living in all corners of the globe, from France, to Norway, to Israel, to Japan, to Germany, to Australia, to Holland.

Fan mail sent to Stan Lee, ca. 1980. Stan Lee Papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Once Stan Lee became a national and international household name, Lee began to receive correspondence from celebrities, politicians, and other comic creators. Some of these letters include mail from Marvel fan and actor David Hasselhoff, letters from politicians such as the Clintons and Al Gore, and invitations to Danny DeVito’s holiday parties.

Other notable names who corresponded with Lee include Jimmy Kimmel, James Stewert, Spike Lee, Lou Ferrigno, Jon Peters, Sidney Poitier, and Hugh Hefner. In 1982, Gene Simmons, the lead singer of the hard rock band KISS, wrote to Stan Lee asking if he could play The Thing in a future Fantastic Four film. Unfortunately for Gene Simmons, since writing this letter, he has not had the opportunity to play any Marvel hero on the big screen let alone The Thing.

“I have been a fan from the beginning, and still am.” – Gene Simmons

Correspondence from musician Gene Simmons to Stan Lee, 1982. Stan Lee Papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Because of the escalating enthusiasm among fans to participate in the Marvel brand, Stan Lee saw a market for the creation of a larger fan community. Through the formation of the Merry Marvel Marching Society (M.M.M.S.), Lee was able to develop a more devoted fan base who would purchase not only comic books but also apparel, figurines, and other merchandise to feel connected to the Marvel fandom. Lee offered fans the opportunity to participate in contests, sharing their artwork and stories through a more controlled outlet than only fan mail.

Over the next forty years, the M.M.M.S. transformed itself into a variety of other Marvel sponsored fan clubs including Marvelmania International, Friends of Ol’ Marvel (FOOM), and Marvel Age. Fan clubs not associated with Marvel found their way into the comic book community as well, one of the most significant being San Diego Comic-Con. Today, comic cons are major events for the comic book, video game, and fandom community, attracting attendees from around the world.

Friends of Ol’ Marvel (FOOM) Magazine cover issue #17, 1977. Stan Lee Papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

The introductions of the internet, social media, and streaming services have all played integral roles in the Marvel comic book boom. Today, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been a key driver in the continuation of globalizing the Marvel brand through blockbuster films, introducing a whole new generation of fans to Stan Lee’s stories.

To learn more about Stan Lee and Marvel Comics through highlights from the collection, visit the upcoming American Heritage Center exhibit Stan Lee: Beyond the Book opening May 1, 2024 in the AHC’s Loggia and Gallery. The exhibit runs through November 1, 2024.

Post contributed by AHC Intern Hazel Homer-Wambeam.

Posted in Comic book history, exhibits, Fan Culture, Marvel Comics, Uncategorized | Tagged American Heritage Center, Celebrity Correspondence, Comic Book Boom, Comic Cons, Fan Art and Stories, Fan Mail, Friends of Ol’ Marvel (FOOM), Global Influence, International Comics, Marvel Age, Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Marvelmania International, Merry Marvel Marching Society (M.M.M.S.), Stan Lee | Leave a comment