Selenium: The Story of Orville A. Beath

Posted on April 29, 2019 by ahcadmin

Wyoming has often given rise to great ideas and new research, and one such man that succeeded in a major discovery, alongside a team of researchers, was Orville A. Beath. Orville A. Beath was born in Wisconsin in 1884, where he would obtain his degrees, a B. A. and M.A. in chemistry. He met his wife, Katherine H. Shepard, in 1912, and they had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Mrs. Katherine Beath sadly passed in 1949. Mary Beath would later become a teacher of the Arts and Fine Arts in Tucson, Arizona.

old family portrait of man and woman standing
Photo of Orville A. Beath and Katherine H. Shepard, Box 38, Folder 1 of 2, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Orville A. Beath was a professor of Chemistry at the University of Wyoming from 1914-1964. He and a team, which included Irene Rosenfeld, Carl S. Gilbert and Harold F. Eppson, researched seleniferous vegetation among other poisonous plants.[1] The work that Professor Beath and his associates would come to find about selenium would impact the next decades because of the precedence set by Beath and the team. In O. A. Beath’s book, The Story of Selenium in Wyoming, the foreword, written by Geologist, J. David Love, explains that Beath’s “two greatest contributions were the recognition of the geologic distribution of selenium in rocks and in the soils derived from them, and the role of converter plants that made selenium available to otherwise harmless plants.”[2]

canoe in foreground on lake in front of mountains
Glass Plate Negative of Scenic View, Box 27, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
mountainous area with aspen trees and snow
Glass Plate Negative of Larkspur, Box 25, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Beath’s daughter, Mary E. Beath, donated most of the collection to the American Heritage Center upon her death in the late 1990s. She dedicated much of her time with friends, family, and the acquaintances that her father had made through his work.

Between Orville Beath and his daughter Mary, they contributed a number of photographs, slides, and films to the collection. Much of the visual media in this collection is related to the work that Beath did with selenium and other poisonous plants. The other half of the visual materials is dedicated to family photos and home videos that include Beath’s cabin and their slight obsession with the privy and their local squirrels. The inside joke about the privy seems to be concerning that there was more than likely not a bathroom inside of the Beath cabin, therefore a privy, or better known as an outhouse, was built in order to suffice the need.

cabin and outhouse surrounded by aspens
Photograph of Beath’s Cabin and Privy, Box 30, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 05104, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming. Photograph of “The Privy”, Box 38, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

In the pictures below, Mary Beath is standing in the doorway, with a smile on her face, of this finished product: the privy.

mary-beath-and-the-privy
Photograph of Mary Beath and The Privy, Box 38, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

The photo below also include that of a squirrel; squirrels are often found in the visual materials belonging to the Beath collection and seem to be of some interest to the Beath’s and their fascination with and respect of nature.

squirrel on a tree stump
Photograph of squirrel, Box 30, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

To learn more about Orville A. Beath and his work on selenium, see the Orville A. Beath papers at the American Heritage Center.

[1] Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

[2] The Story of Selenium in Wyoming, Box 6, Folder 5, Orville A. Beath Papers, Collection Number 400096, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Blog contribution by MaKayla Garnica, William D. Carlson Endowment Intern

#AlwaysArchiving

Posted in environmental history, Family history, Science, Student projects, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman: the protection of our planet before Earth day

Posted on April 15, 2019 by ahcadmin

April 22nd is a day to think about, celebrate, and remember the importance of our planet and its conservation. It is called Earth day. This celebration started in 1970, following the oil blowout near Santa Barbara, in January 1969.  Its foundation came about when Senator Gaylord Nelson, of Wisconsin, witnessed the oil slick from the air. That disaster brought a surge of environmental efforts, most importantly by the government of Richard Nixon, who, in 1970 passed the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. Nixon also created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Man and woman in film room with projector in foreground

Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman in their studio, Santa Fean Magazine, June 1974, p.12, Box 37. Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman papers, Collection #6225, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

But efforts to bring public awareness about the environment and wildlife were already initiated in the early 1960s by husband and wife team Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman, respectively a photographer and a writer. The Grossmans published books on birds of prey, but also ecology as a whole. In 1969, their book “Our Vanishing Wilderness” brought attention to the importance of the protection of all of nature’s species. It surveyed plants and animals in the United States and showed the impact of human behavior on their ecosystem.

Soon followed a documentary TV series, also entitled “Our Vanishing Wilderness.” One episode talked about the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, another about the effects of pesticides on reproduction of pelicans, and yet other episodes focused on the flooding of the Everglades, and the poaching of alligators.  The series aired on PBS in October 1970 and was the first environmental TV series in the US.

image of letter

Press Release for “Our Vanishing Wilderness” TV Series, Box 37, Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman papers, 6225, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

The television series caught the government’s attention, especially the pesticide episode that exposed its devastating effects on wildlife. In 1971, Shelly and Mary Louise were asked to act as consultants on a Senate bill that involved research to find an alternative to pesticides.

consulting

Pest Control Research. Hearings before the Subcommittee on Agricultural Research and General Legislation of the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 1971, US Senate, 92nd Congress, s. 1794, box 37, Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman papers, #6225, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Always seeking to expand their exploration of nature, Shelly and Mary Louise spent the early 1970s traveling across Europe and the U.S. to sample, research, and study wild flower evolution and pollination. Unfortunately, while in the Swiss Alps, Shelly died unexpectedly, putting their research to a halt.  A few years later, Mary used the research to write the synopsis, chapter outlines and three chapters of “Our Flowering World”, but the book was never published.

Our Flowering World Synopsis Box 3

“Our Flowering World” book synopsis, box 3, Shelly and Mary Louise papers, #6225, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

black and white image of flower and butterfly on an a flower

Orchid and Swallowtail butterfly, Shelly Grossman’s photographs, box 6, Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman papers, #6225, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

To learn more about the history of conservation and ecology, see the Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman papers at the American Heritage Center and explore other related collections in the guide to environmental and natural resources collections.

#AlwaysArchiving

Posted in conservation, energy resources, Environmental Activism, environmental history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

From Orphan to Icon: The Remarkable Journey of Barbara Stanwyck

Posted on March 2, 2018 by ahcadmin

Black and white photo of Barbara Stanwyck holding her Oscar Statue while standing in front of a large Oscar Statue, about 7 feet tall.

Barbara Stanwyck holding her Oscar Statue in 1982. From the Barbara Stanwyck photo file at the American Heritage Center.

The astounding and legendary life and career of Barbara Stanwyck began in Brooklyn, New York. The youngest of 5 children born to common laborers, Stanwyck was originally known as ‘Ruby Stevens.’ She became orphaned by the age of 4. After her mother’s death and her father abandoned the family, Ruby was raised primarily by her older, showgirl sister. Stanwyck left school to earn a living when she was 13, became a chorus girl at 15, and danced cabaret on Broadway in “The Noose” at 18. It was on Broadway that she was introduced as ‘Barbara Stanwyck’ for the first time. At the age of 20, while performing in Ziegfeld Shows, Barbara landed the lead in the Broadway show “Burlesque”, which led to contracts with Columbia Pictures and Warner Brothers.

While in her 20’s, Barbara acted in the films “Broadway Nights” (1927) and “The Locked Door” (1929). She almost gave up on her acting career, but decided to move to Hollywood to pursue film options. A young Frank Capra directed “Ladies of Leisure” in 1930 which was Barbara’s first considerable movie role. People that met Stanwyck described her as dedicated, modest, generous and beloved.

Black and white portrait photo of Barbara Stanwyck wearing a black sweater.

Portrait of Barbara Stanwyck during the filming of “Ten Cents a Dance” in June 1931. From the Barbara Stanwyck photo file at the American Heritage Center.

Barbara was also considered to be outspoken, much like some of the women she portrayed. Hitting the top of the A-list with the likes of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, the role of women in film began to be redefined. Movies such as “Ladies They Talk About” in 1932 and “Annie Oakley” in 1935 paved the way for Stanwyck’s grand talent and Academy Award recognition.

The 1930’s and 40’s brought continued success. In a field traditionally dominated by men, Barbara held her own and became a beacon for other women to follow. Displaying determination, commitment, and tenacity, she rose above ordinary roles. One of her most famous roles was in the 1937 film, “Stella Dallas.” Starring opposite John Boles, this moving film displayed Stanwyck’s incredible acting range as class and station issues arise. In a review of the 1941 movie, “Ball of Fire,” where Barbara starred with Gary Cooper, The New Yorker said, “…[her] confidence is charming; she is like a cocky street urchin in spangles.”   [The New Yorker, Dec. 2013]

From comedies and dramas to thrillers and westerns, in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Barbara Stanwyck continued to portray feisty women. In “The Cattle Queen of Montana” (1954), fending off greedy land grabbers and hired killers, she stakes her claim in the cattle business.  Despite the mediocre script, Barbara co-starred with Ronald Reagan and continued to be a shining star. In the 1964 movie, “Roustabout” starring Elvis Presley, Stanwyck played strong-willed, Maggie Morgan, the almost-bankrupt owner of a traveling carnival. Mae West was originally slotted for the role but Stanwyck was cast instead. Barbara’s talent was almost lost on this film, but at least one co-star was so mesmerized by her, he worked hard to live up to her level of professionalism. The only remarkable thing about making this movie, in Elvis’ opinion, was getting to work alongside Stanwyck.

Black and white photo of 4 people standing in front of a trailer with a boom microphone visible in front of the people. Elvis Presley is on theleft wearing a leather jacket, with Joan Freeman and Barbara Stanwyck standing opposite him and Leif Erickson standing behind Barbara Stanwyck. Next to Elvis is a signature of his full name.

The cast of “Roustabout” on set in 1964. From left to right: Elvis Presley, Joan Freeman, Barbara Stanwyck, and Leif Erickson (behind Stanwyck). Stanwyck affixed this photo into her copy of the script for the film. From the Barbara Stanwyck papers, Box 15 at the American Heritage Center.

Barbara transitioned into acting for television and did so with ease. Her television career included The Jack Benny Program (1932-1955), Goodyear Theater (1957-1960), Zane Grey Theater (1956-1961), and The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960-1961); the latter received a Prime Time Emmy Award. She became a quick favorite in the TV series, Big Valley (1965-1969). Throughout the remainder of her career, she continued to portray strong female leads. Eagerly moving into the 1970’s and 1980’s, her course continued through television with The Thornbirds (1983), a made-for-television miniseries, and The Colby’s (1985-1987), a prime time soap opera spinoff of Dynasty.  Barbara’s role in The Colby’s was brief; she only stayed for the first season. She felt her character, Constance, wasn’t going any place, but Barbara was!

In a letter addressed to, “The Student Writers and Film Historians at The University of Wyoming” Barbara encouraged us to “…pay attention to dialogue… refresh our memories…and re-read a few…” of the scripts (80+) she has donated. She insisted that, “Dialogue is the foundation.”

Scan of a letter written on Barbara Stanwyck's letterhead describing some of her thoughts about film and acting.

Letter written by Barbara Stanwyck that came with a donation of scripts to the American Heritage Center in October 1986. From the Barbara Stanwyck papers, Box 22, Folder 2 at the American Heritage Center.

Often referred to as “The Best Actress Who Never Won an Oscar,” Barbara Stanwyck was presented with an honorary Oscar in 1982 by John Travolta. He later commented that the experience was his ‘Supreme Oscar Moment’. Stanwyck led a fairly personal private life and never remarried after her divorce in 1951 from Robert Taylor.

Generous, humble and, typical of Barbara, at the 1984 Golden Globe Ceremony, where she was awarded the award for for ‘Best Supporting Actress in a Series’, Barbara focused on Ann-Margaret, for her performance in Who Will Love My Children. Selfless, talented and overcoming great odds, Barbara Stanwyck’s incredible life and career spanned the majority of the 20th century. When asked about life and endurance, Barbara would say, “I want to go on until they shoot me.” Barbara’s request for no funeral services or memorials was honored and after her cremation, her ashes were scattered over Lone Pine, California.

The entirety of the Barbara Stanwyck papers are available for research use in the reading room of the American Heritage Center.

Posted in Biography and profiles, Film History, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, popular culture, television history, Women in Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mileva Maravic remembers Gebo, Wyoming

Posted on November 26, 2017 by ahcadmin

110 years ago, the coal-mining town of Gebo was established about twelve miles north of Thermopolis in Hot Springs County. The town took its name from Samuel W. Gebo, an entrepreneurial developer of the coal mines in Washakie and Hot Springs counties. New York investor Rufus Ireland and others were the financial backers who leased the land from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Gebo was the company town of their Owl Creek Coal Company. By 1929, there were about 1,200 employees and family members, with more than 600 employed in the coal mines.

Mileva Maravic (1912-2003) spent her childhood in Gebo. Her papers at the AHC contain historical materials she collected about the town. Also included are reminiscences by Maravic and other Gebo residents.

The excerpts below are from Maravic’s remembrances about the town.

“Everything was owned by the company—the houses, the store, butcher shop, utilities.  Rent was free.  The company charged $1.00 for a load of coal brought in a truck and emptied it in the coal shed by the houses.  A few chose to build their own house or added some rooms to their company house.”

Gebo HS graduation 1930 Mileva back row on right

Mileva Maravic as a high school graduate in Gebo, 1930. Mileva Maravic papers, American Heritage Center

“Gebo was a melting pot of nationalities and cultures.  There were Finns, Czechs, Slavs comprising two groups (the Serbians and Montenegrins).  Other nationalities Hungarians, Bulgarians, Russians, Italians, Scots, Irish, English, and two Japanese families.” (from “Gebo, Wyoming,” by Mileva Maravic)

“The [school] playground had swings, a slide and the monkey bars and a Merry-go-round.

School Playground Gebo about 1921

School playground, ca. 1921 (photo does not include Mileva), Mileva Maravic papers, American Heritage Center

Away from the playground and the school were two small buildings near a pile of large rocks.  They were the outdoor toilets.  One marked BOYS and the other GIRLS.”

“The Owl Creek Coal Company furnished the books.  The children bought paper, pencils, penholder made of wood into which you inserted a metal penpoint.  We also had to buy a bottle of ink which cost ten cents.  The desks had a round hole in the upper right hand corner for the bottle of ink.  The penholder with penpoint dipped in the ink we used when having Penmanship Class.  We practiced many days the push-pull exercises and making large round circles before the teacher accepted the papers which she sent to the Palmer Method Company in Chicago.  They graded the papers and if satisfactory were returned to the School with a Certificate having our name on it.  We also received a Palmer Method Pin we could wear.” (from “The Gebo School,” by Mileva Maravic)

Gebo High School 1930 Mileva front row 3rd from left

Gebo High School, 1930 (note that photo is all girls). Mileva is front row third from left. Mileva Maravic papers, American Heritage Center

“Children entered the Pool Hall at the back door, waited until the clerk came to ask what kind of candy bar, soda pop we wanted.  We could buy with pool hall chips miners sometimes gave us.  A small building near the front of the Pool Hall was the Barbershop.  No women went in the Barbershop.  In the back of the Pool Hall was a round open structure where the Gebo Miner’s Band gave concerts in the summer.” (from “Gebo, Wyoming,” by Mileva Maravic)

Gebo Miners Band undated

Gebo Miner’s Band, undated, Mileva Maravic papers, American Heritage Center

“Growing up in Gebo, Wyoming in the 1920’s was a pioneer life compared to to-day’s living.  It was a simpler life.  It seems though, no matter how rough things were — the place we were young is always close to one’s heart.  Some part of me will always be where I grew up…….Gebo, Wyoming.” (from “Remembrances of Gebo, Wyoming,” by Mileva Maravic)

Gebo HS graduation 1930 Mileva back row on right

High school graduation, Gebo. 1930. Mileva is back row last on right. Mileva Maravic papers, American Heritage Center

By 1938, the coal mines had closed. Mail service to the town was discontinued in December 1955. By 1971 the town was bulldozed, although some buildings and the cemetery remain.

The American Heritage Center is a place to get information not found in many books or even online sources. We have firsthand data and evidence from letters, reports, notes, memos, photographs, audio and video recordings, and other primary sources. We’re accessible onsite at the University of Wyoming and online. No appointment needed to get your information!

Posted in Coal industry, Economic Geology, found in the archive, Local history, mining history, newly processed collections, Western history, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Nellie Tayloe Ross: The (First) Governor Lady

Posted on November 4, 2017 by ahcadmin

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 day of her husband’s burial, the chairman of the state Democratic Committee asked a delicate question: Would Mrs. Ross consider running for governor herself? The election was a month away. Her supporters thought it was fitting that the first state to allow equal voting rights (Wyoming passed women’s suffrage in 1869) would also be the first to have a woman governor.

Over the next few days, as she and her brother George Tayloe went around and around on the question of whether she should run, he came to know his sister better. She was shocked and sorrowful over her husband’s sudden death, but she was also ambitious. “No one ever wanted it more,” George wrote to his wife. If she did run, she understood that ambition was a quality she would have to disguise. It just wasn’t seemly for a woman to look ambitious.

Nellie Tayloe Ross was a southern woman and, as an archetypal southern woman, she was gracious, funny and strongly loyal to her family and friends. She was also very intelligent. She came from Missouri, the border South, a complicated place for people like her who were born not long after the Civil War. Nellie came out of that place and time a complicated woman.

Nellie Tayloe Ross in Cheyenne home.jpg

Nellie Tayloe Ross in her home in Cheyenne, ca. 1910. Nellie Tayloe Ross Papers, American Heritage Center

Her opponent in the election, Republican candidate Eugene J. Sullivan, a Casper lawyer, campaigned hard. Nellie, still deep in grief, did not. Her campaign was conducted by her backers who spoke widely and took out ads on her behalf. Despite her backseat approach to campaigning, she won the election. Ross was inaugurated on Jan. 5, 1925 as the first woman governor by only a few days—Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, who had also been a state First Lady, was sworn in as governor of Texas just over two weeks after Ross took office.

Eleven days later after inauguration, now Governor Nellie Tayloe Ross appeared before the Legislature to review the progress of her late husband. The New York Times ran the headline, “Mrs. Ross Wears Hat Before Legislature,” and noted that she “defied precedent” by “wearing hat and gloves.” Other contemporary media accounts noted that she had “not lost her womanliness” and remained “ever feminine, never a feminist,” as noted in her Times obituary when she died in 1977. “Really, I dropped accidentally into politics,” she told the Times in 1926, saying she preferred taking a stroll along the boardwalk to discussing rumors of a 1928 bid for the Vice Presidency (which never materialized).

Ross as governor 1924-1926

Nellie Tayloe Ross during her tenure as Wyoming governor, 1924-1926. Nellie Tayloe Ross Papers, American Heritage Center

More than ninety years later, women politicians are still struggling with the balance of femaleness, ambition and power. As much as we may want to think we’re past caring how female politicians look, the 2016 election in which presidential candidate Donald Trump commented at the first debate that Hillary Clinton “…doesn’t have the look [to be president]” is an indication that looks are still a weapon to be wielded by the opposition. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) commented at the Real Simple/TIME Women & Success Panel in 2014, “When [a woman]’s appearance is commented on publicly during a campaign, it undermines her; it actually hurts her. And it doesn’t matter if the comment is positive or negative. It undermines her credibility.”

Ross also had to dispel the idea that she would use her power to rid the Wyoming government of men, and create an all-woman government (a 1925 man’s worst nightmare). Here’s what Time magazine reported in 1925 that she told the Associated Press when asked about her view of women in politics:

“It is most amusing and amazing to me, for example, to be asked, as I was soon after my election, whether I expected to appoint any men to office? This question, telegraphed to me from the East by a well-known metropolitan newspaper, had every indication of being quite sincere, and was apparently inspired by the fear that the elevation of women to executive office was likely to be followed by the dismissal of all men and the substitution of women in their places.”

Despite Nellie’s election as the first woman governor in the nation, at least one Wyoming woman of her time criticized Ross for not going far enough. In the papers of suffragette Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard of the University of Wyoming faculty there is a letter to national women’s suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt declaring that the “outstanding reason” Nellie was defeated “was due to the advisors that Governor Ross selected, all men.”

But woman’s rights in the political arena were not Nellie Ross’ main concern. According to a WyoHistory.org article about Ross by Tom Rea, “She cared about her family, but she also cared deeply about getting things done in the public sphere. She followed her ambition, saw her opportunities, took up the power available to her, and used it.”

Nellie Tayloe Ross’s papers, including correspondence, news clippings, and photographs are at the American Heritage Center. Much of the material has been scanned and is available for browsing as part of the AHC’s online digital collection.

Her story is also featured in the online exhibit “In Pursuit of Equality,” alongside other pioneering women who, as elected officeholders, helped challenge and redefine what equality means in Wyoming.

Credit is given to Tom Rea’s article “The Ambition of Nellie Tayloe Ross” on WyoHistory.org and Time magazine article (Nov. 4, 2014), “What We Can Learn From Nellie Tayloe Ross, America’s First Female Governor” for supplying text for this post.

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

Jean Howard, Photographer for the Glamorous Hollywood Set

Posted on November 1, 2017 by ahcadmin

Jean Howard parlayed her extraordinary beauty, ethereal glamour and light-hearted intelligence to become a Ziegfeld girl, a Hollywood starlet, a legendary hostess and the “house photographer” of the film colony.

Her circle included Tyrone Power, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Cole Porter and Marilyn Monroe. They mingled at Howard’s Spanish-style home on Coldwater Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills; she and her first husband, Charles K. Feldman, who used his success as the first super-agent to become a producer, bought it for $18,000 in 1942.

Everywhere, Howard snapped pictures. One shows Marlene Dietrich almost touching heads with Ann Warner, wife of Jack Warner, as they intensely discussed never-to-be known secrets over a smoky table at the Trocadero nightclub in Los Angeles.

Marlene Dietrich and Ann Boyer Warner

Marlene Dietrich and Ann Boyer Warner, 1940s. Jean Howard papers, American Heritage Center

Another is a scene from a 1950s garden party at the home of Clifton Webb. Humphrey Bogart is sitting in Webb’s lap chatting with an inscrutable Laurence Olivier.

Humphrey Bogart, Clifton Webb, Laurence Olivier at Webb's garden party, ca. 1950

Humphrey Bogart, Clifton Webb and Laurence Olivier at Webb’s home, 1950s. Jean Howard papers, American Heritage Center

Still another shows James Dean as he was about to begin filming for East of Eden. It was Dean’s first major screen role and the actor is seen here on the verge of stardom. This photo and others of Dean were shot in Howard’s backyard.

ah002361

James Dean, 1954. Jean Howard papers, American Heritage Center

Jean Howard was born Ernestine Hill in Longview, Texas, and grew up in Dallas. Her father took her to Hollywood one summer in the late 1920s, as a coverup while he was on a two-week spree with a girlfriend behind her stepmother’s back. She later returned to Hollywood and, in 1930, landed a contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer as a chorus girl in Eddie Cantor’s Broadway hit, Whoopee. She also caught the eye of Louis B. Mayer who proposed marriage, promising to divorce his wife. In 1934, when she instead became engaged to Charles Feldman, Mayer threatened to torpedo Feldman’s career, although the threat never materialized. While Feldman and Howard later divorced in 1948, the two remained close friends and even continued to share a home.

Jean Howard with Cole Porter (right of Howard) and Howard Sturges in Athens, 1955

Jean Howard with Cole Porter (right of Jean Howard) and Howard Sturges, Athens, 1955. Jean Howard papers, American Heritage Center

Howard got serious about photography in the 1940s by studying the art and then began to receive assignments from magazines like Life and Vogue. Her photographic work coalesced into a picture book published in 1989 titled Jean Howard’s Hollywood: A Photo Memoir.

Many of her original photographs were stored in shoe boxes until being willed to the American Heritage Center upon Howard’s death in 2000. It is almost accidental that her photographs and other papers were received by the AHC. Originally AHC Director Gene Gressley wrote to Howard in 1980 asking for Charles Feldman’s papers. After finding that Feldman’s papers had already been donated to the American Film Institute, Gressley casually mentioned an interest in her materials, not realizing the treasure trove that would come to the AHC twenty years later.

Jean Howard’s collection consists of biographical materials regarding Howard and Feldman, correspondence, and subject files about her books, but mostly her celebrated photographs and their negatives. Howard’s personal photographs and negatives are also included.

You can also delve further into the captivating world of Jean Howard and her iconic Hollywood photography through an AHC virtual exhibit, “Jean Howard’s Hollywood: ‘The excitement, the glamour, and the good times.‘”

Posted in Biography and profiles, found in the archive, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, Photography, popular culture, women's history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Rock Springs Massacre, September 2, 1885

Posted on September 8, 2017 by mmarcusse

During the summer of 1885, tensions had been building between Chinese coal miners and European coal miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory. Both groups were employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company and were having a dispute over wages.

According to Dudley Gardner in his article “The Wyoming Experience; Chinese in Wyoming” he states the following about growing tensions in the mines, “Growing anti-Chinese sentiment, coupled with Union Pacific’s wage-cutting policies, led to a volatile situation. Warnings of this sentiment came to the attention of the management of the Union Pacific, but they went unheeded.  Seemingly, little was done to avoid events that eventually erupted in violence.

                One of the contributing factors that led to the anti-Chinese movement in the coalmines was a perception that Chinese miners were treated better than whites.  This false perception grew in part from cultural misunderstanding.  In fact, on the average, Chinese coal miners made less and paid more for goods and services.  For example, in the late 1880s Chinese miners earned between $1.73 and $2 a day for their labors underground.  By comparison, white miners earned $2.50 to $3 each day. Meanwhile, Chinese coal miners rented their homes for between $5 and $7 each month.  Union Pacific rented similar houses for $2.50 a month to white miners.  Interestingly, for September 1885, when the Chinese miners only lived two days in the Union Pacific homes, they were charged either $1 or $2 rent.  Meanwhile, the head of Union Pacific Coal Company, D. O. Clark, who lived in one of the finest houses in town in the years leading up to the tragedy in Rock Springs, paid only $5 a month rent.

                Despite these facts, many whites felt that the Union Pacific granted the Chinese extra privileges.  The major complaints of the white miners in the 1880s included the statement that “Chinese miners were favored in the assignment of rooms in the mines,” where the actual extracting of coal took place.  The coal miners in Rock Springs thought that the Chinese miners were given the easiest “workings” where they could more easily extract coal and make more money each day.  To this end, white miners accused J. M. Tisdel, mine superintendent in Rock Springs, of selling “privileges to Chinamen.”  Adding to their discontent was the fact that Union Pacific coal miners were “compelled to trade at the Beckwith, Quinn and Company store.” Trade at Beckwith and Quinn was especially objectionable to the white miners since this company had brought the Chinese miners into Wyoming.”

On the morning of Sept. 2, 1885, growing tensions turned violent when a mob of European coal miners attacked their Chinese co-workers at the mine. Later that afternoon, an angry mob had formed which led to more violence within the Chinatown community of Rock Springs. At the end of the tragedy, the community learned that 28 Chinese miners had been killed and 15 more were wounded. Seventy-nine homes were set ablaze and the bodies of many of the dead were thrown into the flames. Several hundred Chinese workers were chased out of town and property damage was estimated at $150,000.

In the days and weeks following the riot, newspapers across the country reported on the event, including the Las Vegas Daily Gazette on Sept. 4, 1885 as seen here from the Library of Congress: “Worse Than Reported.”

Close up of headline on front page of the newspaper Las Vegas Gazette from September 4, 1885. Reads "Worse than reported. Instead of having been exaggerated, as is usually the case in places where riots have occured, it seems that the reports sents out yesterday were meagre in comparison with the real state of affairs - hundreds of Chinaman in the mountains in a starving condition, afraid to go in search of food - the attack a preconceived affair."

Headline from the front page of the Las Vegas Gazette, September 4, 1885, reporting on the extend of the Rock Springs Massacre. Image from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America project.

Front page of the newspaper, Las Vegas Gazette, on September 4, 1885. Second column is a story describing the Rock Spings Massacre in an article titled "Worse than Reported."

Las Vegas Gazette front page from September 4, 1885. Second column shows reporting on the Rock Springs Massacre. Image from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America project.

“Rock Springs Massacre” illustration, seen below, is archived at the American Heritage Center and the Library of Congress. This illustration of the massacre was published in the Sept. 26, 1885 edition of Harper’s Weekly and was drawn by Thure. de Thulstrup from photographs by Lieutenant C.A. Booth of the Seventh United States Infantry. https://www.loc.gov/item/89708533/

Black and white drawing of Chinese men fleeing a group of armed white men behind them. The background has smoke from fires and guns.

Illustration of the massacre from the Sept. 26, 1885 edition of Harper’s Weekly. The massacre of the Chinese at Rock Springs, Wyoming drawn by Thure. de Thulstrup from photographs by Lieutenant C.A. Booth, Seventh United States Infantry.

On September 8, 1885, the Springfield Globe Republic newspaper (Springfield, OH) reported that the sheriff of Sweetwater County arrested 22 of “the supposed” rioters in Rock Springs, as seen here from the Library of Congress: “Arresting the Rioters.”

Image of newspaper article from the front page of the Springfield Globe-Republic from September 8, 1885. Headline reads "Arresting the rioters. Twnety-two of the supposed Rock Springs leaders jailed. A Member-Elect of the Legislature among the prisoners - A formidable array of charges - more arrests to follow - a Chinaman describes the massacre."

Front page of the Springfield Globe-Republic (Springfield, OH), from September 8, 1885, reporting on the arrest of “the supposed” rioters. From the Library of Congress, Chronicling America project.

Black and white photograph of men in uniform standing in a line along a street. All are holding rifles.

Photograph from the National Archives, depicts Federal Troops on South Front Street in Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory, 1885.

Federal troops arrived in Rock Springs one week after the murders to restore order. They would remain in Rock Springs for 13 years, until 1898.

Although the killing and rioting had been done in broad daylight, law enforcement was unable to get any members of the community to attest to what they saw and the crimes that were committed. No European miners or community members were ever put on trial for the murders or looting.

Thomas Nast, one of the most prolific illustrators of the time, created the following editorial cartoon in 1885 to depict the massacre in Rock Springs.

Cartoon shows two men in traditional Chinese clothing looking down at large groups of violence below them. Area showing the massacre contains lots of men attacking Chinese men. Caption says "Here's a pretty mess! (In Wyoming.) Chinese Satirical Diplomatist. There's no doubt of the United States being at the head of enlightened nations!"

Cartoon drawn by Thomas Nast in 1885 that depicts the massacre in Rock Springs. From the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Illustration by Frederick B. Opper in 1885 that shows Uncle Sam preparing a list of places in China where “Americans [have been] killed by Chinese” and a Chinese man preparing a list of places in America where “Chinese [have been] killed by Americans” including the latest incident in “Wyoming Territory”. From the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/item/2011660543/

Front cover of Puck Magazine from September 16, 1885. Color cartoon shows Uncle Sam at a desk writing list of places where Americans have been killed in China and a Chinese man sitting at another desk writing a longer list of places in the U.S. where Chinese people have been killed. Credit underneath reads "Keeping account. China - Taking in the late massacre of my people in Wyoming Territory, there seems to be a slight balance to my credit!"

Cover of Puck Magazine, September 16, 1885. Illustration shows Uncle Sam preparing a list of places in China where “Americans [have been] killed by Chinese” and a Chinese man preparing a list of places in America where “Chinese [have been] killed by Americans” including the latest incident in “Wyoming Territory”. Illustration by Frederick B. Opper.

Several resources are available and accessible to learn more about the events that occurred in early September 1885 in Rock Springs, WY Territory. “Incident at Bitter Creek, the Story of the Rock Springs Chinese Massacre” by Craig Storti is a work of non-fiction, originally published in 1991. Numerous newspaper articles from Chronicling America, part of the Library of Congress, have been gathered together about the topic of the Rock Springs Massacre. In 2003, young adult author, Laurence Yep wrote a book of historical fiction to add to his Golden Mountain Chronicles, which documents the fictional Young family from 1849 in China to 1995 in America. The Traitor is a juxtaposition of two perspectives; Joseph Young, a 12-year-old Chinese-American coal miner and Michael Purdy, an outcast both living in Rock Springs. They become friends and live through the tension filled summer of 1885 and the events which led to the massacre of 28 Chinese miners.  Tom Rea, editor of WyoHistory.org, wrote an article for Wyoming’s online encyclopedia, titled “The Rock Springs Massacre“.

Posted in Asian American history, Local history, mining history, resources, Under-documented communities, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Farewell to the Old Laramie High School

Posted on August 11, 2017 by mmarcusse

Color photo showing an aerial view of the former Laramie High School looking east.

Color photo showing an aerial view looking east. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61. From Box 98, Folder 9C of the Allan H. Krafczik papers, American Heritage Center.

With an increasing student population in Laramie in the 1950s, the Albany County School District began efforts to construct a new high school to serve the growing needs of the community. In 1957, the architectural firm of Hitchcock & Hitchcock was hired to design a new high school. The site of 11th Street between Reynolds Street and Shield Street was selected, and Spiegelberg Lumber & Construction Company was hired to build the school. Construction began by 1959, and the school was completed in time for the 1960 school year. The first graduating class was the Class of 1961. As Laramie continued to grow, the school district once again had to consider a new facility. As construction of the new facility at the east end of the city neared completion, the final graduation occurred on May 29, 2016, marking the end of a total of 57 classes to graduate from the 11th Street School. The current facility was dedicated on August 11, 2016, with the first graduating class being the Class of 2017. At the same time, demolition commenced on the old school, and by August 2017, all that remained were piles of rubble.

The photos below are from Box 98, Folder 9C of the Allan H. Krafczik Collection. Krafczik operated the Easel Studio, located at 5th and Grand, from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Black and white photo looking east towards the Laramie Mountains. Houses are visible on all sides of the former Laramie High School, except for east. East of the former high school is an empty field with the Laramie Mountains in the background.

View east looking towards the Laramie Mountains. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

Black and white photo looking southwest toward the downtown area and showing Deti Stadium, named in honor of Coach John Deti Sr. From this view there are houses and buildings visible in much of the shot, including West Laramie.

View looking southwest toward the downtown area and showing Deti Stadium, named in honor of Coach John Deti Sr. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

Black and white photo of Laramie High School and Deti Stadium looking northeast toward W Hill, there is a W visible on the hill. Houses are visible on the south and west sides of the former Laramie High School, while there are empty fields to the north and east sides.

View looking northeast toward W Hill (the W can be seen on the hillside). Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

A color photo of the entrance to the former Laramie High School. There is snow on the ground in front of the building.

Color photo of the former Laramie High School. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

– John Waggener, Reference Archivist

Posted in architectural history, Laramie, Local history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Post and Carpenter – The Television Sound

Posted on July 24, 2017 by

The history of television in the 1980s cannot be told without discussing the music of Mike Post and Pete Carpenter. The team of Post and Carpenter first rose to fame in the 1970s with the music for The Rockford Files, and they even scored a pop chart hit with the theme to The Greatest American Hero. But their work for 1980s TV, especially the cop and detective dramas (such as Hunter) created by producer and writer Stephen Cannell, made their musical style the default sound of American television. They also worked with Cannell on shows like The A-Team, which was decidedly not in the cop/detective mold. Mike Post furthered his influence on the procedural genre after Carpenter’s death with his work on Dick Wolf’s Law and Order franchise, complete with the iconic “dun-dun” sound.

In the American Heritage Center, the Mike Post and Pete Carpenter Collection documents this work and is a great asset to researchers who want to look into this key moment and team in the history of television music. This collection collects the full scope of Post and Carpenter’s work in the 1970s and 1980s, from early shows like Toma and The Rockford Files, continuing on with A-Team and many shows they worked on for Cannell Productions in the 1980s that are not as well remembered, such as Riptide and Hardcastle and McCormick. Also included is Post’s solo efforts on the classic and influential police drama Hill Street Blues, co-created and produced by Stephen Bochco.

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Page 2 of The A-Team main title. From Box 119 of the Mike Post and Pete Carpenter Collection.

The collection mainly consists of the scores and parts used for recording, with most of them also including a cue sheet. These cue sheets are a valuable source of information on the many composers and arrangers who worked in the Post and Carpenter offices and who wrote many of the cues credited to Post and Carpenter, mimicking their iconic style.

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A typical cue sheet, this from an episode of Riptide, note the presence of the many orchestrators, including Walter Murphy. From Box 69 of the Mike Post and Pete Carpenter Collection.

This is not surprising considering that the team were scoring hundreds of hours of television each season. Included on these scores and cue sheets are names such as Ron Jones and Walter Murphy, both of whom have long composition careers of their own, with both even working together on the animated show Family Guy. Ron Jones also worked extensively on Star Trek: The Next Generation and even parodied his music from the show in later work on Family Guy.

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The first page of a cue from The A-Team by Ron Jones in the style of Post and Carpenter. Note the placement of his name first as composer and also orchestrator. From Box 119 of the Mike Post and Pete Carpenter Collection.

While the bulk of the collection is the scores, parts, and cue sheets, there are a limited number of “music timing” guides for the 1970s materials, including dozens of such guides from The Rockford Files. These are typed versions of spotting session notes and were used by Post and Carpenter as they went to work on crafting the scores for each episodes. There are a limited number of guides for other, short lived shows, along with some pilots that never went to series.

These materials provide a rich source of research material for film and television music scholars who wish to research the music for one of the most prolific composition teams ever, and whose music accompanied some of the shows that helped set the stage for today’s television landscape.

– Michael Harris, graduate intern

Posted in Composers, music, television history, Television Music | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Remembering Barbara Stanwyck – A Life in Film and Scrapbooks

Posted on July 17, 2017 by

“She wanted to be a dancer or a missionary, but eventually she decided to become an actress… She has intelligence, sincerity, and much charm. She is devoted to her husband and her home interests, and loves little children. Only recently she and her husband adopted a baby boy. She likes pretty clothes, too, and gypsy colors like this brown and bittersweet costume with its cute Ascot tie.” — Warner Brothers, scrapbook in Stanwyck collection number 3787, box 48

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Posted in Actors, Biography and profiles, Hollywood history, Interns' projects, motion picture history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment