Tag Archives: Wyoming history

Hans Kleiber and the Natural Beauty of Wyoming

The magnificent scenery of Wyoming has inspired many artists, but Hans Kleiber’s work stands out for the medium he used to capture the mountains, wildlife, and people of the state. Kleiber’s art was often created with line only, etched on zinc or copper plates. From these plates prints were made. Occasionally the prints were tinted, but many said all they needed to with lines. Continue reading

Posted in Artists, newly cataloged collections, newly processed collections, outdoor recreation, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Who Gets License Plate Number 1?

The State of Wyoming began issuing motor vehicle license plates in 1913.  Who got plate number 1?  The man who wrote the motor vehicle licensing law, state senator Jacob M. Schwoob of Park County. Schwoob continued to apply for, and … Continue reading

Posted in Biography and profiles, found in the archive, newly processed collections, outdoor recreation, Sports and Recreation, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Wyoming Equality Day: Liz Byrd’s quest to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Did you perhaps wonder as you sipped your coffee this morning about how Wyoming Equality Day originated?  Cheyenne native and Wyoming state legislator Harriett Elizabeth “Liz” Byrd was the guiding individual behind it.  Byrd was the first black woman to … Continue reading

Posted in African American history, Martin Luther King Jr., Political history, Social justice, Women in Politics, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wyoming statehood:  A load of “blatherskitism”?

Wyoming’s entry into the Union occurred on July 10, 1890, but not all of our territorial predecessors were enthusiastic in the years leading up to that historic event. Political machinations and ambitions were at play. Leading the charge for statehood … Continue reading

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Fourth of July in Wyoming Territory

How did Wyoming celebrate Fourth of July in territorial days? T.A. Larson’s History of Wyoming provides a slice of holiday history from the 1870s and 1880s. Here are excerpts: The Fourth of July was the great secular holiday, requiring elaborate … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, Laramie, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

UW Graduate Student Finds Inspiration in Tim McCoy Papers

The American heritage Center serves as a research institution for researchers of all kinds. Any given week the reading room is filled with historians writing books to young students working on class projects. For international American Studies graduate student, Constantin … Continue reading

Posted in archival studies, popular culture, Research and reference, Western Films, Western history | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Teapot Dome featured on BBC’s Downton Abbey

History on the BBC’s Downton Abbey crosses the Atlantic and comes to Wyoming. On season 4 episode 7 of the popular miniseries, the Dowager Countess explains why Lord Grantham travels to the United States; it turns out he is helping … Continue reading

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Black History Highlight: Stepp Family Ranch

The AHC would like to celebrate African-American experiences in the west by sharing this photograph of the Stepp family; taken on Alonzo T. Stepp’s ranch in the 1920s. Originally from Berea, Kentucky, Alonzo Stepp came to Wyoming to try cowboy … Continue reading

Posted in African American history, Family history, Ranch history, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Close Look at Development in Cody, WY: The George T. Beck Papers

The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming has an exciting announcement! We have digitized and made accessible online over 6,000 documents and photographs from the George T. Beck papers. George T. Beck came to Wyoming in 1879, and … Continue reading

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Family History Research @ the AHC

Archivists working in the Reference Department of the American Heritage Center are often asked about resources that can help genealogists track their family’s history.  Sometimes that’s an easy question–we might actually have the personal family papers of that researcher’s forebears.  … Continue reading

Posted in Accessing historical documents, Family history, resources, University of Wyoming, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment