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Historical Collections

 

In addition to the records of Wyoming government, the Wyoming State Archives has collected a small but significant group of manuscript collections documenting various aspects of life in Wyoming.  These include personal papers (letters, diaries, photographs, scrapbooks, writings), business records, and records of clubs and organizations.  A small library of books, pamphlets, and other published items about the state is also maintained as a reference collection to aid in the study of Wyoming history.

Historical collection strengths include oral histories of Wyoming lives and subjects, women’s clubs and organizations, maps, photographs, newspapers from around the state, city and state directories and phone books, histories of Wyoming towns and counties,  genealogical publications and locally-produced obituaries indices.

 

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What We Have & How To Find It

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News

Ways to Find Things

 

Card Catalogs 

  • Search for historical collections (not from government offices) and for photographs in these catalogs in our public reading room.  Cards list authors, topics, and location information.
     

Finding Aids.  

  • These documents describe each group of archival records (government files) or historical collections (papers of individuals, families, businesses or organizations.)
     
    • WyoCOMET. This searchable online database lists finding aids for a growing number of our collections (e.g. the records of the Governor’s office; the records of the Secretary of State).  Each finding aid describes the collection and gives a box and folder listing.  Some of the finding aids include links to actual digitized documents within the collections.
       
    • Printed finding aids for each collection.  Housed in notebooks in our public reading room.
       
    • Digital copies of finding aids for each collection.  Ask our staff if you would like a copy of a finding aid downloaded or sent to you from our internal files.
       

Wyoming’s Statewide Online Catalog

  • Soon you can search here for our books, city directories, phone books, and more.
     

Databases

  • Search separate online databases for photographs, maps, microfilm holdings, newspapers, death certificates, Wyoming cities, Wyoming history, and finding aids for our archival collections and manuscript collections.
     

Wyoming Blue Book Wiki  

  • Search through this online encyclopedia on Wyoming’s history, government agencies and state officials.
     

Guides to Topics  

  • See Guides and topic lists below.
     

Vertical File  

  • These folders of newsclippings and small print items, arranged by topic, are available in our public reading room.

 

 


News

What We Have - COLLECTIONS

 

State and local government records:    

Historical Collections 

 

Oral Histories  ( links open in new tab/window)

Photos
 

Maps
 

Published sources

  • Books and other publications  ( link opens in new tab/window) – Soon you can search online for our books, city directories, phone books, and more.
  • Wyoming newspapers  - search online ( link opens in new tab/window) up to 1923; read on microfilm ( link opens in new tab/window) up to the current year in our reading room.
     
  • Phone Books
     
  • State Directories - 1906-1911, 1914, 1916-1932, 1937, 1939-1942, 1950, 1953-1955, 1989-1991.  
     
  • City Directories (“Coming Soon”) These will be in WYLDCat.
     

Digital Collections

 


News

Guides and Topic Lists

 

Looking for a topic for a paper, or a place to start your search?  Try our guides!
 

 

What We Have - COLLECTIONS

 

State and local government records:    

Historical Collections 

 

Oral Histories  ( links open in new tab/window)

Photos
 

Maps
 

Published sources

  • Books and other publications  ( link opens in new tab/window) – Soon you can search online for our books, city directories, phone books, and more.
  • Wyoming newspapers  - search online ( link opens in new tab/window) up to 1923; read on microfilm ( link opens in new tab/window) up to the current year in our reading room.
     
  • Phone Books
     
  • State Directories - 1906-1911, 1914, 1916-1932, 1937, 1939-1942, 1950, 1953-1955, 1989-1991.  
     
  • City Directories (“Coming Soon”) These will be in WYLDCat.
     

Digital Collections

 

Ways to Find Things

 

Card Catalogs 

  • Search for historical collections (not from government offices) and for photographs in these catalogs in our public reading room.  Cards list authors, topics, and location information.
     

Finding Aids.  

  • These documents describe each group of archival records (government files) or historical collections (papers of individuals, families, businesses or organizations.)
     
    • WyoCOMET. This searchable online database lists finding aids for a growing number of our collections (e.g. the records of the Governor’s office; the records of the Secretary of State).  Each finding aid describes the collection and gives a box and folder listing.  Some of the finding aids include links to actual digitized documents within the collections.
       
    • Printed finding aids for each collection.  Housed in notebooks in our public reading room.
       
    • Digital copies of finding aids for each collection.  Ask our staff if you would like a copy of a finding aid downloaded or sent to you from our internal files.
       
wyld

Wyoming’s Statewide Online Catalog

  • Soon you can search here for our books, city directories, phone books, and more.
     

Databases

  • Search separate online databases for photographs, maps, microfilm holdings, newspapers, death certificates, Wyoming cities, Wyoming history, and finding aids for our archival collections and manuscript collections.
     

Wyoming Blue Book Wiki  

  • Search through this online encyclopedia on Wyoming’s history, government agencies and state officials.
     

Guides to Topics  

  • See Guides and topic lists below.
     

Vertical File  

  • These folders of newsclippings and small print items, arranged by topic, are available in our public reading room.

 

 

Guides and Topic Lists

 

Dewey-Coll-Sub-Neg-13842-Soldier-standing-beside-biplane-with-bucking-horse-on-side

Looking for a topic for a paper, or a place to start your search?  Try our guides!