The Owen Wister Western Writers Reading Room

Located on the fourth floor of the American Heritage Center, the Reading Room is open to members of the faculty, students, and staff of the University of Wyoming as well as visiting scholars, students, and members of the public on an equal basis. Please see the AHC's hours of operation to assist with your visit.

If you are interested in searching our on-line database for materials related to your research interests, a link to the AHC's online catalog is available for you to conduct a preliminary inquiry. Inquiries that require assistance from our reference staff should be directed to ahcref@uwyo.edu, or 307.766.3756 to speak to a reading room supervisor. When sending an e-mail message, please include your address, phone number, and e-mail address to ensure that your request can be answered in a timely manner.

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Self-service copying machines are available in the Reading Room at a cost of $.10 per copy. If you are unable to visit the Center, it is possible for staff to copy requested items for $.30 per copy (Prices are subject to change without notice).

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Photograph Lab

The AHC Photo Lab preserves and duplicates deteriorating historic images by transferring them to modern film designed to last 500 years. If only an original print exists, it is photographed on a heavy-duty copystand. Extremely faded prints can be corrected by filtering techniques.

Original image.

Image after using filtering techniques.

If the original glass plate or nitrate negative exists, it is duplicated onto film of the same size using a vacuum frame contact printer. A densitometer verifies that the exposure and processing have achieved the original tones.

The lab also makes black and white RC photographic prints up to 16"x20", and 35mm and 4"x5" color transparencies and negatives.

For duplicating price schedules including photographs and commercial use fees, please see AHC Duplicating Services.

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Commercial and Non-Profit Use of Photographs

Duplicates of images are provided to the researcher for personal, research, or educational use only. Any other use such as publishing, Internet, commercial, public display, etc. must be approved by the American Heritage Center. The AHC will provide the user with a non-profit or commercial use form. These forms allow for one-time use only. If a photograph or image is used for a commercial purpose, the user will charged an additional fee.  Please see the AHC Commercial Use Fees.

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Orientation Sessions

The reference department offers a unique opportunity for students to learn how to use manuscript materials in their research. Reference faculty conduct orientation classes for your students that include practical advice for using the archive, examples of the types of materials available, and a tour of the main reading room and finding aids. Teachers and professors are encouraged to schedule orientations well in advance. To schedule an orientation session, or to receive more information, please contact the reference department at 766-3756 or e-mail ahcref@uwyo.edu.

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The Meg and Fred Karlin Audio-Visual Reading Room

The Meg and Fred Karlin Audio-Visual Reading Room is located in room 117 of the Centennial Complex, and is where researchers find access to motion-picture and sound recording materials from AHC collections. Named in honor of award-winning composer and music collector, Fred Karlin, the Audio-Visual Reading Room provides cassette tape and VHS videocassette reference copies of Audio-Visual collection materials, as well as containing displays concerning the history of Audio-Visual recording technology.

Transferring motion picture film to videotape.

The Audio-Visual Reading Room is open to the public by appointment without charge. Researchers are encouraged to first sign in at the AHC reference desk before being allowed access to the Audio-Visual collections. 

Virtual Tour

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Hebard Collection

Hebard or Hebard Room designates a special collection of primarily Wyoming materials -- books and journals about Wyoming, and publications prepared by Wyoming state agencies. The collection is named in honor of Grace Raymond Hebard who was the University of Wyoming Librarian for over twenty years beginning in 1894. Miss Hebard was also a professor in the Political Economy Department and served as its head for many years. She helped develop the Library's collections on Wyoming and Western history. Her personal collection was donated to the University and serves as the basis for this collection. The Hebard Collection is housed at the American Heritage Center and is accessible through the Reading Room.  More information is available from the UW Libraries about the Hebard Collection.

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