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Presentations
 The Image of Tom Horn
| When Tom Horn was hanged in 1903 for the murder of fourteen-year-old Willie Nickell, journalists created an image of the condemned man that conformed to public expectations: that of a merciless and cold-blooded assassin. Tom Horn, himself, in his autobiography created a different image: one of a brave scout and Indian fighter. In the century since, both historians and the general public have struggled to reconcile these contradictory views. As a result, Tom Horn has been frequently described as an enigmatic figure. This talk by D.C. Thompson will focus on the image of Tom Horn and on the people who created it. It will consider how journalists, historians, and novelists have depicted Tom Horn, how the depiction has changed over time, and how it has not. The presentation will ask (if it cannot answer) the question of why Tom Horn continues to draw interest and controversy a hundred years after his death. |
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Tom Horn, AHC Collections
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Whatever
Happened to Glendolene Kimmell?
Glendolene Myrtle Kimmell, the Iron Mountain school teacher who became an
object of public scrutiny as a result of her brief association with the
notorious stock detective Tom Horn, was an enigmatic figure in Wyoming history.
While Glendolene Kimmell undeniably played a central role in the drama of
the Tom Horn case, emphasis placed on her alleged “love affair” with Horn has eclipsed her own story as a young woman making her way in
the West.
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Glendolene Kimmell’s journey from Hannibal, Missouri, to Wyoming,
as a young teacher, challenges the established lore about her relationship
with Tom Horn, and explores the difficulties of her life in the aftermath
of the Horn case. It is a story of strength, determination, and struggle. |
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Glendolene Kimmel, AHC Collections |
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Putting
Wyoming on the Map: The History of the Official Wyoming Highway Map
A portion of the hand drawn 1926 Official Wyoming Highway
Map created by Frank Allyn, American Heritage Center collections.
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This 40 minute slide show presented by John
Waggener follows the evolution of the Wyoming highway system
and tourism patterns by examining the Wyoming Highway Map as a base
for discussion. The show begins in 1911 when the State of Wyoming
embarked upon the mission of creating a highway system and continues
to present day. |
The
Western Photography of Charles Belden
Pitchfork Ranch near Meteetse, Wyoming, ca. 1930’s.
Charles Belden Photographs and Negatives, American Heritage Center.
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The AHC houses approximately three thousand original
glass plate and nitrate negatives taken by
Charles J. Belden between 1908-1940.. The majority of
these photographs were taken on the legendary Pitchfork Ranch in northern
Wyoming. Located at the base of the Absaroka Mountains, the 250,000
acre ranch proved fertile ground for Belden’s photography. Belden
created some of the classic images associated with ranching by filming
cowboys and cattle against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.
The Belden Collection, however, also contains hundreds of lesser known
photographs. Leslie Waggener's talk will focus
on the artistry of Belden’s work, how he marketed his images
to the public, and will provide background information on the fascinating
Pitchfork Ranch. |
Dating
and Caring for Historical Photographs
Earnest Family, 1899, Fossil, Wyoming, American Heritage
Center collections. |
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Few objects possess the ability to transcend time as
old photographs. They are one of our most immediate links to the past.
Old photographs have aesthetic and historical value and when they
are family photographs, there is also nostalgic and sentimental appeal.
But sometimes those pictures are not properly identified, which greatly
limits their value, both as historical objects and as family mementos. |
Photo Archivist Leslie Waggener will lead a hands-on
discussion on identification of photograph types, clues to dating historical
images, and preservation of photographic images including advice on supplies
and techniques.
Wyoming
Suffragist: Amalia Post of Cheyenne
| In 1870, a national conference was held in Washington,
D.C., to discuss the status of women’s rights. The delegate
who spoke for Wyoming was Amalia Post, wife of a prominent Cheyenne
banker. Who was Amalia and why did she feel impelled to travel across
the country to agitate for rights for all women? |
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16th Street in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1868, American
Heritage Center collections |
This talk, presented by D. C. Thompson, will cover
Amalia’s life from romantic bride to bitter divorcee to activist,
and examine the way that her life experiences and expectations shaped
her beliefs. It will also look at ideals of womanly behavior and the effects
that such role models had on women of the nineteenth century.
Papermaking
and Marbling Traditions
This talk by Ginny Kilander will trace the development
and history of the papermaking and marbling traditions, and include a discussion
of materials, equipment, and methods used in the production of these arts.
Papermaking was developed in ancient China and was kept a closely guarded
court secret for hundreds of years. The knowledge of the tradition slowly
spread to the Middle East and to Europe, where papermaking mills replaced
the Asian production methods. The art of marbling on paper and fabric developed
in both Japan and Persia in the thirteenth century, but each method used
unique supplies and equipment. Like papermaking, the knowledge of marbling
was kept secret and the marbling guilds were reluctant to share their knowledge
with the world. As the tradition spread through various countries the patterns
and colors were altered and adapted, and today certain historic styles are
associated with, and often named for, the country of origin. This talk can
include both the papermaking and marbling traditions, or either of the traditions
can be presented individually.
Frank
Hopkins
| Frank Hopkins claimed to be a western frontiersman who
served the military as a dispatch rider, knew many famous westerners,
such as Buffalo Bill Cody, and participated in four hundred endurance
races, winning them all. He told these stories to willing listeners
during the 1930s and 1940s. After his death in 1951 his wife continued
to propagate stories about his western adventures. The recent movie,
Hidalgo, was supposedly based on his true exploits. However, many
historians have asked are any of Hopkins adventures true? Did he ever
visit Wyoming where he claimed to be born? Was he truly called the
Laramie Kid? Rick Ewig’s talk will explore
how Frank’s adventures were published and came to be accepted,
and how research in primary sources cast great doubt on the veracity
of Hopkins and his western tales. |
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Frank Hopkins , American Heritage Center. Robert Easton
papers |
Lester
C. Hunt
Lester C. Hunt was one of Wyoming’s most popular politicians from
the 1930s to the 1950s. A Democrat, he never lost an election. Twice he
served as Wyoming’s secretary of state, six years as the state’s
governor, and one term as U.S. Senator. Hunt is credited with the idea for
the bucking bronco which has resided on the state’s license plates
since the 1930s. He served as governor during World War II and during his
term in the U.S. Senate he witnessed firsthand the excesses of McCarthyism.
Rick Ewig’s talk will examine the partisan atmosphere in
the U.S. Senate during the early 1950s and the events which led to Hunt’s
suicide in his senate office on June 19, 1954.
“He’s
Got My Papers, This Man:” Archivists, Archives, and the American Heritage
Center
Not to be confused with architects or anarchists, archivists are the little-known
professionals who ensure that the papers, photos, films, and, increasingly,
computer files that carry the historical record are preserved and accessible.
Some archivists have a legal mandate to support accountability of government
to the public; others have a cultural mandate to help illuminate the ordinary
and momentous people, events, and places of history. Using the American
Heritage Center as one example, Mark Greene will present
an introduction to archivists and archives, and pass along some tips on
how family historians can care for their papers and photos like a pro.
“Chinese
Warren” and the Rock Springs Massacre
| Was the massacre of more than two dozen Chinese miners
in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in 1885, a race riot or the result of poor
labor management practices? Should Wyoming Territorial Governor Francis
E. Warren be regarded as a selfless hero for his role in suppressing
the disturbance or was he actually motivated by political ambition,
unrestrained self-interest, and the desire for personal financial
gain? Did representatives of the Union Pacific Railroad behave honorably
in their conduct of employee relations or did they engage in collusion
with others to defraud and exploit their workers in the Rock Springs
mines? This presentation explores
these questions and provides new perspectives on this unfortunate
event in Wyoming History. |
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