https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/6816d5feb479b50fd2758af2fb5ae5ae.pdf 06f923487e40d712ff453c670fb6e661 PDF Text Text 2iJ^ Q*A«jt-u. ^^424*^ .■ ■ ''' < ?> ■'' ■ ' ’ X/^., ■ jllK^-. ■ -nmTierrt t'-'*' . ^>i-’..--'t:-‘.-.-'.ai«..MM**i-^-'^^^i?^=^^*-'->^ ‘»'««^‘^«--»-«^. ':i-r'g-.. �yv^ ,C4-"(a^ ol-JLt^ ''~hA7v^ j)^ ~ /iLe(p^ iC- -tC 1*J-mX «M a^ ktCc^ 1-^-^ <vi ->«-t*-«^ Ji.t.>M>()^ i^LiiJ-^ A-.^^ £^ 444zv^ l3 A J2jL.&-rt>1^->^^ A^u./jA>ft>Uj a^ ^yUlXh>^<A4, 4' /^-CAiJIAA-A^ n '/' ' "iL^ "^k^ZDCkz <5-Aa-z1z t^'«. 6--^-*-*v *v\a>6o^ ^HAl .———J ;,ts_?iS^KE’=., �ADDRESS BEPCHE SHERIDAN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES PIONEER ASSOCIATION Av. Stor'/, VJyoraing, August g4th, 1947 By Russell Thorp We vvho have experienced many of the pioneer days have an obligation to interpret them honestly for the benefit of our successois. This involves not only the preservation and making accessible of documentary material but the arrangement of historical objects in such a way that a complete and accurate story of Wyoming and its environs will be unfolded to those who visit our state historical museum and other historic shrines such as Fort Bridger, Fort Caspar, and similar places. The citizens of Casper and Natrona County did a fine piece of work in re­ storing old Fort Caspar. The members of the V/yoming Land Mark Commission, of which I have the honor of being a member, are now at work, through the generosity of the recent legislature, in restoring old Fort Bridger. We hope to make it so attractive in its restoration that thousands of tourists will linger annually to enjoy it and will learn from it much about Wyoming that they otherwise might not know. Because of its geographical location, V/yomlng has and will continue to be a most important link in the chain of western history. Although it was one of the last territories to be settled permanently, it figured in every important era of western development. Back and forth across what is now our state, went various Indian tribes, pathbreakers, fur trappers and traders, explorers, missionaries, soldiers, emigrants, miners, cattlemen, stagecoach men, freighters, railway builders, and homesteaders. Right now there is unprecedented interest in Western Americana. No doubt this is due to the fact that here in the West lie unmined treasures in the form of unpublished lore, unassembled historical data, uncollected relics. Professors, students, vrriters, publishers and collectors of all kinds of western data are finding VJyoming a rich field for their work. We must be alert to protect our interests and to save for our ovjn citizens what historical material we have left, before it is too late. VJyoming has long been a free foraging ground. Think for a moment of what has already happened to many of our treasures of the past. You all know how various scientific expeditions have come into ths state and have carried away some of the most remarkable dinosaurs and archaeological specimens ever dis­ covered. Not a hand was lifted to prevent these things from leaving our borders and going into museums in the east, or middle-v>Fest. You no doubt know, too, how trucks from California and other states carried away load after load of petrified wood from our petrified forest north of Medicine Bow, because we had no lav; to protect the removal of such matter from the state. �The sane thing has been happening tc seme extent to our -hlstarical materials. As early as th? 1330’3, Hubert Bancroft came into Wyoming and neighboring states and collected extremely valuable original manuscripts, records, pamphlets and bocks which ho placed in his large collection in California. Bancroft is to be commended upon the fine histories which he published and also upon the fact that he has saved for posterity much valuable data on the old West. But the fact remains that records which might now be within our own state are novr out in California‘because Bancroft was first on the job. It is true, of course, that it would be impossible to pass a law to pre­ vent individuals from giving away, selling, or destroying things of historical value which they own, but the state could provide inducements of such a caliber that our citizens would want to entrust their relics, manuscripts, photographs and pic neer keepsakes into the hands of the state rather than to let them go elsewhere. If a fine historical museum building were erected that would assure permanent security to donations, there soon would be a stream of valuable things flowing into the keeping of the state. I do not wish to discount the excellent work already accomplished in Wyoming. Much credit is due organizations such as the D.A.R., the S.A.R., county historical societies, the University of Wyoming, and the state his­ torical S'-'Ciety for past endeavors. The Wyoming Historical Society was established by an act of the legis­ lature in 1895. As originally planned it was to be "a safe depository for valuable books, files of newspapers, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps, charts, portraits, mineral specimens, and articles of value illustrative of the history and progress of our State,” A splendid start was made with Robert Morris as the first secretary. Volume 1 of the Wyoming Historical C-'llecti^ ns was assembled and published. Exhibits of relics and minerals were placed on display in the Capitol in Cheyenne. But as the years went by and the demands for more office space in the Capitol increased, the interest in the historical society seemed to de­ crease. The collection of the society was pushed arcund until it landed at last in boxes in a basement vault. The State Librarian, who was ex-officio historian, had only $250 appropriated annually for the work of the society. This sum was not even sufficient to bind the newspapers. No money was provided by the legislature for publishing historical papers, nor for traveling about the state to collect data. In the report of the State Librarian for 1916-1918 there appeared the following statement: "Wyoming is far behind other states in historical work simply because the matter has not been thoroughly considered by the Legislature, -2- �In 1919, the Wycning Legjsleturs Croated the 'Office of State Historian and. apnropriatei $5,000 for her vjork. This v/as reCueed to $5,COO by the Governor. Tv.'o years lete:^ r Stele Historical B'ard, a State Historian, an Advisory Board, and a Slate HiotoricaJ. Society were provided for by law. Later, as an eo.'>n'riy nieasure, the governor reconinended that the historical department be letumed to the State Librar’y, aa it is today. Time does not permit a disoussion of whether this is a satrsfactory arrangement. I do, however, wish to bring out the fact that the state has receive many valuable donations because it has not had a separate museum of sufficietn size and quality to attract such donati'^ns. not mere heresay. I quote from the Second Biennial Report of the Historian for Wyoming for 1922: failed to historical This is State y *An offer has come to Wyoming for a complete library of Wyoming and v/estem literature which includes almost every published book on this section and which is valued at $75,000. The conditions under which the state may own this priceless library have not as yet been met—the erection of a suitable fire-proof building in which to house it. This is a wonderful opportunity vrhich Wyoming should not allow to pass." The state did allow this opportunity to pass. The collection, assembled by William R. Coe, which in its final state was valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars went to Yale University. It is perhaps the most complete collection of its kind. Its loss to Wyoming cannot be estimated. At present a number of federal bureaus are interested in historical projects of me type or another. Included among these is the National Park Service, which has its so-called Historical Technicians who are at work on many commendable things. In one instance, however, it is reported that an historical technician was asked to unearth historical data to prove a national m<^nument historic after the monument had been created. The monument might be within the borders of V/yoming. I shall leave the answer to you. It is within the power of these various federal bureaus to put their own interpretation upon our local history, to select and reject data to fit their desires. I feel confident that a well-financed, modem state museum maintained by our legislative support, could put a much more unbiased interpretation upon Wyoming’s history and could create greater pride in the story of the state’s achievements than could be developed by technicians who are not sc in tune with the citizenry of our commonwealth. Speaking of state pride—let us consider the case of the Minnesota Historical Society, which is the oldest institution in its state. It is housed in a massive, threestoiTr, fireproof building, erected in 1918 at a cost of $500,000. In Wisconsin, the historical society has a building of Bedford limestone which cost, with equipment, $610,000. It is true that Wisconsin is a much older, more thickly populated, and wealthier state than V’yoming,but it is interesting to note that this magnificent sum of $610,000 was appropriated bv f^e state ’’e-sris"*atn’'ns of 1895- 1897 and 1899: �Nebraska, our neighbor, is nakirg a drive toward a new historical building. The Nebraska Eistorieal Society, founded and incorporated In 1867, id the oldest state institution in Ne’o:?asha. Great interest is be ■’.ng shovjn throughout the state of Colorado in the longrange improvement pr~gic,’i n w under way for the development of the State Museum, which is a sepai-’ « bui.lciing just south of the Capitol in Denver. Plans call for doublirg the present exhibit space and a complete reclasRification of some 20,000 exhibits in accordance with modern standards and for more practical use. As part of the work, exhibits will be segregated that are suitable for traveling I'^an exhibits, so that che Historical Society may extend its service throughout the state to local nureums, libraries, and schools. A second phase of development approved by the Colorado State Historical Society is the establishment of several branch or historic house museums at points of statewide historic importance. It is understood that the request of the Board of Directors for ^103,000 for the Museum improvement, to be provided from the Capitol Building Fund, was met with hearty approval by the State Planning Commission. It may be an inspiration to us here in the West who are struggling along faint trails to know that the private funds which made up the endowment of the Historical Society of Philadelphia total |1,250,000. The New York Society with its monumental home on Central Park West, is privately endowed at #4,600,000 and receives no financial support from the city. The teaching or writing about antiquity often fails to arouse a real understanding because it is not connected With any tangible experience of the listener or reader. Often, too, professional historians are apt to be more theoretical than practical. Historical societies with fine displays can prove to be real citadels for democracy. We all know that this is an age of visulization. The younger generation is notion-picture minded. Many Of our magazines are largely pictorial so that **he who runs may read." Our children have a well-developed appreciation of things they can see. There are so many diversions these days that the average person will not spend the tine digging out facts, as did many persons of an older generation. We must keep pace with the times in presenting historioal material in a visual fashion. It stands to reason that a person who has inspected a real state-coach will be better able to appreciate our methods of early transportation than one who has merely seen a picture of a coach in a book. There is one modem phase of historical work that could be expanded with a new museum,—the making available to the public of microcopies of �docunents, letters, papers, and other things pertaining to the 1 istory of the State which could not otherwise be consulted. In a recent issue of the Mississippi Valley Historical Revj ew there app'-o.red a statement to the effect that the records of the WyoLdng Stock Qrowors Association were "probably the most complete and valuao'e collection of oapers covering the range industry found anywhere, covering the period 1673-1923." This collection did not happen by accident. The officers of the Association carefully preserved all records and during the past decade especial thought was given to the indexing, classification, and permanent preservation of this valuable data vdiich now is housed permanently in the Archives of the. University of Wyoming. We have reached the place in the development of Wyoming where some of the oldest and most substantial homes are being sold. Family possessions are being divided, scattered, or destroyed. We must not delay. We must strive to provide a large, fireproof historical building of a caliber that will induce our pioneer families to deposit their possession within its walls. Teachers of history report that the better and more extensive is a person’s acquaintance with the history of his locality, the better he appreciates international problems. A study of past records shows that whenever the women of Wyoming made up their minds to elect a certain candidate, to back a certain legislative measure, or to kill a certain proposed bill, they were victorious. If you decide now to unite in a drive for a fine state historical museum building there is no question of the outcome. Such a building would serve as a stockade to fence Wyoming in and to prevent it from continuing as a free forage ground for hunters of Western Americana. -5- �fl. 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WWssB?Si oS°si'SS’‘£sss bBafS;<rg\“« r^asthen 'US»-Sur .ort»“l®;S5 «i»f-c^Red, iSL: X ^^rogie^^^^^^^^ «. “■'s.jd B« »^ “^^^ '\ other'*« -I .1 ,Ue >■» “&«Saissks c ssriS” sb ss 't^® dUc|eho^h^;,ttrea^^^ m Henurng tire man -s c:;^mcit-\^ii;^,^S:^-^» ibeeir ®'g’^®tuck to tire guncli-\ who Ibis men nv^yor, t^^citizens ■ — From tha^....... . ? he imposed ess interesL he isired it. nraJority „„ Quaiity I, -ness mt men and tne r perseryering^ \ recognized tne^^arent m ^tti®'^ hired. 1 tiiey tiad porTUI^® „t -p Hen- i m o** -- to ..n.r.bomsv , Piece. uix^H''*’ cner. °’'h “ Bnstar^'^’ iotiem^ have .phe Bnsr ^ppgjai e.ejLexl -week Dr tir. de wa on» jac A red ’AS"S«'"•»' ““■ yni. tS' residence is one mnnino, � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alfred J. Mokler Letterboxes Subject The topic of the resource Local authors -- Wyoming -- Natrona County -- Casper Casper (Wyo.) -- History Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.) Natrona County (Wyo.) -- History Description An account of the resource The Alfred J. Mokler Letterboxes are a series of the larger archival collection that are his papers. Both his Letterboxes and his Notebooks available in this digital repository include holograph manuscripts, which is to say, manuscripts written in the author's hand. Much of the material in Mokler's Letterboxes dates to the 1920s and 1930s. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letterbox 1-K Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Alfred J. Mokler Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/</a> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Russel Thorp Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1947-1948 Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Alfred J. Mokler Papers, NCA 01.v.1992.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Description An account of the resource This Letterbox contains a handwritten paper on Steve Tobin, who came to Wyoming from Ireland in the fall of 1895 and "in charge of 120 blooded rams." He met friends of his from Ireland in Casper and it is here he came to be engaged in the sheep business. Researchers will also find an address by Russell Thorp to the Sheridan and Johnson Counties Pioneer Association and a handwritten paper titled "Grandeur of Teton Mountains." Lastly, there is a newspaper clipping on the death of Casper businessman W.F. Henning. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource ENG Access Rights Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies. The reformatted text and images in the Alfred J. Mokler Letterboxes are for personal, not-for profit use of students, researchers, and the public. Any use must provide attribution to the Casper College Archives and Special Collections (Western History Center). While being the property of Casper College, all text, images and other materials are subject to applicable copyright laws. Commercial use, electronic reproduction, or print publication ot text, images, or other materials is strictly prohibited without written permission. All permissions to publish must be obtained from the rights holder and are not the repository's responsibility for securing. The rights holder may or may not be the repository. Users also agree to hold the repository harmless from legal claims arising from their use of material held by the institution and made accessible in this digital repository. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Goodstein Foundation Library Archives and Special Collections Relation A related resource Alfred J. Mokler Papers