Skip to Main Content

American Heritage Center, Military History Subject Guide: Wyoming Military History

This guide serves as a brief overview of some of the collections held by the American Heritage Center relating to the topic of military history.

Wyoming Military History Quick Facts

undefined

Wyoming is home to multiple forts that were key points on the Overland Trails as well to being home to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, a place where Japanese-Americans were relocated to during World War II. 

Timeline: 

1834: Fort Laramie established

July 21, 1867: Fort D. A. Russell established

April 4, 1870: Wyoming Militia established by General Order 1

1891: School of Military Training established at the University of Wyoming

May 2, 1898: Soldiers mustered to federal service for the Spanish-American War

August 1917: Wyoming National Guard soldiers joined the fight of World War I

April 12, 1942: First internees arrive at Heart Mountain

November 10, 1945: Last internees leave Heart Mountain

April 1, 1948: Fort D. A. Russell turned over to the U.S. Air Force, becomes Fort F.E. Warren Air Force Base

April 1, 1951: Wyoming Air National Guard ordered to federal service in Korean War

1990: Wyoming National Guard activated for Operations Desert Storm/Desert Shield

December 2001: Wyoming Air National Guard activated for Operation Enduring Freedom

January 2004: Wyoming Air National Guard activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom

 

Image: Governor's Day Color Guard, 1967, courtesy of the AHC Photo Files 

Information from the Wyoming National Guard, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, the National Park Service, the Wyoming State Library, and UW Army ROTC Cowboy Battalion

Wyoming Military History Collections

Frank A. Barrett Papers, 1920-1981

Acc. #631

Frank A. Barrett served as a Wyoming state senator, U.S. representative, governor, and U.S. senator for almost thirty years.

The collection includes many of Barrett's files on legislative issues during his tenure in public office. These files include information on F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne.

 

Fort David A. Russell Orderly Ledger, 1888-1889

Acc. #9580

Fort David A. Russell is one of Wyoming's national historic landmarks. Originally established where the Union Pacific Railroad crossed Crow Creek, it served as a supply depot and provided protection for the railroad.

The collection contains an ledger that detailed the duties of individual soldiers including requested leave, court martials, rescheduling of events, and other changes in daily activities.

 

Fort Laramie Collection, 1883-1958

Acc. #9740

Fort Laramie began as Fort William in 1834 as a fort on the meeting of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers. Used for fur trapping companies, the fort eventually was acquired by the U.S. Army and served as a post on the Oregon, Mormon, and Bozeman Trails as well as the Pony Express Line.

The collection contains materials about the fort including items from when the fort was active as well as restoration efforts by the National Park Service.

 

Heart Mountain Relocation Center Records, 1943-1945

Acc. #9804

The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was established by the War Department in 1942 as a detention camp for Japanese-Americans. Located between Cody and Powell, Wyoming, the first internees arrived in August 1942 and the camp closed in November 1945.

The collection contains records about the center including the charter, notes on resettlement, trial transcripts, and newspapers that were published at Heart Mountain.

 

John Hunton Papers, 1858-1973

Acc. #9

After serving in the 7th Infantry in the Civil War, John Hunton came to Fort Laramie in 1867. He served as a clerk in the store until he started a ranch. Hunton also served as the Post Trader from 1888 to 1890.

The collection includes documents involving Hunton's activities during his time at Fort Laramie including photographs, diaries, maps, and manuscripts.

 

T. Blake Kennedy Papers, 1892-1957

Acc. #405

T. Blake Kennedy served as a U.S. District Judge for Wyoming from 1922 to 1955. He presided over the Teapot Dome Case and the draft resisters from the Heart Mountain Relocation Center during World War II.

The collection contains a two volume memoir written by Kennedy, correspondence, and other materials about the cases he worked on.

 

Thomas G. Maghee Papers, 1873-1905

Acc. #10

Thomas G. Maghee served as an assistant army surgeon at Camp Brown (later Fort Washakie) and Camp (Fort) Stambaugh in Wyoming. After leaving the army, Maghee started a private medical practice in Wyoming.

The collection includes correspondence, official reports, histories, and other documents from Maghee's time at the camps in Wyoming.

 

John A. Nelson Papers, 1942-1945

Acc. #5325

John A. Nelson served as an administrative officer and assistant project director for the Heart Mountain Relocation Center from 1942 to 1943. His wife, Viola, also served as a secretary and a personnel officer at Heart Mountain from 1942-1945.

The collection includes diaries, speeches, arrival records, and other documents that Nelson collected and worked with during his time at Heart Mountain.

 

Nels H. Smith Papers, 1926-1943

Acc. #9880

Nels H. Smith served as the governor of Wyoming when the Heart Mountain Relocation Center was opened in 1942. After serving one term, Smith was defeated for re-election.

The collection contains materials about Smith's time as governor. A portion of the collection focuses on Heart Mountain.