The Western History Center at Casper College
The Western History Center at Casper College is an institutional archives that maintains and provides access to materials documenting the life of Casper College and unique records related to Natrona County. Many of these Natrona County records reflect an aspect of Wyoming or Western History.
Comprised of archives and special collections, materials support the instructional, institutional and individual needs of students, faculty, staff and external users near and far. The repository is in the process of being organized and described according to two separate but interrelated archival units:
- Casper College Archives
- Natrona County Archives, also referred to as Special Collections
Online finding aids are published on ArchivesSpace. Please use our Research Request Form to help us identify material you are looking for. Though you may hear back from us sooner, please allow 2-3 days for a response.
Access the repository’s digital collections and projects on Omeka.
Instructional Services:
Use of Archives and Special Collections in relation to coursework can offer unique learning opportunities for students. The Archivist & Librarian is available to offer instructional services for all UW and UW-C courses wishing to engage with primary source literacy. Instructional services for K-12 classes are by appointment.
Collecting Policy
Collect, maintain and make accessible representative and unique sources of information about Casper College and Natrona County that support the academic mission and success of students, faculty, and staff as well as further the institution’s connection to the people of Natrona County and beyond.
Activities supported by Archives and Special Collections include but are not limited to:
- Accessing institutional knowledge and memory for administrative research or other projects, programs, events or celebrations.
- Conducting academic, professional or self-directed research in the pursuit of academic coursework, continuing education, and lifelong learning.
- Maintaining an awareness of how archival collections and the relationships between them can be used to define, gain insight, and understand histories, issues and topics of continuing importance to society.
Guide to the Repository:
- The structure of the archives conforms to the organizational structure of Casper College and special collections consists of material pertaining to Natrona County. This latter material’s connection to Western History is emphasized via archival practices.
Casper College Archives:
Casper College Scrapbook Collection
This collection consists of bound scrapbooks created by Casper College ranging from 1945 until 1976.
Casper College Thunderbird Logo Redesign Prints
Casper Junior College Information and History Series
This collection contains Dale Stiles’ awards, correspondence, and material related to Casper College Rodeo and the National Intercollegiate Rodeo. Researchers will also find scanned newspaper clippings, and photographs. Stiles was an Agriculture instructor and Rodeo Coach at Casper College. He hosted the College’s first rodeo team, which was the first rodeo team to be fielded by a junior college. During his career, Stiles coached Joe Alexander and Dave Brock among others.
Jack Greenley Collection of Photographs and Papers
This collection consists of Casper College photographs taken by Jack Greenley. Subjects of the photographs include Casper College athletics, campus dances, events, and the Talisman sculpture commissioned by Ida Goodstein. Researchers will find a display of Casper College spirit in this collection. Also included are a few folders of papers collected and used by Greenley.
This collection includes letters, copies of writings by Peggy Simson Curry, correspondence between Mrs. Curry and her publishers and friends, newspapers and newspaper clippings, Wyoming and Casper College magazines and publications, artwork for book covers, thank you cards, other various papers and documents, books given to and written in by Peggy, and photographs of Mrs. Peggy Simson Curry, William S. Curry, Michael Monro Curry, and other family members. The collection is dated from 1923 to 1987, when Mrs. Peggy Simson Curry passed.
Wyoming Mountaineers of Casper College Collection
The Wyoming Mountaineers of Casper College collection consists of documents createdand collected by the CC Mountaineers, photographs, news articles, a scrapbook and photo albums covering the years from 1955 through 1958. Researchers should also note Raymond G. Jacquot and David E. Reynolds book CC on the Rocks: the Story of the Wyoming Mountaineers of Casper College: 1955-1959, available in the archives.
Special Collections:
Arthur (Art) G. Randall Papers
The Arthur (Art) G. Randall Papers consist of a collection of research, notes, photographs, maps, and newspapers collected and used by Randall. Subjects and topics include Natrona County, the City of Casper, Casper Mountain, cabins, camps, and forts. This collection also includes a later accrual of Oregon-California Trails Association Files maintained by Randall.
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Burlington System Records
This record group contains addresses, circulars, and newsletters issued by the Railroad Commission and its Presidents. Researchers will also find documentation of investigations, of claims paid and appealed, as well as seniority lists for enginemen and trainmen. There are gaps in this record group.
The Frances Seely Webb Collection contains over 1,400 photographs, correspondence, handwritten research notes, the proof copy of Webb’s book, Casper’s First Homes, and a series of scrapbooks. Materials document Casper and Natrona County buildings, cultural institutions, homes, and society from 1890-1978. Webb was a Society and Women’s editor for the Casper Star Tribune. In addition to the above are items originally collected by Boney Earnest, a frontiersman and former member of the Natrona County Historical Society.
This collection contains documents and items pertaining to the Girl Scouts, the Natrona County Grassroots, the Wyoming Culture Fest, and Matthew Shepard.
The Jerry Harper Collection consists of three folders. One contains articles about and material created by the Casper Boot and Spur Club; two contains Issue Forty of the Burlington Bulletin; and three contains a December 1946 telephone directory for Casper, Glenrock, and Midwest. The feature story of the Burlington Bulletin is on the Cole Creek Disaster. Researchers should also note both the Cole Creek Wreck series in the Charles (Chuck) M. Morrison Papers and the Burlington System Records available through Special Collections.
This collection contains Louie Strohecker’s letters home during WWII, including letters from when Louie was a German prisoner of war. A donation of film negatives are documented as being accessioned along with Louie’s letters, but their current location is unknown. The following note was taken from the Casper College Foundation’s Donor Stories webpage: “Louie was a WWII veteran who was captured by the Germans and was later liberated. After the war, he came to Wyoming and was one of Casper Country Club’s first caretakers. He saved enough money to buy some land and became a successful rancher west of Casper. His ranch is still in operation and owned by his heirs.”
This collection containts material on the Michie Family. In particular, researchers will find information on John Fremont Michie, his parents, Tera Crum Michie and other family members. There are two addresses in this collection. One from John Fremont Michie on the dedication of the Fair Grounds Building and one on Casper vs. Casper, given at a meeting of the State Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. There are also multiple autobiographies and related material.
Natrona County Pioneers Association Collection
Permanent Loan of materials created and collected by the Natrona County Pioneer Association. Collection includes minutes, a scrapbook, reproduced rate cards for the Casper, Lander and Thermopolis Stage Line, articles on Boney and Martha Earnest as well as other publications, photographs, and scrapbooks.
New York Oil Company to Casper, WY
This file contains correspondence from and to New York Oil Co., Jamestown, NY and individuals in Casper, WY. The bulk of the correspondence dates April 1922. It is quite possible this file got separated from the Charles (Chuck) M. Morrison Collection and its related New York Oil Co. series. It was found in a box of otherwise unrelated and unprocessed material.
The Tom Hough Papers consist of material pertaining to Tom’s book, which is a collection of hunting and fishing stories. Also included are Tom’s newspaper articles and his column, “Headin’ Out with Tom Hough,” from when he was a staff writer, managing editor, and photographer for the Casper Star Tribune. Researchers will find Tom’s correspondence and related material documenting his career as a professional journalist in addition to numerous photographs and related items illuminating his love for and pursuit of the Wyoming outdoors.
Weather Service Office Station #74 Records
This collection contains a profile of Weather Service Office Station #74 in Casper, WY. This profile includes a written history of the Station, which opened in December 1939, as well as numerous photographs of the Station and its staff. In addition to the Station Profile, researchers will find annual records, meteorological summaries, weather surface observations, and climatological data.