The 1930s Great Depression and the New Deal in Wyoming
By Phil Roberts, 10-26-2024 (This essay demonstrates the many ways that Pres. Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal benefitted Wyoming after more than 10 years of mismanagement, …
Politics & Government
Immigrants Built Wyoming
By Phil Roberts, 10-20-24 Wyoming, like every other mountain west state, is a state built by immigrants, Anyone who has read about our history knows …
Nixon Drinking in Cheyenne
7-27-24 Thinking about the second-worst President yesterday (Richard Nixon–goes without saying that Trump is the worst!)) and I was reminded of a story the late …
HISTORY OF THE WYOMING SALES TAX
(and How Lawmakers Chose It from Among Severance Taxes, an Income Tax, Gambling and a Lottery) Roberts, Phil (2004) “A History of the Wyoming Sales …
Baku Courts, 2004: An Observation
“The courtroom bore little resemblance to the one I’d seen earlier out in the Baku suburbs last week. The room, with walls painted green to …
From Teapot Dome to the “No-No” Boys: The Many Controversies of Wyoming’s Second Federal Judge
During the first 85 years of statehood, Wyoming was authorized only one federal judgeship as one judicial district. Only three men occupied that position during …
When Laramie Tried Scrip, 1933
At the beginning of 1933, Laramie officially was near bankruptcy. (FDR’s New Deal wouldn’t be taking office until March). In order to keep paying the …
Gambling Raids in Wyoming, 1935
By Phil Roberts, Oct. 2021 Wyoming politicians, publishers, and church leaders have led opposition to gambling throughout the state’s history. Some of these attempts came …
Law and Order: Regular Concern for Frontier Wyoming Publishers
A common refrain one finds in 19th century Wyoming newspapers is the call for “law and order,” including government control over guns. Editorials warned that …
Wyoming Board of Immigration, Report for 1911
In the early 20th century, the State of Wyoming set up a “Board of Immigration to promote immigration to Wyoming,” both from the rest of …
Two Senators at a Time: Wyoming, 1890, 2008
By Phil Roberts Wyoming voters went to the polls in November 2008 and voted for all three members of the state’s congressional delegation—both U. S. …
Discrimination and Liquor Licensing, 1935: A Brief Extract
Ed. note: This is a brief excerpt from a much longer article about liquor licensing in post-Prohibition Wyoming. This piece focuses on a racial issue …
Aliens and Slackers: Loyalty, Sedition and Vigilante Justice in World War I Wyoming
By Phil Roberts Wyoming has been the least populated state throughout most of its existence, The small population variously has been a disadvantage, particularly with …
Wyoming Town Ordinances Favored Law and Order
Lots of myths are out there about how local Western towns approached guns in their earliest years. Below is the city ordinance of Cheyenne, 1867. …
A Memoir Account of Running for Congressional Office in Wyoming, 1954
A Report to Peripatetics in 1955 by John F. Sullivan Edited with annotations by Phil Roberts, July 2016 The following transcription is from a …
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WYOMING (containing amendments through Dec. 31, 2012) This is an unofficial copy to be used for History of Wyoming and …
Grand Old Men Have No Counties Named for Them
Why Two of Wyoming’s “Grand Old Men” Have No Counties Named for Them By Phil Roberts The 1911 Wyoming legislature created a flurry of counties—the …
Wyoming Almost Repealed Women Suffrage
Wyoming Almost Repealed Women Suffrage The first Territorial Legislature in 1869 passed the suffrage bill, giving women the right to vote for the first time …
Treagle Train
Prominent political figures were frequently guests on the “Treagle train,” an excursion from Cheyenne to a UW football game in Laramie, sponsored annually by the …
Temporary Emergency Sales Tax Act
The “Temporary Emergency Sales Tax Act” and its Successors After the Griffenhagen plan was roundly rejected, various groups proposed new ways to raise revenue. Ranchers …
Wyoming’s First Public Schools: Early Emphasis on Education
Wyoming’s First Public Schools: Early Emphasis on Education in the Equality State By Phil Roberts Public schools, started even before territorial government, were the subject …
Press Description of a Cheyenne Visit, 1877
Press Description of a Cheyenne Visit, 1877 “We reached Cheyenne on April 21st. This city of the Plains has a reputation for vice and crime …
Political Myth: Single-member districts
Political Myth No. 10: “Single-member districts have made legislators more accountable” This “myth” is utterly false. Because of single-member districts (created despite the legality of …
Remarks for Nellie Tayloe Ross Dinner
February 27, 2011 Text of Prepared Remarks for Nellie Tayloe Ross Dinner, Wyoming State Democratic Party, Cheyenne (Following is the prepared speech by Phil Roberts …
Shifting the Wyoming Penitentiary from Laramie to Rawlins
Moving Day at the ‘Big House’: Shifting the Wyoming Penitentiary from Laramie to Rawlins By Phil Roberts (1982) Nearly 80 years ago …
Mary Bellamy, First Woman State Legislature
Mary Bellamy Was First Woman Elected to Wyoming State Legislature Mary Godat Bellamy (b. 1861, d. 1954) was the first woman elected to the Wyoming …
We Should Not Allow Guns in Schools, on UW Campus
An earlier version of this article was initially sent as an e-mail message to Albany County legislators and others on Jan. 29, 2015, in light of …
Wyoming Town Ordinances Favored Law and Order
Wyoming Town Ordinances Favored Law and Order Lots of myths are out there about how local Western towns approached guns in their earliest years. Below …
Plans to Economize State/Local Governments
Great Depression Consultants: Plans to Economize State/Local Governments Wyoming has spent money on outside consultants for many years. Perhaps the most notorious of these studies was …
Interesting Facts About Governors of Wyoming
Interesting Facts About Governors of Wyoming 1st Wyoming native to be elected governor: Robert Carey, b. Cheyenne, 1878, elected governor in 1918. 1st University of Wyoming …
Wyoming’s First Public Schools
Wyoming’s First Public Schools: Early Emphasis on Education in the Equality State By Phil Roberts Public schools, started even before territorial government, were the subject of …
Democrats should embrace the state’s symbols
Democrats should embrace the state’s symbols Wyoming Democrats in recent years often belittle the value of embracing the state’s symbols, ceding them to the GOP …
Creating Counties in 1911
Creating Counties in 1911: Why Two of Wyoming’s “Grand Old Men” Have No Counties Named for Them By Phil Roberts The 1911 Wyoming legislature created …