Wyoming State Historical Society

The Wyoming State Historical Department, under the supervision of State Librarian and Historian Gladys F. Riley, edited and published the first Index: Annals of Wyoming and Miscellaneous Historical Publications (Volumes 1 through 14) in 1943. In her forward to the document, she explained the importance of that undertaking:

That edition, which was produced with the help of Zita Winters and Lola M. Homsher, contained index entries from the Quarterly Bulletin (1923-1925) and Annals of Wyoming (1925-1942), as well as information about Wyoming Historical Collections of 1897, 1920, and 1922. The Miscellanies of 1919 also was included. That original volume offered sophisticated, detailed, and multi-subcategorized entries similar to those found in indexes of academic and scientific publications.

Halverson, who had played such a major role in indexing and publishing the first two volumes, subsequently was promoted to Director, Historical Research and Publications Division of the Wyoming State Archives and Historical Department. With her extensive experience with Annals indexing, she was able to further streamline the process by limiting entries almost exclusively to keywords and proper nouns when she produced Volume III. That third index covered 1970 through 1974 (Volumes 32 through 46).

Although the editors of Annals began as early as Spring, 1981 to include quarterly or year-end indexes in the backs of select issues, there was no long-term consistency. Judy West bridged that gap in 1991, however, when she compiled those Annals index entries since 1974 (Volumes 46 [sic] through 63). West was and is the secretary of the Wyoming State Historical Society. Although her computerized work never was published formally, the results were reproduced and have since been used extensively by the staff of the Wyoming State Museum’s Research and Publications Division as well as countless visiting researchers.

1) Each entry was copied as precisely as possible from the original indexes even though, particularly with proper names (i.e., Bisonnette, Bissonnette, Bissonnettes), many discrepancies in spelling were noted. Clarification would have required extensive research beyond my expertise as well as the scope of our agreement.

2) The numerical reference (volume, number, and page) may be found after each key word or proper noun. Any suggested, addition reference is shown after that entry. Example: Rogers, H. J. 23:1:8 (see also H. J. Rogers and Company)

3) Where no numerical reference is cited, the researcher is directed to the appropriate entry. Example: ICBM (see MILITARY: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)

4) The numerical reference of specific book or magazine article is listed only once, after the title. Example: Last Days of the Sioux Nation by Robert M. Utley, review 35:3:355

Unlike previous Annals indexes, numerical references are not repeated in triplicate; (i.e., after the title, the author’s name, and reviewer’s name. Examples:

Last Days of the Sioux Nation by Robert M. Utley, review 35:3:355

Utley, Robert M., Last Days of the Sioux Nation 35:3:355

Mattison, Ray Harold, review of Last Days of the Sioux Nation 35:3:355

If, however, the researcher seeks personal information about the author or the titles of his published literary works cited in Annals, he will find that reference after the subject’s name. Example: Utley, Robert M. 38:1:61 (see also Last Days of the Sioux Nation; Probing the American West)

5) Words such as "The," "A," and "An" are not included at the beginning of book or story titles. Example: to find the numerical reference and author of The Last Days of the Sioux Nation, look under alpha category L for Last Days of the Sioux Nation.

6) As a special service, key words and proper nouns were extracted from titles of books and magazine articles that are referenced in Annals and each is listed separately in its respective alpha category. Example: Governor Francis E. Warren, a Champion of Woman Suffrage by W. Turrentine Jackson 15:2:143-149

Please note separate entries for Warren, Francis Emroy (Governor, U.S. Senator) 1:4:20; 2:4:78; 11:4:248-250..., etc. (see also FIRSTS: Governor of Wyoming; Governor Francis E. Warren, A Champion of Woman Suffrage..., etc.)

and

woman suffrage 11:3:227-229; 12:1:21-31, photo 32..., etc. (see Governor Francis E. Warren, a Champion of Woman Suffrage..., etc.)

7) Also, the special categories initiated by Homsher (i.e., FORTS AND CAMPS, etc.) were retained and expanded to include livestock BRANDS (i.e., Pitchfork 49:2:265, 271) and historical FIRSTS (e.g., trading post in Wyoming 14:2:140)

8) To avoid potential page numbering problems, each alpha category begins with a page #1 with a consecutive numbering of subsequent pages in that category. Example: Alpha category C begins with page #1 and ends with page #47; D begins with page #1 and ends with page #24.

It is imperative that the persons who created the original, individual indexes be acknowledged and thanked for without their respective contributions this compilation probably would not have been considered.

The researcher should be aware, too, this is a base-line product and every effort will be made to correct errors as they are detected. This process will continue to be refined for years to come.

Lastly, for the first time this research information is offered to the general public on computer discs as well as in hard copy. For computerized use, the data is contained on two 3.5-inch "floppies" that are available in either Apple or DOS format. By computerizing this index even an inexperienced user can search the data base within seconds for individual words or phrases. Cross-referencing that would have taken hours in the past can now be done in moments thanks to the wonders of modern technology. Also, once the subject you seek is found, simply press the "print screen" button on your computer keyboard and the information appearing on your display should be printed automatically. You need not print the entire index.

If you wish further information about the Quarterly Bulletin (1923-1925) and Annals (1925-1995), (Volume 1, Number 1 through Volume 66, Number 4) or have suggestions for improving this material, please write to Secretary, Wyoming State Historical Society, PMB #184, 1740H Dell Range Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-4946.