Compiled by Jessica Flock, former State Coordinator for WY History Day
Wyoming History Day is an affiliate program of National History Day. The Wyoming History Day program is housed at the American Heritage Center on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie. It is supported, sustained and funded by the Wyoming Historical Society, the American Heritage Center, the John P. Ellbogen Foundation and a variety of private donations.
The AHC serves as the University of Wyoming's repository of manuscript collections, rare books, and the UW Archives. Their collections include the raw data of humanistic and interdisciplinary research. It is a laboratory for citizens and scholars to engage with primary sources in all formats that support the creation of historical narratives, interrogate the past, build community, and pose and answer questions about the human experience.
WyoHistory.org (Wyoming’s Online Encyclopedia)
- Mission: The mission of WyoHistory.org is to encourage exploration of Wyoming and its past by building and maintaining a permanent, interactive encyclopedia of Wyoming history as an ongoing project of the Wyoming Historical Society.
- WyoHistory.org also provides access to oral histories about Wyoming.
- The Wyoming Historical Society began in 1953, and is made up of members across Wyoming, as well as from outside the borders of Wyoming and the United States. The Society is open to any individual interested in history of Wyoming and the West. Membership information is available here.
- Annals of Wyoming: The Wyoming History Journal, from 1923 to 2005, are available online.
The Wyoming State Archives holds a vast collection of historical documents, oral histories, maps, and records about Wyoming's history. WSA's Historical Photograph Collection includes more than 500,000 images of Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region. Topics include cowboys, ranches, buildings, scenic views, studio portraits, local communities, historic events, aerial photographs, and much more.
The Library of Congress provides citizens, teachers and students with over 34 million digitized and free primary source documents and tools to enhance teaching, learning and research.
- World Digital Library (2009-2020): was an international project led by the LOC and supported by UNESCO that now provides free online access to thousands of culturally significant items from global institutions, aiming to promote cross-cultural understanding.
- Story Corps: A project that records and archives conversations between Americans, preserving personal stories as part of the nation's oral history.
- Veteran's History Project: Collects and preserves firsthand accounts of U.S. veterans from World War I to recent conflicts, providing future generations direct insight into military service experiences.
- Chronicling America: Offers access to searchable historic U.S. newspaper pages from 1756-1963 and a directory of American newspapers from 1690 to the present.
- Watch the U.S. Congress in action. Read legislation. Write your representatives.
University of Wyoming Libraries Digital Repository (WyoDigital)
An online repository featuring a diverse range of digitized Wyoming-specific historical materials, including rare books, maps, photographs, and manuscripts from the university's special collections and partnering institutions across the state.
Offers two key tools for historical research:
- DocsTeach: An educational platform with curated primary sources and teaching activities, including materials specific to the annual National History Day theme.
- National Archives Catalog: A comprehensive search engine for accessing millions of digitized historical documents, images, and records from U.S. history.
Wyoming Digital Newspaper Collection
Making Wyoming’s historic newspapers available to the world for education and historical research, including genealogy. Currently includes over 340 historic Wyoming newspapers and more than 800,000 pages; the earliest is the Chugg Water Journal from 1849.
Smithsonian Digital Collections
An extensive online collection to resources from the world's largest museum complex, covering art, history, science, and culture. This digital platform offers millions of artifacts, specimens, artworks, and documents from the Smithsonian's 19 museums, research centers, libraries, and archives. You can explore high-resolution images, 3D models, and detailed information about objects ranging from historical photographs and Native American art to scientific specimens and space exploration artifacts. The collections are searchable by keyword, topic, or museum offering you a resource for researching varied aspects of American and global history.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
A complex of five museums that offers a wealth of primary sources on Western history, including rare documents, artifacts, and digital archives spanning topics from Native American culture to frontier life and natural history.
- Browse the Digital Collection.
- McCracken Research Library database enables you to search and access detailed information about manuscript collections, including individual items like letters and photographs, with the ability to generate citations for physical materials and view some digitized items online.
- History Unloaded is a podcast by the Cody Firearms Museum that explores the history and impact of firearms in America, offering engaging stories and expert insights.
- Museum Minute is a series of one-minute snapshots from the BBCW's museum collections.
Wyoming Public Media (WPM) provides news and cultural programming that connects and informs the people of Wyoming, making it a valuable resource for understanding the state's history and current events.
- Tribal News from Wind River Indian Reservation covers important issues and stories affecting the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes on the reservation, providing in-depth reporting and local perspectives.
- Wyoming Stories was an oral history project by WPM that captures personal memories and experiences of Wyoming residents. Inspired by StoryCorps, it recorded stories at state events. The project provides unique insights into the lives of people from different backgrounds.
- Podcasts
- Modern West is a rich collection of news and cultural stories from the Mountain West featuring interviews, oral history, readings, and more to offer a snapshot of Western life.
- HumaNature shares real-life stories about the unexpected connections between humans and the natural world.
- Open Spaces covers news and cultural stories from around Wyoming, providing in-depth reporting and insightful discussions on local issues.
Denver Public Library Digital Collections
Online collection containing a selection of photos, maps, broadsides, architectural drawings and other documents from the collections of the Western History/Genealogy Department of the Denver Public Library. The collection excels in Western history, genealogy, mining, railroads, photography, architecture, and Colorado history.
National World War I Museum and Memorial
Based in Kansas City, Missouri, this museum is dedicated to World War I, offering comprehensive exhibits and personal stories that highlight the war's global impact and enduring legacy.
- Online Collections Database is a vast digital archive of photos, documents, and artifacts from WWI.
National WWI Museum YouTube Channel offers educational videos, virtual tours, and lives streams of special events related to WWI. - National WWI Museum's Student Research Page provides guides and resources to help you conduct historical research, including access to primary and secondary sources, citation guides, and expert assistance.
Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this museum is dedicated to telling the story of World War II. It offers a comprehensive look at the war through exhibits, artifacts, and personal accounts. The museum covers the war's causes, major battles, and its impact on both the military and home front. It features immersive exhibits, oral histories from veterans, and authentic period aircraft and vehicles.
- The War section of the museum's website offers in-depth articles, profiles, and multimedia content that explore key events, figures, and themes of WWII.
- Student & Teachers website section provides educational resources, including virtual field trips and interactive programs to help students and educators explore the history and lessons of WWII.
A digital archive that preserves and share the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. It offers firsthand accounts, historical images, and educational resources to explore the principles of democracy and promote equal justice. Densho has digitized all issues of the newspaper produced at Heart Mountain, the Heart Mountain Sentinel.
Densho Digital Repository preserves and shares the stories of incarcerees offering access to oral histories, photos, documents, and other primary sources.
Heart Mountain WWII Japanese American Confinement Site
The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated during WWII. From 1942 to 1945, it held over 14,000 people, making it Wyoming's third-largest city at the time. The site now serves as an interpretive center and museum, preserving the stories of those incarcerated and educating visitors about this dark chapter in American history. It showcases original structures, artifacts, and personal accounts, highlighting themes of civil rights, racial prejudice, and resilience in the face of injustice.
Digital Resources website offers a comprehensive collection of materials, including rosters, photographs, diaries, letters, and drawings, documenting the Japanese American experience during WWII.
A non-profit digital library offering free access to millions of digital resources, including books, websites, audio recordings, videos, and software. Founded in 1996, it aims to provide “universal access to all knowledge” by preserving and sharing digital content. It can be particularly valuable for accessing out-of-print books, finding old newspaper articles, viewing archived versions of websites, and discovering unique audio or video content relevant to research topics. Its Wayback Machine feature allows users to view archived versions of websites from the past, which can be useful for studying how online information has changed over time.
Presidential Libraries and Museums system
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) oversees the Presidential Libraries and Museums system. These institutions preserve and make accessible the papers, records, and historical materials of U.S. Presidents from Herbert Hoover onward.
Key points:
- Each library contains millions of documents, photographs, videos, and artifacts related to a specific president and their administration.
- These materials offer primary sources on various aspects of U.S. history, including domestic policies, foreign relations, and social issues.
- Many documents are digitized and available online, making them accessible to students anywhere.
- For Wyoming-specific research, students might find relevant materials in several libraries, depending on their topic. For example:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Library for New Deal policies affecting Wyoming.
- Eisenhower Library for 1950s natural resource management in Western states.
- Nixon or Ford Libraries for energy policies impacting Wyoming's coal industry.
The White House Historical Association's website offers extensive resources, including historical articles, photos, virtual tours, educational materials, and a digital library, all dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the White House.
- Their Digital Library is a vast collection of photographs, artwork, documents, and other materials that chronicle the history of the White House since 1799. Users can explore images of the White House’s exterior, rooms, furnishings, and significant events, all accompanied by detailed historical information.
- "Slavery in the President's Neighborhood" is a resource exploring the complex history of enslaved and free African Americans who built, lived, and worked at the White House through detailed timelines, personal stories, and historical documents.
- The White House 1600 Sessions is a podcast presented by the White House Historical Association. It explores the history, untold stories, and personal accounts of the White House through conversations with historians and eyewitnesses.
The New York Public Library Digital Collections
This is an extensive online archive from The New York Public Library featuring nearly 900,000 digitized items, including photographs, maps, manuscripts, and more. It covers a wide range of topics such as U.S. history, immigration, women’s studies, theatre, baseball, computer science, LGBTQ+ history, Jewish history, dance, accents and dialects of spoken English, and more.
An educational platform that offers many free resources designed to enhance First Amendment and media literacy skills. It provides a variety of tools to help students, educators, and lifelong learners understand and engage with the media and historical events.
- EDCollections provide in-depth explorations of topics using primary sources, artifacts, and interactive learning tools. Each EDCollection combines archival materials, primary sources, and interactive features. Topics include media literacy, the First Amendment, elections, civil rights, and more.
National Register of Historic Places
The official list of the United States’ historic places deemed worthy of preservation. Established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, it aims to coordinator and support efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archaeological resources. This program is managed by the National Park Service and includes over 95,000 properties.
- National Register Database and Research page has tools to search for historic properties, access digitized National Archives records through the National Archives Catalog, view recent listings on NPGallery with images and documents related to historic properties, and download spatial data for research projects.
Yale University Library Digital Collections
The collections provide online access to millions of digitized works, including rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and maps. It covers subjects like history (e.g., historical documents and letters on wars, political events, social changes, and personal experiences), art (e.g., artwork and cultural artifacts), science (e.g., scientific papers and medical texts), and literature (e.g., rare books and literary manuscripts).
Duke University’s offers a vast collection of digitized historic photographs, advertisements, texts, and more from the university’s unique library collections. Key subject areas include U.S. Coast Guard photographs, the Women’s Liberation Movement, and 19th-century expeditionary photography. The collections also feature significant collections related to mass communications, social action movements, and the entertainment industry.
Digital Public Library of America
The DPLA is a free online platform providing access to millions of digitized cultural heritage materials from libraries, archives, and museums across the U.S. It offers numerous primary sources including photos, manuscripts, and audiovisual materials relevant to various historical topics. You can easily search and browse the collection by timeline, map, or subject. The DPLA has particular strengths in American history, social movements, local and regional history, art and culture, and science and technology. It also features curated exhibits that can be particularly useful for your research depending on topic.
Oyez (pronounced oh-yay), a free law project from Cornell's Legal Information Institute (LII), Chicago-Kent College of Law, and Justia.com, is an online resource providing comprehensive information about the U.S. Supreme Court and its cases. It offers access to audio recordings of oral arguments, case summaries, and full text opinions dating back to 1955. The platform also includes detailed profiles of justices and explanations of court procedures. Oyez is an invaluable tool for students researching legal history, constitutional issues, or the impact of Supreme Court decisions on American society.
Henry Ford Archive of American Innovation
A large online collection of historical resources from The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. It offers digital access to over 52,000 artifacts, photos, and documents related to American innovation, industry, and everyday life. The archive covers topics ranging from agriculture and transportation to social movements and domestic life, spanning from the 18th century to the present day. You can explore curated collections, search by keyword, or browse by subject, making it an excellent resource for researching technological progress, cultural changes, or the evolution of American society.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers
A comprehensive digital archive offering full-text and full-image access to historical newspapers, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many regional papers dating back to the 18th century. You can search for primary source articles on a wide range of historical events, providing firsthand accounts and perspectives from the time period you’re studying. You can also find editorial content, advertisements, obituaries, and photos. While ProQuest is a subscription-based service, you can typically access it through your school library or public library. Check with your local librarians for specific access instructions.