Gale McGee Papers

This news release warns that over 750 million visitors may travel to East Coast Bicentennial sites in 1976, risking overcrowding and travel problems if action isn't taken.

This letter from the Washakie County Bicentennial Committee outlines plans to celebrate America’s 200th birthday by creating a community history book and organizing events like parades, old-time games, and historical plays. It calls on local residents, clubs, and schools to volunteer and help make the celebration meaningful

This is the application submitted by Cody, Wyoming to the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. It includes a list of twenty-six Bicentennial activities that the city envisioned undertaking.

This is the application submitted by Dayton, Wyoming to the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. It includes a list of thirteen Bicentennial activities that the city envisioned undertaking.

These documents describe the Bicentennial Youth Debates Program which was created to involve young people in meaningful discussions about American history, values, and issues during the country’s 200th birthday celebration. The program included debate, persuasive speaking, and extemporaneous speaking competitions held across the U.S.

This newspaper was published by the Washington D.C. Bicentennial Commission. It covered Bicentennial-related projects and programs from the Washington D.C. area, including a report on the National Bicentennial Ethnic Racial Council's first national conference.

In this newspaper article, Rockefeller argues that America’s Bicentennial should be more than just a birthday party—it should inspire reflection, renewal, and action to improve the country. He calls for people to focus on solving real problems like education, healthcare, and the environment, and to commit to values like creativity and civic dedication.

This is the application submitted by Buffalo, Wyoming to the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. It includes a list of eight Bicentennial activities that the city envisioned undertaking.

This pamphlet criticizes the Peoples Bicentennial Commission (PBC) for using patriotic symbols to promote radical leftist ideas. The author argues that the PBC seeks to replace free enterprise with socialist control and draws unfair comparisons between the American Revolution and modern communist movements. The pamphlet warns that this approach could mislead students and the public, distorting American history and undermining traditional democratic values.

York, the mayor of Sheridan, Wyoming writes to McGee elaborating on Sheridan's proposed plans for a large variety of city and county-wide Bicentennial-related projects and programs.

McGee writes to Hand about Hand's Bicentennial trip project to visit cities and towns across the U.S. named Wyoming and about Hand's planned visit to Washington D.C.

Brown writes to McGee about Manus Hand's Bicentennial trip project. Accompanying the letter is the itinerary of Hand's trip.

Eastland writes about threats to the peaceful observance of the Bicentennial. He includes  statements by the Washington D.C. Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department.

This press release, from the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, and the attached Senate hearing testimony, warns that the 1976 Bicentennial could be disrupted by violent protests, terrorist attacks, or political groups trying to take over the celebration for their own agendas. It lists groups like the Weather Underground, the People’s Bicentennial Commission, as well as several extremist organizations as possible threats to public safety and national unity during the events.

This 1976 calendar of Bicentennial events gives insight into the breadth of Bicentennial-related activities across the state of Wyoming.

Bicentennial activities extended beyond July 4, 1976 and continued through the end of that year. In this letter from Shakespeare, the coordinator of the Wyoming Arapaho dance group, he outlines the dances to be performed in Washington, D.C. in front of the office of the Vice President. The letter also notes that the group will perform at the Kennedy Center.

This invitation outlines special activities being planned by the Washington, D.C. Office of Bicentennial Programs to salute Wyoming. Among the activities is a concert by the Honor Band of Wyoming, comprised of musicians from each town in the state.

This press release from the National Music Council's Bicentennial Parade of American Music announces a musical program on September 27, 1976  featuring artists and composers who were either born in Wyoming or lived, studied, composed or taught there.

This Bicentennial-related pamphlet provides historical information about the Declaration of Independence and the men that wrote and signed it.

This publication from the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee details the actions and strategies of the Peoples Bicentennial Commission, which the Committee deems to be a threat to the Bicentennial.

This booklet was issued in Bicentennial commemoration of the Black Americans who served in the past, or are in 1976, currently serving, as Members of Congress.

This statement by McGee was read when McGee returned to the University of Wyoming for a ceremony which designated the University of Wyoming as an official Bicentennial University.