Blue+Book+Vol+I+Preface

In compiling information for the publication of the first "Wyoming Historical Blue Book," I set a goal from which I tried not to deviate. It has been my purpose to provide a complete and accurate reference book of the important legal and political events, as well as statistical material of general and specific interest.
 * Preface ** Blue Book Volume I

This publication covers not only seventy-five years of political and legal history of Wyoming -- but step by step events which finally led to the creation of the Territory, and of the State.

The general pattern of the work, in a broad sense, is divided into two major divisions: (1) that material which bears directly on the territorial government of Wyoming (1868-1890), and (2) that which concerns the government of the State of Wyoming (1890-1943). The two major divisions are broken down into four subdivisions: the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments, and the Federal Government in Wyoming. Preceding the documentary and statistical information concerning these four branches is a descriptive essay which tells the story of each department, and the growth and development of each office. This compilation includes a biographical sketch of Territorial officers (elected and appointed), State elected officers, Justices of the U.S. District Court and members of the Constitutional Convention; a small photograph is included with each biography; group photographs of the members of both houses of each State Legislature.

In addition to these there is material of general interest, which consists of National and International documents, Territorial and State legal instruments and emblems of the Territory and of the State. The documentary material includes such information as the foreign treaties through which all the land west of the Mississippi to the Pacific was acquired by the United States, and the gradual evolution of these lands from which Wyoming was carved; comprehensive maps which depict the geographical and civil changes of what is now the State of Wyoming.

The evolution of our State Constitution is traced in the group of legal instruments of "civil liberty" documents, the first being the Magna Carta, and these documents continue through the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States to the present [1947] Constitution of Wyoming. The slow growth of our State Constitution is shown by the grouping of these documents. Our State Constitution in this book is in complete form with the history of each amendment, whether accepted or rejected. Among the emblems of the Territory and State are such as the flag, seals, flower, bird, song, etc.

I desire to express my sincere appreciation to the present Governor, Lester C. Hunt, who sponsored this work, which was in part a Works Progress Administration Project; to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, who made the Project possible; to Dr. Alfred Larson of the Department of History, University of Wyoming; to Zan Lewis, of the Secretary of State's Office; to the members of the 27th State Legislature (1943), who allowed an appropriation which partially paid for the publication of this book; and to the Board of Trustees of the University of Wyoming who, upon the recommendations of President James L. Morrill, Dr. Laura White, and Dr. Henry J. Peterson of the University of Wyoming, helped finance this publication.

In my historical research, as a historian I am indebted to many persons, in one way or another, and to these I extend my sincerest gratitude.

I also wish to acknowledge the assistance I derived from other State Blue Books. Of these I might mention the //Tennessee Blue Book, 1939-1940//; //New York Legislative Manual, 1940//; //Pennsylvania Manual, 1939//; the //Nebraska Blue Book, 1938//; and several others from which I have derived ideas as well as other assistance.

In the copied documents and statistics (the greater part of the statistics were copied from original manuscripts), the text, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been copied verbatim.

In a work of this kind, there will undoubtedly appear some errors. Every effort has been made to secure accuracy and completeness and eliminate errors, but for such errors as my have crept in, whether of omission or commission, I beg indulgence. "Let critics that may discommend it -- mend it."

Marie H. Erwin