View XML QR Code

Thomas F. Stroock Papers, 1948-2010

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Stroock, Thomas F.
Title
Thomas F. Stroock Papers
Dates
1948-2010 (inclusive)
Quantity
62.37 cubic ft. (118 boxes) + 1.5 GB
Collection Number
10356
Summary
Correspondence and other miscellaneous materials of this Wyoming State Senator, U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, and businessman.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

Materials designated as "Classified" are closed to the public. Materials marked "privacy" concerns are restricted from public use until January 1, 2075 unless the researcher signs a use agreement.

Languages
English and , Spanish
Sponsor
The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
Return to Top

Historical Note

Thomas F. Stroock, Wyoming State Senator, U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, and businessman was born in New York City on October 10, 1925. He graduated from Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1943 and enrolled at Yale University. In his freshman year, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served from 1943 to 1946. He returned to Yale after his military service and graduated in 1948.

Stroock moved to Casper, Wyoming, in 1948 and worked in the Land Department of Stanolind Oil & Gas Company. In 1952, he founded his own oil and gas properties firm, Stroock Leasing Corporation, which became a successful concern. In addition to running his own business, he served as a director of several corporations including Mid-America/Great Plains Financial Corporation (1967-1973), Wycom Corporation (1968-1975), Key Bank of Wyoming (1967-1989), and Key Bancshares of Wyoming (1975-1989).

A firm believer in involving oneself in civic affairs, Stroock first took public office in 1960 when he was elected to the Natrona County School Board. He served on the school board for nine years, three of them as president. During this time, he also became president of the Wyoming School Board Association in which capacity he lobbied the Wyoming State Legislature for increased state funding for schools.

In a special election, Stroock was elected Wyoming State Senator from Natrona County in 1966. He went on to serve sixteen years in the State Senate (1967-1969, 1971-1975, 1979-1989). In the course of his state senate career, Stroock served as Vice President of the Senate, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Co-Chairman of the Joint Appropriations Committee. He was also a member of the Steering Committee of the Education Commission of the States and the Wyoming Select Water Oversight Committee. Legislation sponsored by Stroock included the Wyoming Air Quality Act, the Wyoming Water Quality Act, and the Wyoming Mineral Royalty Recovery Act. In 1974 Stroock won the Republican nomination for Wyoming’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives but was defeated by Democratic incumbent Teno Roncalio. From 1975 to 1978, he was State Chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party and Chairman of the Western States Republican Chairmen’s Association.

From 1989 to 1992, Stroock served as U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala. Appointed by President George H.W. Bush, he held this position during a period in which Guatemala was making a difficult transition to democracy. During his ambassadorship, Stroock was noted for his advocacy of human rights and social justice in this Central American country. After resigning his ambassadorship in 1992, Stroock returned to his adopted home state and turned his attention to health care issues, serving as Chairman of the Wyoming Health Reform Commission from 1992 to 1994 and joined the Wyoming Medical Center Board of Directors in 1997.

Stroock married Marta Freyre de Andrade, a native of Cuba, in 1949. The couple had four daughters: Margaret, Sandra, Elizabeth, and Anne. In addition to his political and business activities, Stroock was active in numerous organizations, including the Casper Mountain Ski Club and Racing Club, the Nature Conservancy, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He was also Professor of Public Diplomacy at the University of Wyoming.

Return to Top

Content Description

The Thomas F. Stroock Papers contain correspondence and other miscellaneous materials pertaining to his political career and his term as U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala. They are primary documents of his activities in the Wyoming State Senate, the Republican Party, and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, including State Senate files, U.S. Congressional Campaign files, correspondence from his term as State Chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party, materials regarding his service as U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, materials regarding his service on the Wyoming Health Reform Commission, materials from his service on the Wyoming Medical Center's Board of Directors, and materials documenting his involvement with the Wyoming State Planning Grant Task Force, which concerned itself with health care for the uninsured. The collection includes records from Stroock's involvement with the University of Wyoming and Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. There are also scrapbooks which document Stroock's life from 1948 to 2004. Also included are audio tapes of oral histories with Thomas Stroock.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The American Heritage Center holds copyright to the Thomas F. Stroock Papers. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Thomas F. Stroock Papers, 1948-2008, Collection Number 10356, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by Thomas F. Stroock as of the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

Thomas F. Stroock, Anne MacKinnon, and Margaret M. Stroock donated the papers between 1995 and 2007.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Kenton G. Jaehnig in December 2004 and revised by D. Claudia Thompson in March 2010. Transcripts for interviews by Phil Roberts and Adrian Bantjes were added by D. Claudia Thompson in January 2015. Revised and updated by Krist Jessup in August 2016.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

  • Republican Party (Wyo.)
  • United States. Congress--Elections.
  • United States. Embassy (Guatemala).
  • Wyoming Health Reform Commission.
  • Wyoming Medical Center.
  • Wyoming. Legislature. Senate.
  • Wyoming. State Planning Grant Task Force.

Geographical Names

  • Guatemala--History,1985-
  • Wyoming--History, 1946-

Form or Genre Terms

  • Audio tapes.
  • Scrapbooks.
  • Videotapes.

Occupations

  • Ambassadors.
  • Political candidates.

Processed by Kenton G. Jaehnig
2004; 2010; 2015

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...