Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Downey Family papers, 1863-1997
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Downey Family
- Title
- Downey Family papers
- Dates
- 1863-1997 (inclusive)18661997
- Quantity
- 4.89 cubic ft. (11 boxes + oversize)
- Collection Number
- 10555
- Summary
- Stephen Wheeler Downey and Eva Owen were married in 1872 in Laramie, Wyoming, and had ten children together. Biographical information, writings of family members, photographs, and business records of mining companies and law firms comprise the collection, which covers a century of Laramie history.
- 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
-
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- 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.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Stephen Wheeler Downey (1839-1902) was born in Maryland and was admitted to the bar in 1863. He served in the northern army during the Civil War, attaining the rank of colonel. He married during this time and had two daughters. In 1869 S.W. Downey followed a brother, William O. Downey, to Laramie. His wife died shortly after their arrival, and he married Evangeline Victoria Owen in 1872. Downey practiced law in Laramie and served in the state legislature. He drafted the bill creating the University of Wyoming; and he also attempted to develop several mines in the area.
Eva Owen Downey (1853-1937) was born in England and traveled to Salt Lake City as an infant. In 1868 her mother brought Eva, her sister Etta, and her son William east to Laramie, Wyoming, where they settled. Eva and Stephen Downey had ten children together, including Stephen Corlett (1873-1934), who became a lawyer and partner in his father’s practice; June Etta (1875-1932), who was a professor at the University of Wyoming and became nationally prominent in the field of psychology research; Sheridan (1884-1961), who pursued a political career as a liberal in California; and Alice (1892-1969), who acted as the historian of the family.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains biographical information about various family members; writings of family members, including poetry, moral and philosophical treatises, and publications on family history; a diary from 1869-1870; ephemera of Laramie social clubs, Laramie Jubilee celebrations, and the University of Wyoming; business records of the Keystone and other mines in the Albany County area; correspondence of Downey’s law practice; photographs of the family, Laramie, the university, and mining operations; and a scrapbook.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Restrictions on Use
Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in CollectionsThe American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.
Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Downey Family Papers, 1866-1997, Collection Number 10555, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Alternative Forms Available
Existence and Location of CopiesDigital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~158~158.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
There are no other known archival collections created by the Downey family at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
The papers were received from Alice Downey Nelson in 1948 and 1960; Mrs. John A. Hill in 1962; Diana K. Bowen in 1998; Katherine Teetor from 1999-2010; and Laramie Plains Museum from 2019-2022.
Processing Note
The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in August 2003 and updated by Matt Francis in September 2010 and Jamie Greene in July 2021 and May 2024.
Select materials from this collection were digitized by Kathy Gerlach in 2016.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Personal PapersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | |||
| 8 | Book: “Sicilian Expedition” by the Rev. Percival Frost, autographed by June E. Downey in 1893 |
1888 | |
| Folder | |||
| 1 | 1 | Bowen, Diana K. Writings "A Pebble in the Pond: Woman Suffrage in Wyoming"
|
1997 |
| 1 | 2 | Downey Family - Autograph Book with notes on first woman jury in Laramie, Wyoming
|
1866-1879 |
| 1 | 3 | Downey Family – Autograph Books with genealogical information and poetry
|
1873-1886 |
| 1 | 4 | Downey Family – Correspondence and Biographical Notes |
1962, undated |
| 7 | 1 | Downey Family – Correspondence - Letter from Grace Raymond Hebard |
1931 |
| 1 | 5 | Downey Family – Miscellaneous |
1872-1920s |
| 1 | 6 | Downey [Nelson], Alice – Biographical |
1914, undated |
| 1 | 7 | Downey [Nelson], Alice – Writings "Biographical Sketches of Stephen Wheeler Downey and Eva V. Downey"
|
1938 |
| 1 | 8 | Downey [Nelson], Alice – Writings "Downeys From Ireland"
|
1956 |
| 1 | 9 | Downey [Nelson], Alice – Writings ”Mother Is a Grand Old Name”
|
1950 |
| 7 | 2 | Downey, Evangeline Victoria - Correspondence to Paul Raymond Teetor |
1941 |
| 1 | 10 | Downey, June Etta – Biographical |
1907-1934 |
| 9 | Downey, June Etta - Correspondence, Newspapers, and Psychology Experiment Reports |
1905-1931 | |
| Folder | |||
| 7 | 3 | Downey, June Etta - Cards and Writings from Ted Olson |
1923, 1928, undated |
| 1 | 11 | Downey, June Etta – Writings Essays on introvert vs. extrovert personality types
|
1925, no date |
| 1 | 12 | Downey, June Etta – Writings Plays: “The Arrow”, “A Study in Nude”
|
1920, no date |
| 1 | 13 | Downey, June Etta – Writings Poems, etc.
|
1896-1898 |
| 2 | 1 | Downey, June Etta – Writings Short stories, essays, etc.
|
1891-ca. 1895 |
| 2 | 2 | Downey, June Etta – Writings ”Three Generations of Color Blindness” (Owen Family)
|
1931 |
| 2 | 3 | Downey, Sheridan – Biographical |
1938-1961 |
| 2 | 4 | Downey, Stephen Corlett – Biographical |
1897-1930 |
| 2 | 5 | Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Biographical |
1877-1962 |
| 11 | Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Biographical - Law certificates: |
||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | Common Wealth of Virginia |
January 9, 1863 | |
| 11 | Territory of Wyoming |
December 8, 1869 | |
| Folder | |||
| 2 | 6 | Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings Speeches, articles, etc.
|
1888-1892 |
| 2 | 7 | Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings ”The Temple of Truth”
|
no date |
| 2 | 8 | Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings ”Theatre of the Universe”
|
1876 |
| 2 | 9 | Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings Untitled advice to his children; poetry (of June Downey?)
|
1887-1898 |
| 2 | 10 | Downey, Wendy – Writings Poems: “From Six to Eight”
|
1929 |
| 2 | 11 | Downey, William O. and Stephen Wheeler – Diary |
1869-1870 |
| 2 | 12 | Flick, Jacob – Military discharge (Fort Laramie) |
1872 |
| 7 | 4 | Hanks, Beulah Downey - Writings "For Honor of a Child" (Photocopied and Incomplete)
|
1898 |
| 3 | 1 | Laramie Clubs and Social Life Alpha Circle, Clio Club, etc.; programs, clippings, etc.
|
1882-1901 |
| 3 | 2 | Laramie Jubilee Clippings
|
July 10-13, 1940 |
| 3 | 3 | Laramie Pioneer Jubilee Clippings, programs, photograph
|
1928 |
| 10 | Letter written by S.W. Downey's sister to her mother |
1858 | |
| Folder | |||
| 3 | 4 | Owen Family – Biographical |
1933 |
| 3 | 5 | Owen, William O. – Writings ”Jo Rankin’s Great Ride”
|
ca. 1930 |
| 8 | Printed Material: Reprints of writings by Downey |
1915-1931 | |
Research notes for Barbara Rockwell's book, "Sarah's Gold": |
|||
| Box | |||
| 10 | Teton Ascent |
1830-1860 | |
| 10 | William Owen Sr. |
1868-1900 | |
| 10 | Willie Owen |
1854-1893 | |
| 10 | Letter from Uncle Will |
1938 | |
| 10 | From Paul Teetor |
1986-1987 | |
| 10 | Family Photos |
1886-1900 | |
| 10 | June Downey |
1968-1984 | |
| 10 | Stephen Downey |
1868-1900 and undated | |
| 10 | Alice Downey Nelson |
1890-1969 | |
| 10 | Cullimores WM Lettuce |
1876-1900 | |
| 10 | Balls and Cullimores |
1876-1900 | |
| 10 | Obituaries |
1860-1960 | |
| Box | Folder | ||
| 7 | 5 | Teetor, Paul Raymond - Correspondence |
1940-1941 |
| 3 | 6 | University of Wyoming – Miscellaneous |
1898-1940 |
| 3 | 7 | University of Wyoming – Souvenir Class of ’91 Honoring Stephen W. Downey
|
1891 |
| 3 | 8 | Unknown Author – Writings Essay (incomplete) on western character
|
no date |
| 3 | 9 | Unknown Author – Writings Notes on women’s suffrage
|
no date |
| 3 | 10 | Wilson, Thomas P. – Writings Untitled western anecdotes
|
1938 |
Series II. Business RecordsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 3 | 11 | 1877 | |
| Folders | |||
| 3 | 12-13 | 1901 | |
| Folder | |||
| 3 | 14 | 1892-1902 | |
| 3 | 15 | 1878-1880 | |
| 3 | 16 | 1881 | |
| Folders | |||
| 4 | 1-4 |
Unidentified Letterpress Book – Downey Law Practice? Correspondence from various businesses
|
1904-1914 |
Series III. PhotographsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 4 | 5 | ca. 1890 | |
| 9 | Downey, June Etta |
undated | |
| Folder | |||
| 5 | 1 |
Laramie, Wyoming, 1901 Downey Law Office, Laramie buildings
|
undated |
| 5 | 2 | undated | |
| 5 | 3 | undated | |
| 8 | Miscellaneous unidentified |
undated | |
| Folder | |||
| 5 | 4 | ca. 1880s-ca. 1930s | |
| 7 | 6 | undated | |
| 5 | 7 | Roosevelt, Theodore and party riding from Cheyenne to Laramie |
1903 |
| 5 | 5 | 1898, undated | |
| 5 | 6 |
Wyoming Places Ames Monument (Reed Rock), Battle Lake, Dixon’s Ranch
|
undated |
| 6 | no date |
Series IV. ScrapbookReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 6 | 1870s-1940 | |
| 10 | Downey Memory Book |
1853-1918 |
| 10 | Pages from Eva Downey Teetor's scrapbook about her wedding |
1916 |
Series V. Oversize MapReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Framed | Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming Based on original plat from 1867
|
1875 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Gold mines and mining--Wyoming.
- Mines and mineral resources--Wyoming.
- Wyoming--History--1890-1918.
- Wyoming--History--1919-1945.
- Wyoming--History--1946-1999.
- Wyoming--History--To 1889.
Personal Names
- Downey, Eva Owen (Evangeline Victoria).
- Downey, Sheridan, 1884-1961.
- Downey, Stephen Corlett.
- Owen, W. O. (William Octavius), 1859-1947.
Corporate Names
- Laramie Jubilee Days.
- University of Wyoming.
Geographical Names
- Douglas Creek Mining District (Wyo.)
- Keystone Mine (Albany County, Wyo.)
- Laramie (Wyo.)
Occupations
- Lawyers--Wyoming--Laramie.
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Downey, June E. (June Etta), 1875-1932.
- Downey, Stephen W. (Stephen Wheeler), 1839-1902.
- Nelson, Alice Downey.
Processed by D.C. Thompson
2010
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
