Mable Cheney Moudy Papers

Mable Cheney Moudy Papers, circa 1866-1972

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Moudy, Mable Cheney, 1878-1972
Title: Mable Cheney Moudy Papers
Dates: circa 1866-1972 (inclusive)
18661972

1947-1972 (bulk)
19471972
Quantity: 2 cubic ft. (4 document boxes, 1 slim document box)
Collection Number: 00173
Summary: Diaries, manuscripts, and research material of a Wyoming teacher and historian who wrote about her family and her state's 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: 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

Mable Wyoming Cheney Moudy was a teacher, historian, and Wyoming pioneer who researched and wrote about her parents, her own life, and the history of the state from the 1870s. She was born on May 2, 1878, in Atlantic City near South Pass. Her father, Ervin F. Cheney (1844-1922), came west as a soldier after the Civil War and helped to survey the townsite of Laramie in 1868. He moved to the South Pass area shortly afterwards, where he operated a wagon and blacksmith shop. He married Mathilda Jane Henry in 1875, and in November, 1878, the family relocated to Lander, Wyoming. Mable graduated from Lander High School and entered the University of Wyoming at Laramie in 1897. She took a normal (teaching) degree from the university in 1900 and began to teach in Dubois, Wyoming. She married Ross B. Moudy (1878-1949) in 1903, and they settled in Laramie, where Ross Moudy taught chemistry at the university and held the appointment of state chemist. In 1920 he was hired as a chemist by the Midwest Refining Company, and he moved to Casper to work for Standard Oil of Indiana in 1932. The couple were the parents of a son and two daughters. Ross Moudy married Mae Dodge of Casper, Wyoming, in 1936. Mable Cheney Moudy continued to live in Laramie and was active as a historian and lecturer until her death in 1972.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Mable Cheney Moudy papers primarily consist of diaries which detail the daily life of Mable Cheney Moudy from 1947, when she was staying at Lander during her mother’s last illness, until her own final year as a resident of the Ivinson Memorial Home in Laramie. Diary entries for September 12, 1972-December 1, 1972 were written by Moudy’s daughter, Alice Moudy Robbins. The collection also contains writings of Mable Cheney Moudy and others mainly regarding Wyoming history, including a reminiscence of her father, Ervin F. Cheney, who helped to survey the site of Laramie in 1868. Many of these manuscripts and letters were solicited by the Jacques Laramie Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Laramie, Wyoming). The photographs include views of the University of Wyoming (1898-1908) and of the ruins of Fort Sanders, near Laramie, in the 1930s.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by Mable Cheney Moudy at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Papers were received from Mable Cheney Moudy between 1951 and 1969. The diaries were received from Alice Moudy Robbins in 1975. Some additional material was received from Alice Moudy Robbins in 1977. The papers were in good condition, but in no order. They have been arranged as seemed most useful for research.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by D. Claudia Thompson in February 2002. Revised and expanded by D. Claudia Thompson in July 2004 and March 2015.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Diaries, 1947-1972Return to Top

Arranged chronologically. Daily activities of Mable Cheney Moudy.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Diaries, 10 items	1947-1956
2	Diaries, 10 items	1957-1966
3	Diaries, 6 items	1967-1972

Series II. Manuscripts and Historical Materials, circa 1866-1965, undatedReturn to Top

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Includes historical writings by Mable Cheney Moudy and others, news clippings on Laramie and Wyoming history, photographs, and publications.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
4	1	Manuscripts, etc. – Bath Family by Fred Bath	undated
Folder
2		Manuscripts, etc. – Cheney, Ervin F. includes manuscripts, legal documents, news clippings, memorial program	1873-1938
3		Manuscripts, etc. – Cheney, Ervin F. – Correspondence letters to Mable Cheney Moudy	1913-1915
4		Manuscripts, etc. – Cheyenne-Deadwood Trail by Isabel M. Willson	1930
5		Manuscripts, etc. – D.A.R. Scrapbook notes taken from historical sources by Mable Cheney Moudy	1951-1954
6		Manuscripts, etc. – D.A.R. Scrapbook notes taken from historical sources by Mable Cheney Moudy	1952
7		Manuscripts, etc. – Downey, June Etta by Helen M. Eaton	1937
8		Manuscripts, etc. – Dykins, Rhoda Sherman by Erina(?) Dykins	1952
9		Manuscripts, etc. – Episcopal Church by Mable Cheney Moudy	undated
10		Manuscripts, etc. – “The Flag Ranch”, unknown author	undated
11		Manuscripts, etc. – “Fremont’s Trip Through Southeastern Wyoming”, unknown author	1914
12		Manuscripts, etc. – Garrett Family by T.S. Garrett	1931
13		Manuscripts, etc. – Harris Family by Ida Harris Mondell	undated
14		Manuscripts, etc. – “History of a Few Pioneers in Wyoming” by Mable Cheney Moudy	1955
15		Manuscripts, etc. – “Indians of Wyoming” by Mable Cheney Moudy	undated
16		Manuscripts, etc. – Laramie History by Mrs. N.E. Corthell	1930
17		Manuscripts, etc. – “Life On the Prairies”, unknown author regarding employment on W.R. Williams ranch	1929
18		Manuscripts, etc. – Nelson, Aven by Aven Nelson	1929
19		Manuscripts, etc. – Owen, W.O. – Correspondence letters of W.O. Owen reflecting on earlier people and events in Wyoming	1932-1943
20		Manuscripts, etc. – Owen, W.O. – Newspaper Stories by W.O. Owen and others	1928-1933
21		Manuscripts, etc. – Patriotic and Inspirational by Mable Cheney Moudy regarding Martha Ball Washington, signers of Declaration of Independence, national parks, etc.	undated
22		Manuscripts, etc. – Revolutionary War Stories by Mary Whiting McFarlane, Jane Smith regarding Elijah Hobart, Charles Wilson Peale	1929, undated
23		Manuscripts, etc. – Shoshones and Arapahoes by James K. Moore, Jr.	1956
24		Manuscripts, etc. – Simpson (J.B.) Family by Mrs. J.F. Soule	1931
25		Manuscripts, etc. – Sodergren, Oscar, autobiographical letter	undated
26		Manuscripts, etc. – Telephone Canyon, various authors	1930
27		Manuscripts, etc. – “Through My Life”, autobiography by Mable Cheney Moudy	circa 1960s
28		Manuscripts, etc. – Union Pacific Physician by F.H. Harrison regarding contract work for railroad	1925
29		Manuscripts, etc. – Union Pacific Stations in Albany County, Wyoming by Carl R. Gray	1931
30		Manuscripts, etc. – University of Wyoming by Kepler Hoyt and unknown authors	1931, undated
31		Manuscripts, etc. – University of Wyoming by Mary Whiting McFarlane	1928
32		Manuscripts, etc. – University of Wyoming by Mable Cheney Moudy	1960
33		Manuscripts, etc. – University of Wyoming by Jenny Gates Phillips	1928
34		Manuscripts, etc. – Wallis, Noah, unknown author	1931
35		Manuscripts, etc. – “Wells Fargo Stages vs. Sioux” by Lillie M. Dale	1928
36		Maps; western U.S., Wyoming trails	1941, undated
37		Newspaper Clippings – Fort Bridger	1933
38		Newspaper Clippings – Horn, Tom	1927-1930
39		Newspaper Clippings – Lander and Fremont County	1949-1953
40		Newspaper Clippings – Laramie and Albany County by W.E. Chaplin, A.C. Jones, Mary G. Bellamy, and others	1920-1944
41		Newspaper Clippings – Moudy, Mable Cheney interviews with	1962-1965
42		Newspaper Clippings – Shoshones and Arapahoes Washakie Family, music, sun dance, etc.	1900-1953
43		Newspaper Clippings – Trails in Wyoming	1931-1941
44		Newspaper Clippings – Wyoming Miscellaneous Colter stone, Alva Brainard Cady, first rural church, etc.	1934-1950
45		Newspaper Clippings – “Wyoming On Safari,” travels of Marie Montabe Horton	1951-1952
46		Notes On Historical Map of Albany County no accompanying map	undated
47		Photographs – Mannaerchor Hall (Laramie)	1899-1900
48		Photographs – Places Fort Sanders ruins, Moudy home, South Pass	1931-1952
49		Photographs – Sand Creek	1898-1899
Box	Folder
5	1	Photographs – University of Wyoming – Dramatics “The Garroters”	1899
Folder
2		Photographs – University of Wyoming – Students and Faculty Boys Boarding House, Ross Moudy, Irene Morse, William Beach, Chemistry lab, etc.	1897-1908
3		Postcards; Wind River Reservation, Chief Washakie’s grave, etc.	1916, undated
4		Publications – Fremont County H.G. Nickerson, Clarence D. Jayne, Lander Pioneer Days program, with notes by Mable Cheney Moudy	1924-1952
5		Souvenirs Wyoming State Flag	undated
6		Wood Tile Block carved by Ervin F. Cheney. “It was in the dining room of the house that was brought in from Ft. Sanders where it had been the officers quarters.”	1866 or 1867

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

Cheney, Ervin F.
Moudy, Ross B.

Corporate Names

University of Wyoming.

Geographical Names

Laramie (Wyo.)--History.
Wyoming--History--1890-1918.
Wyoming--History--1919-1945.
Wyoming--History--1946-.
Wyoming--History--To 1889.

Form or Genre Terms

Diaries.

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Robbins, Alice Moudy, 1908-.

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