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Lawrence Cardoso (1940-1989), professor of history at the University of Wyoming from 1973-1989, first came to the University as a supply instructor, becoming an assistant professor in 1974. After receiving his degrees in Modern History from the University of Connecticut he specialized in Mexican History. He taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate-level history courses while an instructor at the university, including: Wyoming survey, Latin American Civilization, history of Spain and Portugal, Public History, and the American Southwest. He also served as the department chairman from 1986 to 1989. He wrote numerous publications on Mexican history, Mexican emigration, and Wyoming history.

Lawrence Cardoso was also active outside of academia. He was an advisor for the Wyoming Chautauqua program, worked with the Wyoming Centennial Planning Project, and helped develop the Preservation of 'La Cultura' Project documenting the experience of Mexican-Americans in Wyoming. In addition, he helped produce a twelve-part radio program for Wyoming Public Radio entitled "Ethnic Settlements in Wyoming" and taught a course on Mexican Americans in Wyoming for public school teachers. At the time of his death in 1989 he was completing a history of the U.S. Marshal's office in Wyoming and a study of Anglo/Mexican relations entitled "White and Brown."