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Carey family papers, 1869-1978

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Carey family
Title
Carey family papers
Dates
1869-1978 (inclusive)
Quantity
85.50 cubic ft. (113 boxes)
Collection Number
01212
Summary
The collection contains the papers of Joseph and Robert Carey from 1869-1978. Joseph Carey materials include correspondence, newsclippings and miscellaneous other materials. Robert Carey papers include 2 photograph albums; genealogical information on the Carey family; an autograph book; materials relating to his service as governor and senator.
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 and through the generosity of Robert D. Carey.
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Historical Note

Joseph Maull Carey, Wyoming governor and senator, was born 19 January 1845 in Milton, Delaware, the son of Robert Hood and Susan Davis Carey. He was educated at Union College in New York and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1867 he was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Philadelphia before coming to Wyoming in 1869.

Carey was appointed the first United States Attorney for the newly organized Wyoming Territory in 1869. President U.S. Grant then appointed him as associate justice of the Wyoming territorial supreme court, a position he served from 1872-1876. After retiring from the judiciary, Carey began his long and influential career in politics.

Carey served as mayor of Cheyenne from 1881-1885 and territorial delegate to the United States Congress from 1885-1891. He remained a member of the Republican national committee from 1876-1896. In 1890 Carey introduced the act establishing Wyoming statehood and authored the famous Carey Act, a bill which contributed to irrigation progress in the Rocky Mountain states. He was then elected United States Senator and served until his term expired in 1895. In 1910 Carey was elected governor on the Democratic ticket, serving until 1915.

In addition to his political role in shaping early Wyoming history, Carey engaged in many business and agricultural pursuits. He organized the J.M. Carey and Bros. Land Company, the Wheatland Development Company, and Wheatland Industrial Company. In addition he was a member of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and president of the Wyoming Livestock Association.

Joseph Carey married Louisa David on 27 September 1877 in Cheyenne. They had two sons, Robert Davis and Charles David. Robert Carey served as governor of Wyoming from 1920-1924 and U.S. Senator from 1930-1937. In addition he served as manager of the Wheatland Development Company and Wheatland Roller Mills Company, and he was president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association from 1917-1918. Both Carey sons continued to manage the J.M. Carey and Bros. Land Company after their father died on 5 February 1924. Robert Carey passed away in Cheyenne on 17 January 1937.

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Content Description

The Carey family papers document the political and business careers of one of the most influential families in early Wyoming history. Series I-VII are the papers of Joseph M. Carey. The Carey Family Papers (Series VIII) mainly contains political papers regarding Robert D. Carey, but there are some business records belonging to Charles D. Carey as well.

Joseph M. Carey's correspondence includes a large amount of senatorial correspondence with constituents and associates. This series includes correspondence with Francis E. Warren and Susan B. Anthony. The 1892 files include a large amount of correspondence regarding the Johnson County War, and additional material on the Johnson County War can be found in the Subject Files and Newspaper Clippings. Correspondence from Susan B. Anthony and original documents on the Johnson County War have been placed in a safe envelope and replaced by preservation copies.

Joseph Carey's Business Records include many stock certificates and minute books from companies such as the Wyoming Development Company, Wheatland Industrial Company, J.M. Carey and Brother Company, and Wheatland Roller Mill Company.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

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 (if applicable), Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Alternative Forms Available

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~188~188.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by the Carey family at the date of processing. For more information related to Joseph M. Carey, see:

Joseph M. Carey papers, 1911-1915 Wyoming State Archives (Cheyenne, Wyo.) Wyoming territorial affairs, Collection Number MSS P-M 10, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The Carey family papers were donated to the American Heritage Center by Mrs. Robert Carey in 1963 and Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Fowler in 1994. Mrs. Margaret Carey deposited additional material in 1998 and 1999. The bulk of the business records were received from Robert D. Carey in 2012. Another accretion came from James E. McCormick in 2013.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed in 2015-2016 by Elizabeth Palmer and Aaron Lairamore. Several of the business stock books and scrapbooks are fragile and should be handled with care. Senator Joseph Carey's correspondence were taken out of letter file folders and placed into acid-free folders. Newspaper clippings were replaced by preservation copies.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cattle trade--Wyoming--Converse County.
  • Genealogy.
  • Politics, Practical--Wyoming.

Corporate Names

  • Wyoming. Governor (1911-1915 : Carey).
  • Wyoming. Governor (1919-1923 : Carey).

Geographical Names

  • Wyoming--History--1890-1918
  • Wyoming--History--1919-1945
  • Wyoming--History--To 1889
  • Wyoming--Politics and government.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries.
  • Photographs.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Carey, Joseph M., (Joseph Maull), 1845-1924.
    • Carey, Joseph M., II.
    • Carey, Robert D., (Robert Davis), 1878-1937.
    • Mullen, William Edward, 1886-
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