University of Wyoming
The collection is arranged at the series level. The collection has been separated into two series due to the different provenance of materials within the collection.
William Hines (d. 1943) was a Wyoming ranch hand, oil leaser, and oil executive who accompanied author Owen Wister around the state of Wyoming when Wister was writing his novel "The Virginian." Hines is often cited as having related that he either witnessed or inspired some of the scenes in Wister's novel. He was involved in the oil field at Salt Creek with the Midwest Oil company in 1911, and later became vice president of the E.T. Williams oil company. Hines married Mary Jackson in 1921, and two years after their honeymoon the pair settled in Denver, Colorado. He died in 1943 after a short illness.
The Hines papers consist of diaries, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs related to the life of William Hines.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by WIlliam Hines at the date of processing.
This material was received from Mary Hines in 1961 and Judith Huss in 2007.
The collection was processed by Shaun Hayes in February of 2009.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Consists of a diary relating Hines' experiences working at the Salt Creek oil fields in Wyoming, as well as a general journal, balance sheets detailing various financial holdings, and a letter of condolence to his wife following his death.
Composed of correspondence, newspaper clippings, and a large number of photographs related to Hines' life. The photographs are of Hines and his family. Many of them are unlabelled. Much of the correspondence is in the form of postcards addressed to both William Hines and to his wife, Mary, following his death. Also included is a newspaper article detailing the role Hines may have played in the writing of Owen Wister's novel '"The Virginian."