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Melvin D. Duncan papers, 1801-2006

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Duncan, Melvin D.
Title
Melvin D. Duncan papers
Dates
1801-2006 (inclusive)
Quantity
8.55 cubic ft. (10 boxes)
Collection Number
12906
Summary
Melvin D. Duncan (1931–2007) was a member of the Wyoming Air National Guard and a historian. This collection contains correspondence, photographs of Duncan and the family cabin, Duncan family history and manuscripts written by Melvin Duncan, as well as his research files for those projects. Including newspapers, photographs, photograph slides, and other printed materials.
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
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Historical Note

Melvin D. Duncan (1931–2007) was a member of the Wyoming Air National Guard and a historian. Born on September 5, 1931, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he began his military service in 1948 while still in high school, graduating from Cheyenne High School in 1949. Over a distinguished 43-year career, Duncan served as an airplane mechanic, crew chief, and flight engineer, eventually retiring in 1991 as the most senior chief master sergeant in the Air Force nationwide. After retirement, he contributed to aviation heritage by restoring static aircraft displays at the Wyoming Air Guard Base. He also authored several books, including The Medicine Bow Mining Camps, Place Names of the Medicine Bow National Forest, and Flight 409: Tragedy on Medicine Bow Peak, which documented the 1955 plane crash on Medicine Bow Peak. In addition to his literary and restoration work, Duncan served on the Wyoming Aviation Hall of Fame Board, the Wyoming National Guard Museum Board, and the Wyoming Board of Geographic Names. Melvin D. Duncan passed away on October 11, 2007, at the age of 76.

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Content Description

This collection contains correspondence, photographs of Duncan and the family cabin, Duncan family history and manuscripts written by Melvin Duncan, as well as his research files for those projects. Including newspapers, photographs, photograph slides, and other printed materials.

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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.

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The 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, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

This material was received from John M. Duncan in August of 2023.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Pierson Linde and Brittany Heye in 2024.

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Melvin D. Duncan at the date of processing.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Airplanes--History.
  • Airplanes.
  • Mining the American West
  • United Airlines--History--20th century.

Geographical Names

  • Cheyenne (Wyo.)
  • Colorado.
  • Laramie (Wyo.)
  • Medicine Bow National Forest (Wyo.)
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999
  • Wyoming -- History -- 2000-
  • Wyoming -- History -- To 1889

Processed by Brittany Heye
2024

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

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