AHJ_ah00804 Inventory of the Willis Van Devanter papers, 1879-1966 Van Devanter (Willis) papers Processed by Monte Kniffen The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2006

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort May 2006 Finding aid is in English Willis Van Devanter papers, 1879-1966 Collection number: 00804 University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. Publication date: 2006 Contact Information American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/ January 2001

"©" 2006 University of Wyoming

 Collection Summary Van Devanter, Willis, 1859-1941 Willis Van Devanter papers 1879-1966 00804 1.00 cubic ft. (1 document box and 1 F24 box) + artifacts University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The Willis Van Devanter papers include several photographs of Van Devanter and several publications. Also included are a legal fees book belonging to Van Devanter, and artifacts, including an embroidered silk flag and a cane belonging to F.E. Warren. Biography of Willis Van Devanter

Willis Van Devanter (1859-1941) was Wyoming’s first State Supreme Court Justice and eventually came to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He graduated from Cincinnati University Law School in 1881 and began practicing law with his father in Marion, Indiana.

Van Devanter moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1884 to practice law and soon became very involved with politics as a member of the territorial legislature and commissioner to revise the territorial statutes. In 1889, President Harrison appointed him Chief Justice of the territorial Supreme Court. After Wyoming became a state in 1890, he was elected to the same position and became the state’s first Chief Justice.

In 1897, President McKinley appointed him Assistant Attorney General. He remained very active in the Republican Party, and President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him a United States Circuit Judge in 1903. He was named to the Supreme Court by President Taft in 1910, and he remained on the bench until his retirement in 1937. While on the Supreme Court, Van Devanter was considered the Court’s foremost expert on cases relating to public lands, mining claims, water rights, and other matters of interest to the Western United States.

Van Devanter died as a result of a heart attack in 1941.

 Scope and Content

The Willis Van Devanter papers include several photographs of Van Devanter and several publications. Also included are a legal fees book belonging to Van Devanter, and artifacts, including an embroidered silk flag and a cane belonging to F.E. Warren.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

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

 Related Materials

There is another archival collection created by Willis Van Devanter at the date of processing. See:

Papers of Willis Van Devanter, 1884-1941, Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Washington, D.C. Acquisition Information

The Willis Van Devanter papers were donated to the American Heritage Center by Winslow Van Devanter in 1965.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Monte Kniffen in January 2001.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Willis Van Devanter papers, 1879-1966, Collection Number 00804, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Warren, Francis E. (Francis Emroy), 1844-1929. United States. Supreme Court. Wyoming. Legislature. Law offices--Wyoming--Cheyenne--19th century. Wyoming--History--To 1889. Wyoming--History--1890-1918. Wyoming--History--1919-1945. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Politics, Government, and Law Civil Procedure and Courts Laws and Legislation Politics and Politicians Container List 1 1 Biographical- Newspaper Clippings 1931-1941 1 2 Biographical- “The Van Deventer Family” 1943 1 3 Correspondence- Excerpts from Van Devanter Personal Correspondence undated 1 4 Legal Fees, Indexed 1885-1889 1 5 Making of the Constitution – Publication presented to Van Devanter 1934 1 6 Register of Law Books and Office Fixtures 1879-1895 1 7 Report of the Colorado Bar Association 1937 1 8 Saint Louis Exposition of 1904 1904 1 9 Virginia Soldier’s Claim to Western Lands Adjacent to Fort Pitt with introduction by Van Devanter 1966 2 1 Photographs 1938, undated

Van Devanter, William Simpson, George Beck at WY/ID Joint Bar Association Meeting Van Devanter in Judicial Robes

 2 2 Photographs 1907-1938, undated

Van Devanter with Supreme Court Justices10 Portraits of Van Devanter

 2 3 Photographs 1905

Van Devanter and Staff (As Assistant Attorney General)

 2 4 Photographs undated

Wyoming House of Representatives, 10th General Assembly

 Artifacts 1 Embroidered Silk Flag. Includes embroidered scenes of China. Made in China. Artifacts 2 F.E. Warren Cane. Elkhorn Handle with Silver Trim