Collection Summary
Bragg, William Frederick, 1922-
William Frederick Bragg papers
1918-1996
10461
16.00 cubic
ft. (19 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
Bragg wrote about Wyoming history and this collection contains draft manuscripts, publisher correspondence and research files. There is also material from Bragg's involvement in various organizations, teaching at Casper College, and film work. It also contains family and research photographs.
Arrangement of the Collection
This collection has been minimally processed and is organized by Bragg's professional and personal activities including writing materials, organizations and associations, film and radio work, and scrapbooks and photographs.
Biography or HistoryWilliam Frederick Bragg was a Western writer, born in 1922 in Wyoming. He served in World War II and Korea as a Marine. He took a BA and MA from the University of Wyoming in History. His thesis was "Sacajawea’s Role in Western History" (1953). Bragg worked for Casper College, retiring in 1987. He was an author of Western fiction and Wyoming history, who published eleven Western books including: "Wyoming’s Wealth: A History of Wyoming" (1976), "Wyoming, Rugged But Right" (1979), and "Wyoming, Wild and Wooly" (1983). The Western Writers Association awarded him the Golden Spur Award in 1983 for "The Ten Sleep Mail", best short nonfiction.
Scope and ContentThe William F. Bragg collection contains materials related to his writing such as draft manuscripts, correspondence, and research files from the 1950s-1980s. It also includes materials from his involvement with professional organizations such as the Western Writers Association and historical associations. Additionally, it contains material from many other activities that Bragg was involved with such as narrating and producing films on Wyoming history and teaching at Casper College. There are photographs and albums of the Bragg family reflective of their life near Worland, Wyoming in the early 20th century. Finally, there are scrapbooks and newspaper clippings associated with Bragg's achievements as a young man and World War II.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes,
and the collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
Donor retains copyright. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright,
property, and libel laws as they apply.
Related Materials
There are no other known archival collections created by William F. Bragg at the date of
processing.
Acquisition Information
William Bragg's daughter, Laura Gaddis, donated the collection to the American Heritage Center in August 1996.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Laura Uglean Jackson in June 2008.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection
Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
Western Writers of America.
Legends -- Wyoming.
Western stories -- Wyoming.
Wyoming -- Historical fiction.
Wyoming -- History -- To 1889.
Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918.
Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945.
Wyoming -- History -- 1946-
West (U.S.) -- History
Photograph albums.
Scrapbooks.
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Literature
Social Life and Customs
People, Ethnicity, and Culture
Wyoming
Politics, Government, and Law
Container List
Series I. Writing material
1950-1989
This series contains draft manuscripts, correspondence, and research files for published and unpublished works by Bragg on Wyoming and Western history (includes speeches). It is divided into two sub-series: manuscripts and associated materials.
Sub-series 1. Manuscripts by Bragg
1950-1989
1
The American Dream
1
The Battle of Horseshoe Creek
1
The Battle of Platte Bridge
1
The Black History of Wyoming
1
Campbell County: The Slumbering Giant
1
Casper Collins Day
1982
1
The Caspar Syndrome and the Minority Report
1
Cowboys and Indians or Vice Versa
1
Deadline
1
Denver Stock Show Speech
1
Douglas High School Commencement Speech
1984
1
Drumm's War
1
The Eagles
1
Early History of Johnson County
1
Enemy in Sight, original
1979
1
Feed Em in the Winter
1
Firing Squad
1
The First White Man to Visit the Casper Area (Wasn't Robert Stuart)
1
The Forgotten Post: Fort Casper
1
The Ghost of Fort Laramie
1
Historical Research (Speech)
1
Horseback Wyoming
1
I Did...and They Did!
1
Izaac Walton League Talk
1
Land Policy
1
The Last Traitor
1
A Little Pollution is Good for Tourism
1
Lords and Lordings
1
Nighthawk
1
Nightmare on the No Wood
2
The Old West versus The New West
2
One Christmas One Hundred Years Past in Wyoming
2
One Hundred Twenty Five Years Ago
2
The Powder River Country
2
The Races and Race for Governor of Wyoming 1869-1974
2
The Reno Court of Inquiry
2
Red Revenge
2
Red Sword
2
Rotary Club Talk
November 18, 1974
2
Sacajawea (with pictures)
2
Sandbar
2
The Second White Man into Wyoming
2
Sam Stringer, by Bill Bragg and Bill Grunkemeyer
2
Six Men from Indostan
2
Some Bad Guys...and Worse Women
2
Some Bad Men
2
The Sounds of Casper, 1922-1972: 28 Stories for First of Casper
2
Starrs and Stripes
2
Ten Sleep Mail
2-3
Tuskers
3
War Horses
3-4
Wyoming's Wealth: A History of Wyoming
4
A Western Christmas Tale
4
Women in Wyoming's History
4
Wyoming: A History Before 1890
4
Wyoming and the Frontier
4
Wyoming: Rugged but Right!
4
Wyoming: Wild and Wooly
1983
4
Wyoming Wit - Wyomng Humor
4
Wyoming- With Bill Bragg
4-6
Wyoming's Colorful Past
Sub-series 2. Associated Writing Material
1950-1989
This sub-series contains research files with articles, photocopies, newspaper clippings, correspondence, information about book sales and publishing, and other materials related to Bragg's writing.
6
Wyoming's Wealth- Sales and Film with Grunk
6
Drumm's War
6
Wyoming: Wild and Wooly Correspondence
6
Wyoming's Colorful Past
6
Irvine
7-10 and 19
Research files for unidentified articles and miscellaneous correspondence
7
Book Sales
7
Wyoming Towns, Atl Atl, and Bates
1958-1959
8
Publisher and book correspondence
9-10
Wyoming Towns research material
10
Sacajawea, 1950s
Series II. Other Activities
1950-1996
This series contains material such as correspondence and publications for Bragg's involvement with various writer's associations, Wyoming legislature, Casper College, "In Wyoming" magazine, historical markers in the west, and film and radio work. It also contains personal and biographical materials such as material from Bragg's funeral, personal correspondence, and writings by William F. Bragg Sr.
10
Diaries
1973-1977
10
In Wyoming magazine
10
Western Writers of America
10
Wyoming Travel Commission
10
Wyoming Writers
11
AB Cross Foundation
11
Film and movie work
11
G.O.P and republican campain
1968
11
Spelling of Casper
12
Personal material
12
Biographical material
12
Bragg family
12-13
Casper College
12
Elderhostel
12
Pony Express
12
Historical Trails and Markers
13
Stories by William Bragg Sr.
13
World War II Reunion
13
Radio Series
13
In Wyoming Magazine
13
Trail Markers
13
Personal
19
Oregon Trail material
Series III. Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1918-1985
This series contains individual photographs, negatives, and photo albums of the Bragg family in the early to mid 20th century. There are also photos of Wyoming state legislators and unidentified persons. Also included are photographs used for Bragg's publications and presentations, and scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings and other material on Bragg's achievements as a young man and World War II.
13
Wyoming State Legislators
13-14 and 18
Family Photographs
13-14
Photos used for research/professional activities
15
Photo albums- family photos
1918-1933
16
Negatives- family photos/unidentified individuals
17
Photo album- family photos
1921-1933