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Dicksie Knight May papers, 1880-2024

Overview of the Collection

Creator
May, Dicksie Knight
Title
Dicksie Knight May papers
Dates
1880-2024 (inclusive)
Quantity
26.00 cubic ft. (29 boxes) + 3.87 GB
Collection Number
12953
Summary
Dicksie Knight May was an Albany County historian in Wyoming. This collection contains May’s research into her genealogy and family history, Albany County, the Albany County ranches project, and newspapers and articles related to Knight’s work. Those records contain correspondence, notes, land records, and maps.
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

Dicksie Knight May was an Albany County historian in Wyoming. She was born and raised on the Antelope Creek Johnson Ranch, located 23 miles south of Laramie, which was homesteaded by her great-grandfather, a Danish immigrant, and remained in the family until 1972. Her interest in history was sparked early by her grandparents, Arthur and Ida Wurl Johnson, who shared stories of their Prussian and Danish ancestry. Her grandfather fostered her love of geography by teaching her the names of the surrounding mountains. Knight’s father, Newell Grant Knight, served as Salt Lake City’s historian for 40 years, and her mother and stepfather managed ranches in Albany and Carbon counties. After attending college in Texas and raising her family there, she returned to Laramie in 1991 following her husband’s retirement.

Beginning in the 1970s, Knight conducted extensive genealogical research, tracing her father’s family back to the 1100s, her mother’s family to the 1700s, and her husband’s family to the 1500s. She was a charter member and past president of the Albany County Genealogy Society and taught genealogy classes at the Albany County Public Library and the Eppson Center for Seniors. She was also active in local organizations including the Albany County Historical Society, Albany County Cow-Belles, and the Laramie Railroad Depot Association. Her most extensive project was a ten-year collaborative effort researching the histories of Albany County ranches. In 2014, she received the 70th annual Community Service Award for her contributions.

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Content Description

This collection contains Dicksie May Knight’s research into her genealogy and family history, Albany County, the Albany County ranches project, and newspapers and articles related to Knight’s work. Those records contain correspondence, notes, land records, and maps. Also included are May’s personal papers, featuring articles about her and her research.

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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 Dicksie Knight May in 2025.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Brittany Heye in February 2026.

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Dicksie Knight May at the date of processing.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and Subjects

Subject Terms

  • Genealogy
  • Genealogy & local history
  • Ranching
  • Ranching--Wyoming--History

Geographical Names

  • Albany County (Wyo.)
  • Albany County (Wyo.) -- History
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999
  • Wyoming -- History -- 2000-
  • Wyoming -- History -- To 1889

Processed by Brittany Heye
2026

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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