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AHJ_ah10555 Inventory of the Downey Family papers,1863-1997 Downey Family papers Processed by D.C. Thompson 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:https://ahc.uwyo.edu/

2010

University of Wyoming

Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort November 2005 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Downey Family Downey Family papers 1863-1997 10555 4.89 cubic ft. (11 boxes + oversize) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Stephen Wheeler Downey and Eva Owen were married in 1872 in Laramie, Wyoming, and had ten children together. Biographical information, writings of family members, photographs, and business records of mining companies and law firms comprise the collection, which covers a century of Laramie history. History of the Downey Family

Stephen Wheeler Downey (1839-1902) was born in Maryland and was admitted to the bar in 1863. He served in the northern army during the Civil War, attaining the rank of colonel. He married during this time and had two daughters. In 1869 S.W. Downey followed a brother, William O. Downey, to Laramie. His wife died shortly after their arrival, and he married Evangeline Victoria Owen in 1872. Downey practiced law in Laramie and served in the state legislature. He drafted the bill creating the University of Wyoming; and he also attempted to develop several mines in the area.

Eva Owen Downey (1853-1937) was born in England and traveled to Salt Lake City as an infant. In 1868 her mother brought Eva, her sister Etta, and her son William east to Laramie, Wyoming, where they settled. Eva and Stephen Downey had ten children together, including Stephen Corlett (1873-1934), who became a lawyer and partner in his father’s practice; June Etta (1875-1932), who was a professor at the University of Wyoming and became nationally prominent in the field of psychology research; Sheridan (1884-1961), who pursued a political career as a liberal in California; and Alice (1892-1969), who acted as the historian of the family.

Scope and Content

The collection contains biographical information about various family members; writings of family members, including poetry, moral and philosophical treatises, and publications on family history; a diary from 1869-1870; ephemera of Laramie social clubs, Laramie Jubilee celebrations, and the University of Wyoming; business records of the Keystone and other mines in the Albany County area; correspondence of Downey’s law practice; photographs of the family, Laramie, the university, and mining operations; and a scrapbook.

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.

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.

There are no other known archival collections created by the Downey family at the date of processing.

The papers were received from Alice Downey Nelson in 1948 and 1960; Mrs. John A. Hill in 1962; Diana K. Bowen in 1998; Katherine Teetor from 1999-2010; and Laramie Plains Museum from 2019-2022.

The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in August 2003 and updated by Matt Francis in September 2010 and Jamie Greene in July 2021 and May 2024.

Select materials from this collection were digitized by Kathy Gerlach in 2016.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Downey Family Papers, 1866-1997, Collection Number 10555, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~158~158.

Access Terms Downey, Stephen Corlett. Downey, Eva Owen (Evangeline Victoria). Downey, Sheridan, 1884-1961. Owen, W. O. (William Octavius), 1859-1947. University of Wyoming. Mines and mineral resources--Wyoming. Laramie Jubilee Days. Gold mines and mining--Wyoming. Wyoming--History--To 1889. Wyoming--History--1890-1918. Wyoming--History--1919-1945. Wyoming--History--1946-1999. Laramie (Wyo.) Keystone Mine (Albany County, Wyo.) Douglas Creek Mining District (Wyo.) Lawyers--Wyoming--Laramie. Downey, Stephen W. (Stephen Wheeler), 1839-1902. Downey, June E. (June Etta), 1875-1932. Nelson, Alice Downey. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce Politics, Government, and Law Laws and Legislation Mines and Mineral Resources City and Town Life Home and Family Colleges and Universities Science, Technology and Health Wyoming Container List Series I. Personal Papers 8Book: “Sicilian Expedition” by the Rev. Percival Frost, autographed by June E. Downey in 18931888 1 1 1997 Bowen, Diana K. Writings

"A Pebble in the Pond: Woman Suffrage in Wyoming"

1 2 Downey Family - Autograph Book 1866-1879

with notes on first woman jury in Laramie, Wyoming

1 3 Downey Family – Autograph Books 1873-1886

with genealogical information and poetry

1 4 Downey Family – Correspondence and Biographical Notes 1962, undated 7 1 Downey Family – Correspondence - Letter from Grace Raymond Hebard 1931 1 5 Downey Family – Miscellaneous 1872-1920s 1 6 Downey [Nelson], Alice – Biographical 1914, undated 1 7 Downey [Nelson], Alice – Writings 1938

"Biographical Sketches of Stephen Wheeler Downey and Eva V. Downey"

1 8 Downey [Nelson], Alice – Writings 1956

"Downeys From Ireland"

1 9 Downey [Nelson], Alice – Writings 1950

”Mother Is a Grand Old Name”

7 2 Downey, Evangeline Victoria - Correspondence to Paul Raymond Teetor 1941 1 10 Downey, June Etta – Biographical 1907-1934 9Downey, June Etta - Correspondence, Newspapers, and Psychology Experiment Reports1905-1931 7 3 Downey, June Etta - Cards and Writings from Ted Olson 1923, 1928, undated 1 11 Downey, June Etta – Writings 1925, no date

Essays on introvert vs. extrovert personality types

1 12 Downey, June Etta – Writings 1920, no date

Plays: “The Arrow”, “A Study in Nude”

1 13 Downey, June Etta – Writings 1896-1898

Poems, etc.

2 1 Downey, June Etta – Writings 1891-ca. 1895

Short stories, essays, etc.

2 2 Downey, June Etta – Writings 1931

”Three Generations of Color Blindness” (Owen Family)

2 3 Downey, Sheridan – Biographical 1938-1961 2 4 Downey, Stephen Corlett – Biographical 1897-1930 2 5 Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Biographical 1877-1962 11Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Biographical - Law certificates: 11Common Wealth of VirginiaJanuary 9, 1863 11Territory of WyomingDecember 8, 1869 2 6 Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings 1888-1892

Speeches, articles, etc.

2 7 Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings no date

”The Temple of Truth”

2 8 Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings 1876

”Theatre of the Universe”

2 9 1887-1898 Downey, Stephen Wheeler – Writings

Untitled advice to his children; poetry (of June Downey?)

2 10 Downey, Wendy – Writings 1929

Poems: “From Six to Eight”

2 11 Downey, William O. and Stephen Wheeler – Diary 1869-1870 2 12 Flick, Jacob – Military discharge (Fort Laramie) 1872 7 4 Hanks, Beulah Downey - Writings 1898

"For Honor of a Child" (Photocopied and Incomplete)

3 1 Laramie Clubs and Social Life 1882-1901

Alpha Circle, Clio Club, etc.; programs, clippings, etc.

3 2 Laramie Jubilee July 10-13, 1940

Clippings

3 3 Laramie Pioneer Jubilee 1928

Clippings, programs, photograph

10Letter written by S.W. Downey's sister to her mother1858 3 4 Owen Family – Biographical 1933 3 5 Owen, William O. – Writings ca. 1930

”Jo Rankin’s Great Ride”

8Printed Material: Reprints of writings by Downey1915-1931 Research notes for Barbara Rockwell's book, "Sarah's Gold": 10Teton Ascent1830-1860 10William Owen Sr.1868-1900 10Willie Owen1854-1893 10Letter from Uncle Will1938 10From Paul Teetor1986-1987 10Family Photos1886-1900 10June Downey1968-1984 10Stephen Downey1868-1900 and undated 10Alice Downey Nelson1890-1969 10Cullimores WM Lettuce1876-1900 10Balls and Cullimores1876-1900 10Obituaries1860-1960 7 5 Teetor, Paul Raymond - Correspondence 1940-1941 3 6 University of Wyoming – Miscellaneous 1898-1940 3 7 University of Wyoming – Souvenir Class of ’91 1891

Honoring Stephen W. Downey

3 8 Unknown Author – Writings no date

Essay (incomplete) on western character

3 9 Unknown Author – Writings no date

Notes on women’s suffrage

3 10 Wilson, Thomas P. – Writings 1938

Untitled western anecdotes

Series II. Business Records 3 11 Centennial Gold Mining Company 1877 3 12-13 Downey Law Practice – Letterpress Book 1901 3 14 Downey, S. W. – Miscellaneous Correspondence 1892-1902 3 15 Keystone Mine – Ledger 1878-1880 3 16 Keystone Mine – Prospectus 1881 4 1-4 1904-1914 Unidentified Letterpress Book – Downey Law Practice?

Correspondence from various businesses

Series III. Photographs 4 5 ca. 1890 Album – Keystone Mine and Laramie, Wyoming 9Downey, June Ettaundated 5 1 undated Laramie, Wyoming, 1901

Downey Law Office, Laramie buildings

5 2 Mines – Gold Hill, Wyoming undated 5 3 Mines – Ione, California undated 8Miscellaneous unidentifiedundated 5 4 People – Unidentified ca. 1880s-ca. 1930s 7 6 Postcard - Evangeline Victoria Downey undated 5 7 Roosevelt, Theodore and party riding from Cheyenne to Laramie 1903 5 5 University of Wyoming 1898, undated 5 6 Wyoming Places undated

Ames Monument (Reed Rock), Battle Lake, Dixon’s Ranch

6 Wyoming State Capitol Building (oversize) no date Series IV. Scrapbook 6 Downey Family 1870s-1940

Clippings, correspondence, memorabilia, photographs

10Downey Memory Book 1853-1918 10Pages from Eva Downey Teetor's scrapbook about her wedding1916 Series V. Oversize Map Framed Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming 1875

Based on original plat from 1867