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W. W. Morrison papers, 1809-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Morrison, W.W. (William Wayne)
Title
W. W. Morrison papers
Dates
1809-1976 (inclusive)
Quantity
32.02 cubic ft. (32 boxes)
Collection Number
00323
Summary
William Wayne Morrison (1898-1977) was passenger agent of the Union Pacific Railroad and a historian of emigrant trails and pioneer graves. This collection contains W.W. Morrison’s personal papers, books, and research files. They include diaries, maps, and photographs related to the history of emigrants, emigrant trails, and other western history.
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

William Wayne Morrison (1898-1977) was passenger agent of the Union Pacific Railroad and a historian of emigrant trails and pioneer graves. Morrison came to Hillsdale, Wyoming in the 1920s to work as a telegrapher for the Union Pacific Railroad and eventually became a freight and passenger agent. Throughout his life, Morrison conducted extensive personal research on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails, collecting transcripts, diaries, narratives of overland travel, and photographing historic sites. He also corresponded with descendants of emigrants whose graves had been identified along these trails.

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Content Description

This collection contains W.W. Morrison’s personal papers, research files and books. His personal papers contain family history, artifacts, photographs, autobiographical manuscripts, maps, and his employment information with the Union Pacific Railroad. The research files contain diaries, photographs, notes, transcripts, manuscripts, subject files, newspapers, and audio materials related to Morrison’s research into western history, emigrants, and emigrant trails. Morrison’s book collection contains books and booklets related to western history, emigrants, emigrant trails, and the Civil War.

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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, W. W. Morrison Collection, Collection Number 323, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by W. W. Morrison at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Received from W.W. Morrison in 1954 and 1973 and from the Morrison family in 1986 and 1993.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in 1986. This collection was updated in November 2025 by Brittany Heye.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Donner Party
  • Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.)
  • Latter Day Saint--History
  • Latter Day Saints
  • Latter Day Saints--United States
  • Latter Day Saints--West (U.S.)--History
  • Massacres
  • Massacres--United States
  • Massacres--Wyoming
  • Overland journeys to the Pacific.
  • Pony express
  • Trails -- United States.

Corporate Names

  • Union Pacific Railroad Company

Geographical Names

  • California National Historic Trail
  • Kansas
  • Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Oregon National Historic Trail
  • Overland Trails.
  • Utah
  • Wyoming
  • washigton (State)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries.

Processed by Brittany Heye
2025

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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