AHJ_ah00807 Inventory of the Louisa A. Swain Materials, circa 1860-1960 Swain, Louisa A. Processed by D. Claudia Thompson 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 D. Claudia Thompson October 2006 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Swain, Louisa A. Louisa A. Swain materials circa 1860-1960 00807 .92 cubic ft. (1 box) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Artifacts, photograph, clipping, and correspondence pertaining to the first woman voter in Wyoming. Louisa Swain cast her ballot in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1870. Biography of Louisa Swain

In 1869, the Wyoming Territorial Legislature became the first government in modern history to approve general and unconditional female suffrage, which also granted women the right to hold office. In 1870, Louisa Swain was the first woman to vote under Wyoming's Suffrage Act. Louisa Swain was born Louisa Gardiner in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1801. She married Stephen Swain, and the couple moved with their four children to what later became Wyoming Territory. When Wyoming Territory was organized in 1869, women's suffrage was written into the constitution, giving Mrs. Swain, and other women who were resident in the territory and who were United States citizens, the right to vote on an equal basis with men. Louisa Swain, who was residing in Laramie, Wyoming, was the first to cast a ballot.

 Scope and Content

The Louisa A. Swain collection contains a christening gown and an infant garment hand-stitched by Louisa Swain; a woman's embroidered scarf; a silver teaspoon (engraved LS to MC); a china saucer which Louisa Swain carried with her to the west; a photograph of Louisa Swain (circa 1865); a newspaper clipping about Louisa Swain titled "Taming the Wild West" (circa 1950); and correspondence describing the donation of the materials to the University of Wyoming.

 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 are no known other archival collections created by Louisa A. Swain at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

The material was received from Edna C. Evans, great-granddaughter of Louisa Swain, in May 1960.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by D. Claudia Thompson in October 2006 and revised by D. Claudia Thompson in July 2019.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Location of Originals

Artifacts are on extended loan for an indefinite period to the Wyoming Women's History House in Laramie, Wyoming.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~47~47.

 Access Terms Women--Suffrage--Wyoming Women--United States--19th century Wyoming--Politics and government Wyoming--To 1889 Artifacts <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Politics, Government, and Law Civic Activism Women Wyoming Container List 1 Infant christening gown, hand-stitched (on loan to Wyoming Women's History House) circa 1860 2 Infant pinafore, lace trim, hand-stitched (on loan to Wyoming Women's History House) circa 1860 3 Woman's scarf, embroidered (on loan to Wyoming Women's History House) circa 1860 4 Newspaper clipping, "Taming the Wild West", from Baltimore Sun? circa 1950 5 Silver teaspoon, engraved "LS to MC (on loan to Wyoming Women's History House) undated 6 Porcelain saucer, white with gold edge (on loan to Wyoming Women's History House) circa 1860 7 Photograph of Louisa A. Swain (copy print) circa 1865 8 Correspondence, Edna C. Evans to T.A. Larson, describing artifacts (photocopy and transcript) 1960