Early Wyoming Photographers graphic


Courtesy image


This Wyoming State Archives is partnering with the Jim Gatchel Memorial Museum in Buffalo to bring you “Early Wyoming Photographers” presented by Jennifer Romanoski, museum educator at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, and Suzi Taylor, photo and reference archivist at the Wyoming State Archives. 

This special event will be held on Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at the Johnson County Library, located at 171 North Adams Avenue in Buffalo.

The State Archives will host a viewing party at the State Museum Classroom at 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne. For those not able to attend in person, registration to attend the event online is through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/wyoming-state-archives-49902991693. Virtual and in-person attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage with the presenters. This event is free and open to the public.

This presentation will focus on early photography in Wyoming. Jennifer Romanaski will share a history of photographers George and Thomas Dalgleish and the Dalgleish Bros. Studios, whose photographs are part of the collections at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum. Suzi Taylor will discuss the history of photography in Wyoming circa 1867-World War I. This part of the presentation will focus on the photographers’ training, subject specialties, and much more.

Jennifer Romanoski has been the museum educator at the National-Medal-winning Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum since 2009. She has a Master’s Degree in Museum Education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She recently authored the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum book from Arcadia Publishing in 2023.

Suzi Taylor has worked for the Wyoming State Archives as a reference and photo archivist since 2006. She holds a BA in History from the University of Wyoming. While at the University, she concentrated on public history, including classes in archival work and a practicum at the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center.

Taylor has been involved in many projects and outreach efforts such as the Wyoming State Archives Evening Speaker Series, Wyoming Flood Map project, Wyoming Penitentiary Inmate Database, Women’s Suffrage in Wyoming, and presentations on Wyoming Community Cookbook collections. She specializes in photographic preservation and access.

Taylor will also be hosting a free photographic identification and care workshop at the Johnson County Library from 1-5 p.m. on June 12 and June 13. The workshop is sponsored by the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum and the Wyoming State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) with funding from the NHPRC. The Wyoming State Archives, a unit within the agency of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, facilitates SHRAB. For more information and to register for the workshop, visit the website https://wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/news-events. Note that this workshop will be held in the Twing Room.

The WSA Speaker Series hosts talks at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Upcoming topics include the Independence Rock State Historic Site on July 11 and historian Larry Skogen presenting on Estelle Reel, educator and the first woman elected to Wyoming public office as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, on August 8. To view upcoming events, check out the Wyoming State Archives events calendar at https://wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/about-archives/events. A recording of this talk will be available on the WSA YouTube channel the week following the talk.

The Wyoming State Archives collects, manages, and preserves Wyoming state public records that have long-term administrative, legal, and historical value. These records document the history of our state and the activities of Wyoming Government offices. The Archives also collect non-government records that contribute to the understanding of the state’s history.