Contact: Sara Davis, 307-777-7826; wyarchive@wyo.gov

 

Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series Features Archivist Leslie Waggener

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – February 5, 2025 – The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series is proud to present Archivist Leslie Waggener on Thursday, February 13, at 7 p.m. Waggener will discuss the historical impact of the second Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in Wyoming.

 

The event will occur in the State Museum Classroom at 2301 Central Avenue, Cheyenne. For those unable to attend in person, online participation is available via Eventbrite at eventbrite.com/o/wyoming-state-archives-49902991693. Virtual and in-person attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with Waggener. Admission is free and open to the public.

 

In her presentation, Waggener will examine the rise of the KKK in Wyoming, its strategies, and the societal impacts of its actions on local communities and politics. She aims to illuminate how these events influenced community identities and the state's political landscape, as outlined in her article "KKK Country: How Wyoming Embraced the Second Ku Klux Klan," published in the Winter 2024 issue of Annals of Wyoming. 

 

Waggener became a faculty archivist at the American Heritage Center (AHC) at the University of Wyoming in 2000 and has worked with various historical materials in reference, processing, and acquisition areas. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Archeological Studies and a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, she currently serves as an archivist for the Alan K. Simpson Institute of Western Politics and Leadership at the AHC. 

 

The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series holds monthly talks at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday. Upcoming topics include a discussion on Women's History by the staff of the Wyoming State Museum on March 13 and a presentation by Kent Hargraves about the Ochre Sunrise Mine on April 10. For a complete list of events, visit wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/about-archives/events. Recordings of each talk will be available on the Wyoming State Archives' YouTube channel the week following the event.

 

The Wyoming State Archives (WSA) collects, manages, and preserves public records with long-term administrative, legal, and historical significance. These records document our state's history and Wyoming government offices' operations. Additionally, WSA collects non-government records that enhance our understanding of the state's history.

 

For more information or assistance, please contact the Wyoming State Archives at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 307-777-7826. The Wyoming State Archives complies with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines for accessibility.