CHEYENNE, Wyo. – May 26, 2026 – The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series is proud to welcome acclaimed author and historian Dr. Martha Sandweiss on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Sandweiss will discuss her latest work, Girl in the Middle: A Recovered History of the American West, unraveling a mystery captured in a single, haunting photograph from 1868.
The presentation centers on an image taken by celebrated Civil War photographer Alexander Gardner during federal treaty negotiations with the Lakota at Fort Laramie. While the powerful men in the photograph—including federal peace commissioners—are meticulously named in historical records, the young Native girl wrapped in a blanket at the center of the frame remained anonymous for over a century.
In Girl in the Middle, Sandweiss identifies the child as Sophie Mousseau and traces her life through the turbulent era of Reconstruction and westward expansion. The book weaves together the stories of those around her, including Gardner himself, the slave-owning Union General William S. Harney, and the abolitionist Samuel F. Tappan.
"This is more than a biography of a photograph," says archivist Robin Everett. "It is a window into how the American nation grappled with its identity as it expanded westward in the aftermath of the Civil War."
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees may participate in person or virtually. Both formats will include a live Q&A session following the presentation.
- Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
- In-Person Location: Wyoming State Capitol Extension Auditorium, 200 W. 24th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002.
- Virtual Attendance: Registration is required for the online livestream via Eventbrite at: eventbrite.com/o/wyoming-state-archives-49902991693.
About the Speaker
Martha A. Sandweiss is professor emerita of history at Princeton University and the founding director of the Princeton & Slavery Project. She is the award-winning author of several books, including Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception across the Color Line and Print the Legend: Photography and the American West.
About the Wyoming State Archives
The Wyoming State Archives collects, manages, and preserves public records and non-government materials that document the state’s history and the activities of its government. The Speaker Series is held on the second Thursday of each month. For a complete calendar of events, visit wyoarchives.wyo.gov.
The Wyoming State Archives is fully accessible in accordance with ADA guidelines. For special assistance requests, please contact Sara Davis.
Contact: Sara Davis, (307) 777-7826; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.