HISTORIAN DAN LYON TO GIVE TALK ON UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD’S HIRING OF JAPANESE WORKERS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACED

Wyoming Historian Dan Lyon will be presenting “Before Heart Mountain; Union Pacific Railroad’s Controversial Hiring of Japanese Immigrant Labor” on October 14,  at 7 p.m. in the Wyoming State Museum classroom, located at 2301 Central Avenue. This public talk is part of Lyon’s ongoing research on Japanese communities across Wyoming.

Lyon credits his inspiration to research the Japanese Rail Road community in Cheyenne to Jim Allison of the Wyoming State Museum, as well as his desire to discover and share the overlooked stories and history. Lyon was also motivated by his cultural heritage; his maternal side of the family is 100 percent Japanese.

Lyon is an accomplished and award-winning writer, and the author of “Wyoming Girl Guards: The Forgotten Women’s Militia,” published by History Press. Lyon became interested in the military and Wyoming’s Forgotten History while assigned to the Warren ICBM and Heritage Museum at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. During his assignment, he contributed to the museum’s selection for the Air Force Space Command Museum of the Year Award.

This event is open to the public and the first of several talks sponsored by the Wyoming State Archives, as part of American Archives Month in October. Attendees may participate in-person on Thursday, October 14, at 7 p.m. by visiting the Wyoming State Museum classroom, located at 2301 Central Avenue. The State Museum Store will be open and copies of Lyon’s books will be available to purchase and be autographed. Lyon’s talk will also be live streamed on the Archive’s Facebook page, and uploaded to our YouTube channel following the talk.

Please look for notifications of future talks as they are scheduled throughout the upcoming year. The State Archives is located in the Barrett Building first floor, 2301 Central Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82002. For further information, contact Sara Davis, State Archivist, at 307-777-8691 or email at sara.davis.wyo.gov.

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

The Wyoming State Archives is accessible according to the American with Disabilities Act guidelines. If you require special assistance, please contact the Wyoming State Archives at 307-777-7826.