Schedule of Talks, Meetings and Public Presentations
Phil's speaking schedule for remainder of summer 2008 (tentative and subject to change):
July 24-25: excursion to South Pass City with group from the National Endowment for the Humanities teachers' workshop
Aug. 1: presentation to Leadership Wyoming
Aug. 12: departure for Sharjah and Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sept. 13: trip to South Pass City with History of Wyoming summer travel group (make-up for missed portion of summer trip)
Sept. 19-20: tour guide for Wyoming Rendezvous, new faculty tour of the state
Phil spoke, in the park next to the Laramie train depot, with students participating in the summer honors program at the Allen L. Cook Spring Creek Preserve, operated by the University of Pittsburgh, near Rock River. He talked about the history of land ownership patterns and how it influenced Western development. The informal presentation was held on Statehood Day, July 10.
Phil presented the inaugural lecture for the newly re-instituted Fort Caspar summer lecture series at Fort Caspar Museum on July 9. He spoke on the significance of the railroads to the creation and development of Wyoming and various towns in the state. The program, partially funded by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities, will include lectures throughout July and early August on various aspects of regional history and culture.
On July 1, 2008, Phil visited over lunch with diplomats from India who were traveling throughout the West as guests of the Asia Foundation.
Phil was guest lecturer for a class at LCCC, speaking on the Wyoming Constitution, June 25.
During the week of June 8-14, Phil was the history guide on a tour of Wyoming history sites. Stops included Fort Laramie, Devils Tower, Gillette coal mines, Johnson County War sites, Sheridan, Casper, and Cody area sites, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the Wind River reservation, Lander, and Rawlins. The 34 participants included numerous UW alumni. The trip was organized and coordinated by Heather Landers and John Scozzafava, Center for Conferences & Continuing Education, Outreach School, and Barbara Barnes, formerly of that division.
Thirty-four people participated in the History of Wyoming tour, sponsored by the Center for Conferences & Continuing Education, a division of the Outreach School, June 8-14. Many members of the group are pictured here at the Albright Overlook, north of Jackson.
Phil spoke to summer classes in history at LCCC on the history of Wyoming at the end of May.
Phil worked with a group of museum consultants, local historians, museum board members, and two other UW faculty in planning sessions for the newly proposed Washakie County Museum and Cultural Center to be built in Worland in the next couple of years.
Phil participated in the planning sessions for the Washakie County Museum and Cultural Center to be constructed in Worland in the next two years. Pictured are (l to r): Seth Frankel, managing director of ECOS; board member Celia Davis; Dr. George Frison, June Frison, Jennifer Chapman, senior exhibit director, ECOS. The two-day planning sessions were held June 3-4, 2008.
Phil presented a brief overview of the history of oil in Wyoming to the noon meeting of the Laramie Rotary Club on May 15, 2008.
Phil led a walking tour of downtown Laramie for Phi Alpha Theta's final meeting of the semester May 8. Phi Alpha Theta is the history honorary. Following the tour, the group had dinner at a local restaurant.
Phil spoke in Cheyenne May 5 on the history of the Masonic order in Wyoming to a group of Masons.
Phil was quoted on the Hispanic heritage in Wyoming as part of a three-article series published in the Rawlins Daily Times May 2. Daily Times reporter Clancy McGilligan wrote the stories.
Phil's biography was featured in the Lusk Herald, April 30, 2008. The article was written by Angela Wiltse and Robert Waggener. Wiltse was a photography student in Prof. Waggener's course this spring and the article was originally part of a class assignment..
On April 15, 2008, Phil accompanied several employees of the State Parks and Cultural Resources Department to the State Capitol. He testified before a legislative committee on the progress of the Wyoming Blue Book, a project on which he is chief editor. Some of the hearing highlights were summarized in state newspapers the following day.
Phil was guest lecturer in a class March 25 in the history of the American West. He discussed issues of Western politics in the early 20th century.
Phil was guest lecturer in the Wyoming State Museum Annual Lecture Series on March 13, 2008. He spoke on "Legalizing Liquor, Talking Taxes, and Shrinking Government: How the 1933 Wyoming Legislature Dealt with the Great Depression."
Phil read his essay on the near-repeal of women suffrage on "Open Spaces," the magazine program of Wyoming Public Radio, broadcast on Feb. 22, 2008.
On Feb. 21, Phil spoke to two LCCC classes on the Wyoming Constitution.
Phil spoke Feb. 12 to a group of teachers from northwestern Wyoming who were in Laramie visiting the American Heritage Center as part of the Teaching American History project in Teton County.
Phil's article on "cowboy health care" in the 1880s appeared in the January 2008 issue of Sage, a magazine published for seniors in Wyoming. The issue was circulated as a supplement to the Casper Star-Tribune in mid-February.
Phil spoke to Dr. Pete Simpson's class in political science on Jan. 29. He talked about comparisons and contrasts between the two Wyoming state nicknames of "Equality State" and "Cowboy State."
On Jan. 18, 2008, Phil read his essay on radioactivity on "Open Spaces," the magazine program of Wyoming Public Radio.
Phil was interviewed on XM's POTUS08 radio on the topic of Wyoming politics on Jan. 4, 2008.
On Dec. 20, 2007, Phil was interviewed by Nancy Weidel of UWTV for a forthcoming broadcast of Wyoming Signatures.
Phil accompanied Roger Joyce, Milward Simpson and other officials from the State Parks and Cultural Resources Department to a legislative hearing on Nov. 19. At the meeting, Phil reported on progress for the new edition of Wyoming Blue Book that he is editing, with support from the State Archives division of SPCR. For the first time, the Blue Book will include a website containing much of the information drawn from the printed volume. Printing of the Blue Book is set for April 2008 with distribution scheduled for the following month.
Phil and two other history faculty, Dr. Kris Utterback and Dr. Mark Potter, met with various community college faculty at the annual history articulation conference Nov. 9-10. This year's session was held on the campus of Central Wyoming College in Riverton.
Articulation Meeting at Central Wyoming College: History faculty from UW, Eastern Wyoming College, Sheridan College, Northwest College and Central Wyoming College met Nov. 10 to discuss issues common to history instruction in the state. (Phil Roberts photo)
Lewis and Clark Redux? Prof. Kristine Utterback directs Prof. Mark Potter, the driver, toward the trail, ("It's that-a-way....") en route home from the articulation meeting in Riverton Nov. 10. Phil Roberts photo
The UP Railroad class, team-taught by Rob Godby and Phil, traveled to Cheyenne Nov. 3 to visit the UP Railroad Shops. Lynn Nystrom conducted the tour. The group also stopped at Holliday Park to look at the "Big Boy" locomotive. This was the third trip the class took to various historic locations important to railroad history.
Author/historian Dr. L. Milton Woods spoke at a lunch seminar for Phil's "Conference, Wyoming and the West" class Oct. 26. Dr. Woods spoke on aspects of writing history and biography. A native of Wyoming and UW graduate, he holds the Ph.D. in history from NYU. He retired some years ago as an executive with Mobil Oil Corporation.
Phil spoke to Patty Kessler's history class at LCCC on October 24. His topic was the Wyoming Constitution.
On October 23, 2007, Phil was on a panel speaking to a UW Synergy class taught by April Heaney. Other panelists were William Moore from the History Department and Larry Hubbell from Political Science. The panel discussed the images of 9-11 and the historical and political impact of the incident.
Phil spoke to the Laramie County Historical Society on Oct. 21. He talked about Wyoming myths and what they say about Wyoming's self-image and heritage. The meeting, attended by about 50 people, was held in the new Laramie County Library in Cheyenne.
Phil presented the October program for the Albany County Historical Society. His topic was the Prohibition bureau and its first case in Wyoming. The presentation was in the Alice Hardie Stevens Center, Laramie Plains Museum, on Oct. 16, 2007.
Phil spoke to a Wyoming history class October 16, 2007, at LCCC in Laramie. His topic was the Wyoming Constitution.
Phil was dinner speaker for the annual banquet of the Albany County Genealogical Society on Oct. 8, held at the Laramie IOOF Hall. He spoke about the Wyoming quarter and how the cowboy on the bucking horse as well as the slogan, "The Equality State," may be used to teach history of Wyoming.
On October 4-5, 2007, Phil was scheduled to serve as paper commenter at the annual meeting of the Western History Association in Oklahoma City, but he was unable to attend due to a sudden illness.
Phil conducted his usual "campus walkabout" for the Outreach School on Sept. 22. The group viewed buildings on the west campus and Phil talked about various personalities and events associated with the history of the campus buildings. This is the second "walking tour" this year, the earlier one taking place in the summer.
The class on the history of the railroad in Wyoming took a field trip on the afternoon of Sept. 18 to various historic sites east of Laramie, visiting Ames Monument, the former townsite of Sherman and, on as a result of the special courtesy of the owner of the private land on which it is located, the Dale Creek Trestle site. On September 29, the class journeyed to the old ghost town of Carbon and viewed other locations in eastern Carbon County that were important to the history of the railroad. After lunch in Medicine Bow, the class returned to Laramie.
On the evening of September 14, 2007: Phil served as moderator for a panel of seven authors/historians discussing issues of Wyoming "fact and fiction." The event kicked off the 1st annual Wyoming Book Festival. Panel participants were: Dr. Pete Simpson, Wyoming historian and distinguished professor at UW; Dr. Martin Murie, zoology professor, author and naturalist; Dr. Kathy Gear, author, novelist, archaeologist and buffalo rancher; William Bradford Ross, Washington, D.C., businessman and grandson of Gov. Nellie Tayloe Ross; Candy Moulton, Wyoming author and historian, Encampment; Sam Western, Sheridan-area writer and correspondent for The Economist. The event was held in the historic UP Depot in Cheyenne, now the Transportation Museum.
As a member of the Coin Advisory Commission, Phil attended the official unveiling ceremonies for the new coin in the state quarter series honoring Wyoming.. The director of the U. S. Mint, the governor, all elected statewide officials and two U. S. Senators from Wyoming attended the event held in the Cheyenne Civic Center on September 14. Pete Williams was master of ceremonies and the UW band performed.
On August 15, 2007, Phil was keynote speaker for a summer session for Wyoming public school teachers participating in the "We the People" program sponsored by the Wyoming Partnership for Civic Education (WYPCE). A joint program between the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center (AHC) and the College of Education provides civic education programs that benefit Wyoming public school teachers and students.
Phil's essay on "Wyoming: Equality State or Cowboy State?" aired August 10 on KUWR's award-winning locally-produced program, "Open Spaces."
As a member of the Wyoming Coin Commission, Phil attended the "strike ceremony" for the new Wyoming quarter. The event was held at the U. S. Mint in Denver.
About a dozen people accompanied Phil on his August 4 "walking tour" of the University of Wyoming campus. He conducts the tour periodically for interested townspeople and others. The event was sponsored by UW Outreach.
Phil spoke to the Leadership Wyoming class of 2007 during the class "orientation" on August 2. He spoke on Wyoming history.
Phil's commentary on Wyoming Public Radio on June 29, 2007, argued that future senatorial vacancies in Wyoming ought to be filled by special election rather than through the 1993 appointment procedures in current state law. He read his essay on "Open Spaces," the WPR-produced weekly magazine.
Phil presented a talk on "Buffalo Bill, A Cave and the 'Delisting' of a National Monument" as part of the the University of Wyoming AMK Ranch's annual summer seminar series in Grand Teton National Park July 26. The talk was preceded by a barbecue that had to be moved inside due to heavy rains throughout the late afternoon and evening. The ranch, a research facility jointly owned by the UW and National Park Service, is located on the shores of Jackson Lake, north of Colter Bay. About 40 people attended the barbecue and the talk that followed.
Phil read an essay on Wyoming Public Radio July 7. He spoke on how Wyoming governors once wanted to go to Washington to serve in the U. S. Senate, but in the last quarter century, it is no longer a common practice. The essay may be heard on the following link:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wpr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1110668
During the week of June 11-17, Phil was interviewed and quoted frequently concerning the history of senatorial selection in Wyoming. For the UW News Service story about senatorial selection history, click here.
Phil's commentary on Wyoming Public Radio argued that future senatorial vacancies in Wyoming ought to be filled by special election rather than the 1993 appointment procedures in current state law. He read his essay on "Open Spaces," the WPR-produced weekly magazine, broadcast on June 29.
Great Pyramids near Cairo, Egypt. Phil Roberts photograph.
Phil was one of a half dozen Wyomingites who appeared on the Wyoming segment of the History Channel series titled "The States." The Wyoming portion was broadcast on June 2.
Phil attended the dedication ceremonies May 30 at the Laramie post office during which the building was named in honor of former UW faculty member and U. S. Senator Gale McGee. Click for a photo and brief description of the event.
On May 27, 2007, Phil's article on the history of Wyoming oil, coal and energy was published in the special "energy edition" of the Sunday Wyoming Tribune-Eagle.
Phil was quoted extensively in an article about "great blizzards" in Wyoming history in the Laramie Boomerang's "Progress Edition" in late April 2007.
Phil spoke to the Laramie chapter of PEO on May 10 about highlights in writing the Wyoming Almanac.
Phil was quoted in an article in the Casper Star-Tribune in mid-May on the history of cattle brands and the political influences on the livestock board in history.
May 1 and 6, 2007: Phil spoke about the first women to serve on a jury in a brief introduction for the broadcast program, "Inside a Wyoming Jury," produced by Wyoming Public Television and the Wyoming State Bar. The program premiered on May 1 and was rebroadcast on May 6.
Phil was the speaker in Casper at the annual banquet meeting of the Natrona County Historical Society and Oregon Trail Association on April 19. His talk was titled: "The Fetterman Fight, the Johnson County War, and Lessons Unlearned in Wyoming History: A 21st Century Retrospective."
On April 3, 2007, Phil spoke to the annual Laramie Lyceum as the opening talk for their program. He talked about Laramie during what has been called the "boring years," pointing out that the 1870s period actually was a time of significant events in the community's history.
On March 20, Phil spoke to Patty Kessler's classes at LCCC on the Wyoming Constitution.
Phil spoke Feb. 22 to a Wyoming History class taught by former student Mary Ludwig in Cheyenne at LCCC on the Wyoming Constitution.
Phil presented a two-day workshop on Wyoming and its role in women suffrage in Jackson on Feb. 12-13 to the Greater Yellowstone American History Project. The workshop was held in the historic Jackson Playhouse. About 30 public school teachers from western Wyoming were workshop participants.
Phil spoke to Dr. Pete Simpson's class on Wyoming politics January 23. His presentation contrasted the two concepts of "Wyoming: Equality State" and "Wyoming: Cowboy State."
Joan Barron of the Casper Star-Tribune interviewed Phil in late December about the "Wyoming connections" of the late President Gerald R. Ford. The article appeared in the Star-Tribune on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006.
Phil was quoted extensively on the history of Ames Monument in a feature story published in the Sunday Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Nov. 19, 2006. The article also appeared in other Wyoming newspapers later in the month.
Phil was guest lecturer in two classes at UW during the week of Nov. 6-10. He spoke on various aspects of historical publishing to a Public History class and on the influence of history on politics to an introductory anthropology class.
Phil presented a lecture on the Wyoming Constitution to an American history class at Laramie County Community College on Oct. 31.
Phil participated in the 1st annual Equality State Book Festival events in Casper on Oct. 19-20. He interviewed famed lawyer and author Gerry Spence before a large crowd on the campus of Casper College on Thursday. On Friday, he served as moderator for two panels on "What Really Happened at Martin's Cove?" Those panels were held at the Casper's National Historic Trails Center.
The University of Wyoming chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary, invited Phil and two other history professors (Drs. Potter and Bauer) to informally discuss how students may go about selecting graduate programs in the field and on strategies for succeeding in graduate programs. Phi Alpha Theta is the national history honorary. The informal meeting was held October 16.
Phil spoke to a group of teachers in Casper on the "triumph and tragedy" involved in the winter of 1886-87 on Oct. 16. The teachers were attending a workshop on Wyoming History Day and "triumph and tragedy" is the 2007 theme for History Day.
Phil was guest speaker at the annual banquet of the Albany County Genealogical Society on Oct. 10. He spoke on the Scottish influence on territorial Wyoming.
Phil served as "history guide" for the 9th annual "Rendezvous Tour," Sept. 28-Oct. 1, an opportunity for new UW faculty and staff to meet people around the state and state residents to meet new UW personnel. This year's tour went to Buffalo, Gillette, and Casper. Along with visits to historic sites such as the TA Ranch near Buffalo and the Trail Center at Casper, the group toured a buffalo ranch and the Big Thunder coal mine.
Phil presented the university's lecture to commemorate Constitution Day on Sept. 18, 2006. He spoke on the constitutional aspects of the 1947 textbook controversy at the University of Wyoming. He spoke at the UW Student Union. For the text on which the talk was based, click here: UW Textbook Controversy
Phil gave an afternoon historical walking tour of the University of Wyoming campus to a visiting group for the UW College of Engineering on Sept. 15. The visitors were on campus with the college's national advisory board.
On Sept. 13, 2006, Phil spoke to Prof. Willy Bauer's graduate course in history. He spoke about the history of teaching history at UW.
During the weekend of September 8-10, Phil attended the annual meeting of the Wyoming State Historical Society, held this year in Sundance and at Ranch A near Beulah. A life member of the organization, Phil serves as chair of the Society's Publications Committee.
Phil was guest speaker at Prof. Ted Lauer's legal history class at the UW College of Law. He spoke on the history of law in Wyoming and the sources for study of legal history on August 30, 2006.
Phil was interviewed by Bob Beck of Wyoming Public Radio in late August on the topic of incumbency in past Wyoming elections. A segment of the interview was broadcast on KUWR's "Open Spaces" on August 24.
A production company working with the History Channel was in Laramie in late August. Phil was interviewed about general aspects of Wyoming history.
Phil was "history speaker" for the 2007 class of "Leadership Wyoming." The session was held in Laramie on August 10, 2006.
In early August 2006, Phil participated in a panel on using primary documents in teaching history at the annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists in Washington, D. C. He spoke on using primary documents to teach university freshman-level courses. Other speakers in the panel were Dr. Carol Bryant, UW College of Education, and Rick Ewig, American Heritage Center. Carol Bowers from AHC was panel chair.
In July 2006, Phil was a speaker and "tour guide" for two NEH-sponsored workshops in late July, both titled "Landmarks of American History: Women's Suffrage on the Western Frontier." Participants were public school teachers from throughout the United States. The program was co-sponsored by the NEH, the Wyoming Council for the Humanities and the American Heritage Center. He also was part of panel discussions on the topic of women's suffrage in Wyoming and the West. The programs were held the last two weeks of July with approximately 40 participants in each week-long session. Each one-week seminar included trips to South Pass City and Cheyenne as well as work with primary documents in the American Heritage Center, UW, and the Wyoming State Archives. For more photographs and information about the program, see http://ahc.uwyo.edu/eduoutreach/neh/default.htm
The UW Outreach School sponsored a walking tour of the "west" campus at UW on July 8. Phil led the tour, describing the history of the buildings, noting historical events that happened at various places on campus, and explaining the backgrounds of individuals for whom university buildings were named. About 15 people were on the tour, held on a very rainy Saturday morning.
Phil spoke to Patty Kessler's History of Wyoming class at LCCC in early July. His topic was the history of the Wyoming Constitutional Convention.
Phil was guest speaker for a senior-level seminar in the history of the "silk road." He spoke on the role of oil in the nations through which the "silk road" passed.
In mid-April, Phil served as one of the judges for the moot court exercises in the UW law school's appellate advocacy course.
Phil was guest lecturer in April in a course on History of the American West. He spoke on Western politics.
Phil spoke to two classes at Laramie County Community College Feb. 28 on the topic of the Wyoming Constitution and its history.
Phil served as moderator for a three-paper session for the conference on "Railroads and Dinosaurs." The symposium, held Feb. 20-21 at the American Heritage Center, UW, was jointly sponsored by the American Heritage Center and the Geological Museum. Phil also served on the symposium planning committee.
In January 2006, Phil was appointed chairman of the Wyoming State Historical Society's Publications Committee. The group is responsible for overseeing the Society's publications, including Annals of Wyoming and Wyoming History News.
Phil spoke to the Phi Alpha Theta history honorary Nov. 21 on the history of oil development in Azerbaijan.
Phil spoke to Carol Bowers' public history class at UW in late October. His topic was the fossil cabin between Medicine Bow and Rock River.
The Department of History presented the ninth annual Susan Horton Cone Family Distinguished lecture on Sept. 22. This year's Cone Distinguished lecturer was Dr. Jere Bacharach, former director of the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, and former chair of the History Department at Washington. Dr. Bacharach spoke on "Architecture of Islamic Power" at the public lecture. He also met with classes and spoke with graduate students about Middle East specializations.
Phil was one of two faculty from the University of Wyoming history department who participated in the inaugural EnCana Corporation lecture series and dedication ceremonies for the Wyoming Women's History House in downtown Laramie over the weekend of Sept. 17. In the EnCana-sponsored lectures, Phil spoke on "Why Wyoming?"--why did women's suffrage happened in Wyoming first? Dr. Kris Utterback from the UW Department of History chaired a panel on women in the political arena.
Phil attended the executive committee meeting of the Wyoming State Historical Society in early September. The group heard a presentation by Phil Noble and Art Reese from the State Department of Parks and Cultural Resources in which they pledged further support for the Society. Later, Phil was appointed to a committee charged with reviewing the proposal.
Phil spoke recently with students in Dr. Pete Simpson's class on Wyoming politics. His topic was Wyoming: The Equality State or the Cowboy State?
Phil spoke on Wyoming's experience with teaching history and government in public schools at the 2005 summer workshop for Wyoming Partnership for Civic Education, held at the American Heritage Center on August 8. This year's workshop topic was "Educating for Democracy: Building Public Trust and Confidence in Government." Phil serves on the doctoral committee for Kristi Wallin who was one of the workshop organizers.
For the sixth consecutive year, Phil was invited to speak to the Leadership Wyoming class on leaders in Wyoming history. This year, he spoke about the various "organizing concepts" in the state's history and what each says about the history of Wyoming leadership. Forty of the state's leaders and future leaders participate each year in the program co-sponsored by the Wyoming Business Alliance and the University of Wyoming. The presentation to the orientation session of 2005 Leadership Wyoming was made in Laramie on August 4, 2005.
Phil spoke to two U. S. history classes at Laramie County Community College during early July. Both lectures were on the Wyoming Constitution and the context for its original drafting in 1889.
Phil was one of five panelists appearing on a live broadcast/telecast June 30 on humanities issues in Wyoming. The program, simulcast on Wyoming Public Television and Wyoming Public Radio, was broadcast live from the Riverton Branch Library in Riverton. Other panelists were Gov. Dave Freudenthal, his wife Nancy, Caroline Mills from the Wind River Reservation, and Dave Reetz from Powell Valley Economic Development. Bob Beck, news director of KUWR, was moderator of the hour-long program.
Wyoming Public Radio interviewed Phil (and history colleague Dr. Pete Simpson) for a segment broadcast June 1 on Wyoming's self-image. Bob Beck conducted the half-hour interview as part of the regular evening program titled "Wyoming Today."
Phil conducted research in Scotland during May and early June on the various connections between Wyoming and Scotland, including Scots investment in the 1880s cattle industry on the Wyoming plains.
Phil was elected chair of the University Graduate Council for 2005-2006 at the council's final meeting of the academic term in late April. He completed his first year on the council, having been elected to serve representing the College of Arts and Sciences faculty last May.
Phil attended a meeting of university and community college instructors who teach courses on the Wyoming and U. S. Constitutions. The meeting, chaired by Dr. Rollin Abernethy, was held at Casper College on April 23.
The Public Mural Planning Committee (Paredes Hablando) met at the Uniwyo Credit Union meeting room in late April to develop a plan for murals in the Lincoln Community Center. Phil was one of two humanities scholars working with the Laramie group.
Former U. S. Ambassador Thomas Stroock spoke to Phil's History of Wyoming class on April 6. Later, Phil interviewed him about his years in the Wyoming legislature. The oral history interview was a project of the American Heritage Center.
On March 21, 2005, former Interior Secretary James Watt was a guest speaker in Phil's Wyoming history class. Also, Secretary Watt participated in a panel titled "Through the Rearview Mirror: Wyoming's Parks, Public Lands and Politics," sponsored by the American Heritage Center. Phil participated on a panel with Dr. Amanda Rees, Dept. of Geography; Dr. Gregg Cawley, Dept. of Political Science; and former Senator Al Simpson. Dr. Peter K. Simpson was panel moderator.
Phil served as volunteer pledge speaker during a half dozen "pledge breaks" on Wyoming Public Television on March 5. Memberships to Wyoming Public TV were taken during breaks in the program, Wyoming Voices, produced by Wyoming Public Television. Phil served as advisor on the project and also appeared in various on-camera segments.
Phil spoke to a Wyoming history class at LCCC on the Wyoming Constitution on Feb. 24.
Phil was a guest speaker in a University of Wyoming College of Law class on intellectual property law recently. He spoke about the history of the trademarking of the "Wyoming bucking horse."
On Feb. 12, Phil met with other members of a committee convened to propose the painting of a mural in the Lincoln Community Center.
In December, 2004, Gov. Freudenthal appointed Phil to the Wyoming Coinage Advisory Commission. The group of Wyoming citizens comprising the committee will be responsible for helping select the design for the back of the quarter. The "Wyoming quarter" will be released in the fall of 2007.
Phil was guest speaker for Dr. Pete Simpson's class on "Wyoming's Political Identity" January 24. He spoke about how the nicknames of "Equality State" and "Cowboy State" suggest how Wyomingites have developed their "self-image" and how it has influenced the state's politics.
During Christmas break, Phil traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he conducted research on the histories of Scottish investment in the industries of the Rocky Mountain West in the late 19th century.
Phil was quoted recently in an article on the history of gambling in Wyoming, part of a series published by the Casper Star-Tribune in December 2004. He was quoted on how gambling nearly became legalized in Wyoming during the 1930s.
The Arts and Sciences College newsletter, "As You Like It," published an article Phil wrote concerning his summer activities in Azerbaijan. He compared and contrasted aspects of Azerbaijan law, culture and history with those in Wyoming.
Phil gave a dinner presentation for the "Cowboy State Coalition" education consortium's two-day workshop held in Laramie at the American Heritage Center Dec. 2-3, 2004. He spoke on the methods used in selecting state lands granted by the federal government to the university and other state institutions at the time of Wyoming statehood.
A photograph of Phil, standing in front of Maiden Tower in Baku, Azerbaijan, and a brief article describing his work there during the summer of 2004 was included in the most recent issue of "Counsel," the twice-annual newsletter published by the University of Wyoming College of Law. The story was in "Class Action," the section featuring activities undertaken recently by UW College of Law graduates. He is a 1977 graduate of the UW College of Law.
Phil presented a day-long seminar on how to utilize Wyoming materials in teaching about constitutional issues. The program, titled "Equality State, Cowboy State: Using Wyoming as a Teaching Tool in the Teaching of American History and the Constitution," was held in Casper on Nov. 10. It was part of the U. S. Department of Education-sponsored grant program developed to assist teachers with instructional tips on social studies education.
Phil gave a community program in Casper on the evening of Nov. 10. He spoke on the USA Patriot Act
Mary Guthrie, executive director of the Wyoming State Bar, spoke to Phil's American Legal History class on Oct. 28. She spoke about the history of women in the legal profession in America.
Phil's enrichment class on the history of Wyoming met each Monday night through October. His theme this year was "Wyoming: Booms and Busts in the Equality State."
Phil began a series of oral history interviews on behalf of the American Heritage Center's oral history program recently. He interviewed the Hon. Thomas Stroock, former U. S. ambassador to Guatemala and long-time Wyoming state senator.
Phil spoke to the October 13 meeting of the Laramie Sunrise Rotary Club. His topic was "rule of law" activities he participated in with ABA-CEELI in Baku, Azerbaijan, earlier this year.
Phil's article on the history of the sales tax in Wyoming was abstracted in the June 22, 2004, issue of Tax Law Abstracts.
On October 7, Phil spoke to a LCCC U. S. history class on the history of the Wyoming Constitutional Convention.
Phil spoke to Carol Bowers' public history class on Oct. 7. He talked about the various aspects of historical publishing.
Phil's book on taxation in Washington was favorably reviewed in the summer, 2004, issue of Western Historical Quarterly.
Albany County Historical Society awards chairman Fran Dickman presented Phil with an award from the county chapter in recognition of his article on the history of Wyoming taxation that appeared in the Wyoming Law Review earlier this year. Phil also received a state award for the article.
Phil
was presented with an engraved clock from the State Historical Society in
appreciation for his work with the society over the past 30 years. The official
presentation was made on behalf of the WSHS board by board member Amy Lawrence
during a meeting of the Albany County Chapter recently.
The Albany County Historical Society heard long-time Wyoming State Historical Society member Phil Roberts talk about the oil history of Azerbaijan, with comparisons to oil development in Wyoming, at the chapter's September meeting on Sept. 21. He showed slides illustrating some of the facets of the petroleum history in that country, located along the Caspian Sea in southeastern Europe. Roberts recently returned from an assignment in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the American Bar Association's Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA-CEELI) where he and a team of law professors from the U. S. and Azerbaijan assisted in establishing two new law schools in that country.
During the weekend of Sept. 18-19, Phil attended the "harvest festival" at the Farm and Ranch Museum (FARM) in Gering, Nebraska. Among the exhibits displayed at the annual event were history exhibits created by the UW Diversity in Agriculture class last spring. Phil serves on the advisory committee for the class taught by Prof. James Wangberg, College of Agriculture, UW. Jack Preston, UW MA student, serves on the museum's board.
Phil was re-elected chair of the University of Wyoming Student Publications Board at the board's first meeting of the academic year held on September 17. He is serving the last year of a three-year term on the board.
Phil spoke to Dr. Willy Bauer's University of Wyoming proseminar in history on Sept. 15. He spoke about the various sources for community history in Wyoming.
On August 5, Phil spoke to the 40 members of the 2004/5 class of Leadership Wyoming. The session was held in the Family Room, Wyoming Student Union, UW. He spoke on how one can study leadership in Wyoming through analyzing various continuing themes in the state's history. That evening, he was a guest at the program's evening banquet held in the UW Foundation House.
Phil's book on taxation in Washington was reviewed in the Journal of American History, June, 2004.
Phil was videotaped for a special CD produced by the University of Wyoming graduate school. He spoke about the Department of History's various graduate programs and the advantages offered to students who enroll in UW's graduate program in history. The taping was done in the American Heritage Center's Rentschler Room.
Phil's book on taxation in Washington was reviewed in the American Historical Review, April 2004.
Phil spent six weeks in Baku, Azerbaijan, working with the American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA-CEELI) during the summer of 2004. He and the legal education team worked with faculty and administrators from two universities--Khazar University and Western University--to develop post-graduate law colleges.
Two UW History Department graduate students presented programs to the Arts and Sciences College Board of Visitors in May. Sarah Bohl, who recently defended her thesis on the career of Estelle Reel, spoke on the research methods she utilized in completing the first monograph-length biography on Reel, the first woman ever elected to a statewide office. Reagan Kaufman, who wrote a paper on African American civil rights in Wyoming, spoke about her research for her Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Both Bohl and Kaufman will be formally awarded their degrees at graduation ceremonies May 15. Phil chaired Bohl's committee and served as second reader on Kaufman's.
Phil won a position on the Graduate Council in elections held by the Arts and Sciences college in early May. He already serves on the UW Committee on Committees, the UW Student Publications Board (chairman during the last academic year), and on the adjunct board of the American Studies program.
Phil participated as a judge for exhibits in the final session of the Diversity in Agriculture class in early May.
Phil served on more than a half dozen MA committees this semester.
Gov. Dave Freudenthal was special guest at Phil's graduate seminar class on the history of Wyoming and the West, on April 22. The governor spoke informally about the Wyoming economy, history, and politics. The governor was accompanied by his chief of staff, Chris Boswell. Dr. Peter K. Simpson also attended along with several members of his spring semester class on Wyoming politics. Ironically, both Phil and Dr. Simpson had run unsuccessfully for governor in the past.
On April 21, Phil spoke at a lunch-time meeting of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary society, at Chadron State College, Nebraska. He spoke on oil and law in the West and Azerbaijan.
Phil attended the annual awards dinner/program for the Student Publications Board, held this year at the train depot on April 16. During the program he was recognized for service as board chairman for the past year. He also presented the "David Roberts Journalism Award," named for his brother and provided by the Publications Board to the best student journalist of the past year. Branding Iron editor-in-chief Kevin Wingert was this year's recipient.
Phil spoke at the monthly meeting of the Wyoming Archeaological Society on April 13. His topic was "delisting" of national monuments, with particular attention to Shoshone Caverns National Monument near Cody.
Carol Bowers and Phil presented one of the programs for the Laramie Lyceum on April 13. The topic was the Rock Springs massacre and the role of then-Territorial Gov. Francis E. Warren in the incident.
Phil's enrichment class on Wyoming history held its first session the first Monday in April. The class will continue for the rest of the Mondays in April.
A half dozen of the essayists who wrote articles for the latest edition of Readings in Wyoming History participated in a book signing at the Wyoming State Museum on April 3. They are (left to right): Shannon Bowen, Phil Roberts, Amanda Rees, D. Claudia Thompson, Carol Bowers, and Carl Hallberg.
Phil was guest speaker at the March 31 meeting of the Weld County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Greeley. He spoke informally on the Fourth Amendment.
Phil spoke to Patty Kessler's History of Wyoming class at Laramie County Community College on March 30. His topic was the history of the Wyoming constitutional convention.
As Albany County Democratic Party chairman, Phil called the 2004 county convention into session in Laramie on March 20. He then turned over the convention to the elected convention officers.
During mid-March, Phil traveled to Azerbaijan where he began preliminary assessments for a project he will be conducting on legal education with a team of lawyers/law professors under the sponsorship of the American Bar Association CEELI program.
Phil's paper on the 1876 visit of the Emperor Dom Pedro of Brazil to America was presented at the annual meeting of the Nineteenth Century Studies Association in St. Louis in mid-March. Phil's history colleague Sarah Bohl attended the conference and, in Phil's absence, read the paper. The scheduled session conflicted with a prior obligation Phil had in Baku, Azerbaijan.
On February 25, Phil presented the first public lecture for the College of Agriculture's speaker series on Diversity in Wyoming Agriculture. The lecture, given in the Family Room of the Student Union Building on campus, was attended by members of Dr. Jim Wangberg's class on Diversity in Agriculture as well as by members of the public. The series is partially underwritten by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities. In his rather long, rambling talk, Phil provided a broad overview and context for agricultural development in Wyoming during the past 150 years.
Phil spoke to Dr. Peter K. Simpson's class on Wyoming's Political Identity on Feb. 3 and 5. He talked about the popularization of the nicknames, "Equality State" and "Cowboy State."
Phil was interviewed in early February by a reporter from the Sioux Falls (S. D.) Argus Leader on the topic of rural landowners' views of government agencies and representatives.
Phil serves on the advisory board for Dr. Jim Wangberg's class on Diversity in Agriculture. He has attended resource meetings and one of the first class sessions of the semester.
Phil was interviewed in December and quoted in the January 7, 2004, issue of Hi Magazine, a general interest magazine in Arabic, published for a world-wide audience. He was quoted on contemporary images of the cowboy.
Phil met with Prof. Nancy Sharp-NtiAsare, director of the ABA/CEELI program in Baku, Azerbaijan, in mid-December. Phil will participate in the program next year involving curriculum advising and development for universities in that country. Sharp-NtiAsare, a lawyer and law professor, also met with University of Wyoming officials while visiting the Laramie campus.
The summer 2003 issue of Annals of Wyoming marks Phil's last as editor, at least for the time being. He started editing Annals (for the second time in his career) in 1995 when the journal moved to Laramie from Cheyenne. Phil has completed a lengthy article on the controversy surrounding the State's relationship with the State Historical Society and how the issues were eventually resolved. The article likely will appear in a future issue of Annals, now edited by Rick Ewig, associate director of the American Heritage Center, UW.
Phil attended his final meeting of the board of directors, Laramie Plains Museum. Phil has retired from the board in order to conduct research and foreign travel activities in the coming year.
Phil spoke to Dr. Marianne Kamp's graduate seminar on Nov. 3. He spoke on the evolution of the "New Western history," focusing on a number of significant works by historians of the American West.
As chairman of the Albany County Democratic Party, Phil served as emcee for the party's special banquet on Oct. 31. The event began with Gov. Dave Freudenthal speaking to the county central committee, followed by a reception and dinner. More than 100 people attended the event held in Laramie. On the following Monday, the local party hosted Michael Walden-Newman of the Wyoming Taxpayers' Association, Laramie Mayor Fred Homer, and Albany County Commissioner Pat Gabriel, in a forum moderated by State Rep. Lorna Johnson, on public finance in Albany County and Laramie. More than 30 people attended the open forum.
Phil accompanied two UW classes to Fort Laramie on Oct. 28. Carol Bowers' Public History class visited the old fort to see how historic sites are administered and how historic preservation efforts have led to interpretative programming. Carol Bryant's education class in social studies visited the fort to learn more about the role of the post in the development of the American West. Phil spoke briefly to each class coming and going from the site. Park Service historian/site superintendent Steve Fullmer presented an excellent tour of the site to the more than 40 students in the combined group.
The University of Wyoming's annual "rendezvous tour" for new faculty traveled through northeastern Wyoming from Oct. 23-27. Phil served as "history guide" for the group as the tour visited such sites as Devil's Tower, the Thunder Basin coal mine near Gillette, and the Historical Trails Center in Casper. The annual tour, now in its sixth year, gives new faculty at the University of Wyoming an opportunity to see Wyoming, meet local residents and learn about issues affecting the state. It also gives Wyoming residents an opportunity to meet new UW faculty. This is the fifth time that Phil has participated as a guide.
Phil serves as the faculty representative on the Student Publications Board, University of Wyoming. He was elected chairman for 2003-2004 at the board's monthly meeting on October 17.
Phil spoke to Dr. Cheryl Wells' University of Wyoming class in American history about the Wyoming Constitution.
Phil was a speaker in the Laramie Lyceum series on Oct. 14 at the American Heritage Center. He talked about the trails across Wyoming and how many of the trails were marked by Wyomingites and others during the early part of the 20th century.
The American Heritage Center hosted documentary filmmaker Mark Zwonitzer as the Center's Rentschler Distinguished lecturer on Oct. 2-4. During his visit, Mr. Zwonitzer spoke to Phil's Wyoming history class on the subject of the transcontinental railroad and how the American Experience film was made. Carol Bowers, archivist at the American Heritage Center, and Phil both appeared in the film shown on PBS last January.
Phil spoke to Patty Kessler's history class at LCCC on October 2.
Phil gave a brief presentation as part of the rededication ceremonies for Washakie Center and unveiling of the Chief Washakie statue on display in the newly renovated center on the campus of the University of Wyoming, on Thursday, Oct. 2. He spoke about the history of the building, promising to provide a longer version for publication later. In attendance were several members of the Washakie family as well as university officials, students, and faculty. Dancers and singers from the Shoshone tribe presented a series of ceremonial dances as part of the dedication program. Phil lived in McIntrye Hall in the Washakie Center complex when he was a UW student in the late 1960s.
Phil writes a regular feature column for UWYO, the magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Wyoming. For the summer 2003 issue, he wrote about the history of Sheridan Inn. The fall issue will include a one-page account of President Kennedy's visit to Laramie on Sept. 25, 1963.
For the fourth year, Phil was invited to speak to the "Leadership Wyoming" class on leaders in Wyoming history. This year, he spoke about the various "organizing concepts" in the state's history and what each says about the history of Wyoming leadership. His last year's presentation to the 2002 Leadership Wyoming class "was significantly different" in that he began with specific individuals in the state's history and discussed them as examples of "trusteeship" in leadership. Forty of the state's leaders and future leaders participate each year in the program co-sponsored by the Wyoming Business Alliance and the University of Wyoming. The presentation to the orientation session of 2003 Leadership Wyoming was made in Laramie on August 7, 2003.
Phil was a guest lecturer for an American history class taught by Lyn Myrick at Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, on June 29, 2003. He spoke on the history of the Wyoming Constitution.
Phil spoke to Patty Kessler's Laramie County Community College history class on June 26, 2003. His topic was the Wyoming Constitution, its history and some of its unique provisions.
Phil is one of four consultants who began work on a public television series on Wyoming history to be directed by Debbie Hammons and produced by Wyoming Public Television. He and historians Katie Curtiss and Dave Kathka, and archaeologist George Frison attended the first planning meeting in Riverton on June 16, 2003.
On June 12, 2003, Phil spoke to the Weld County Chapter of the ACLU in Greeley, Colo., on the history of the 2nd Amendment.
On June 9, 2003, Phil journeyed to Fort Laramie where he was interviewed by a film crew working on a documentary history of the American West for broadcast later this year on BBC in Britain. He spoke on Fort Laramie's history, the interactions between white and Native American cultures on the Plains, and Oregon Trail migration.
Phil gave an informal presentation to a journalism class at American University in Cairo (Egypt) in late May. His topic involved issues of copyright. In past years, he has given formal lectures to classes at that university on journalism, history, and law-related subjects.
Phil was quoted in a story filed by a New Jersey Associated Press reporter in May, 2003, on the topic of the first government in America to grant women the right to vote and equal rights. The reporter interviewed historians in New Jersey who claimed that state had given women the right to vote in the late 18th century, but later repealed the act. Phil pointed out that the New Jersey action was, at best, accidental. Wyoming's first territorial legislature in 1869 gave women equal rights. When the bill was signed by the governor, it gained national attention for the new territory as the "first government in America" to give women "equality." (The state's nickname, "The Equality State," stems from that action). When the Wyoming State Constitution was adopted 20 years later, the women's rights section was included. Unlike New Jersey's repeal, Phil told the Trenton-based reporter, Wyoming's position never waivered on the issue. The article was circulated on the wire service's national wire in late May 2003.
Phil was guest speaker at a seminar conducted at Casper College titled "Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in Wyoming: An Overview." He spoke on Native Americans in Wyoming history.
Phil spoke April 25 on the topic of University of Wyoming land grants and how the income from them was used to construct many university buildings. His talk was part of the UW Art Museum series on Laramie architecture.
Phil's "enrichment class" on the History of Wyoming in four sessions began on April 3, 2003, and ended in late April with a class visit to the UW Art Museum's exhibit on Laramie architecture.
On April 1, 2003, Phil spoke to the Laramie Lyceum on the topic, "Napoleon and the Purchase of Louisiana."
Phil was interviewed in late March by Wyoming Public Radio on the service of Wyomingites in America's wars.
Phil was traveling in Egypt during spring break in March, 2003.
In late January, 2003, Phil was interviewed by Eric Tucker, Associated Press, on Black cowboys in the American West. He was quoted in an article written by Tucker that appeared in newspapers nationwide titled "Black cowboys bring Wild West to NYC."
On January 27, 2003, PBS' "American Experience" featured a two-hour documentary on the transcontinental railroad. Phil appeared in several segments. Carol Bowers, reference historian at the University of Wyoming American Heritage Center, appeared in a number of segments.
The state of Washington's committee on tax reform submitted its report in November 2002. Phil was interviewed by the Seattle Times and on two occasions by public radio on the history of taxation in Washington. His book on the subject, A Penny for the Governor, A Dollar for Uncle Sam, published by the University of Washington Press, was previewed in the Seattle Times Sunday book review section in November.
Phil spoke to the Wyoming Association of Municipalities annual winter meeting in Cheyenne on January 16, 2003. His talk was titled "The Wyoming Sales Tax in the 1930s."
Phil was interviewed by Associated Press in early January 2003 on the occupational history of past Wyoming legislatures.
Phil spoke in December 2002 to the Laramie AARP on the history of various government tax reform plans.
Phil was interviewed by the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne) on how the Wyoming economy may be impacted by possible war in Iraq, based on how earlier wars affected Wyoming's economy.
Phil was interviewed by Dr. Magda Bagnied for her radio program, "Stars on Egyptian Land." The program aired on Cairo Radio in September 2002.
During election coverage in November 2002, Phil was interviewed by numerous media on the historical trends in Wyoming elections. He was interviewed on Wyoming Public Radio about the history of Wyoming gubernatorial elections.
In November 2002, Phil accompanied UW History Department colleagues Kris Utterback, Michael Brose and Lynn Myrick to the fall articulation conference of Wyoming college history departments hosted by Northwest College, Powell. Along with representatives from the host institution and UW, historians attended from Eastern Wyoming College and Laramie County Community College.
Three historians enjoy the view from the bridge over the Big Horn River at Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis. From front to back: Michael Brose, Kris Utterback, Lynn Myrick.