• Mining History Association
  
  36^th Annual Conference, May 28-31, 2026
  Pittsburg, KS and Joplin, MO

  PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT
  BOOKMARK THIS PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
  AS ARRANGEMENTS ARE FINALIZED

  The 36th Annual Conference of the Mining History Association will be held May 28-31, 2026, in Pittsburg, Kansas. Most conference activities will be held on the campus of the Pittsburg State University at either the Crimson & Gold Ballroom inside the Overman Student Center or the PSU Library. The exception being the Opening Reception which will be held at the Joplin [MO] History and Mineral Museum. Please see the Program for the details. Mining was the dominant industry in Southeast Kansas, Southwest Missouri, and Northeast Oklahoma for more than 100 years. The region was a major producer of coal, lead, zinc, among other minerals. Pittsburg itself was a major lead and zinc smelting center for the Tri-State Mining District (MO, KS, OK) located just 30 miles to the south. Although mines have been closed for around 50 years, its influence is everywhere, even if may locals do not know the full mining history. Many buildings in Downtown Pittsburg as well as Joplin, Missouri and Miami, Oklahoma were built during the heyday of the mining era. The mining and railroad industries led to the opening of a technical school that eventually became the Pittsburg State University. Thousands of acres of surface coal mines have been reclaimed and are now used for outdoor recreation. In the Tri-State District, Superfund cleanup work is still underway but extensive remains of mining can still be seen. There are eleven museums working to preserve artifacts and tell the stories of the region’s mining heritage. One of those museums is the world’s largest surviving electric shovel used in coal strip mining, Big Brutis.  It will be visited on one of the tours. TRI-STATE LEAD, ZINC, AND COAL MINING HISTORY THE TRI-STATE LEAD/ZINC MINING DISTRICT (MO, KS, OK) - A BRIEF HISTORY The Tri-State District covers parts of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.  For more than a century it was one of the most important metal mining districts in the U.S.  CLICK HERE for a map of the district (1). Mining started in the vicinity of Joplin, MO, in 1848 along a mineralized belt extending from Oronogo, MO, through Webb City and Carterville, to Duenweg, MO, as well as in Joplin itself.  All these areas are in Jasper. County.  A second important mining area was in the vicinity of Granby, MO, in Newton and Lawrence, Counties. Mining in the Kansas portion of the Tri-State started in the vicinity of Galena, KS, in Cherokee County, west of Joplin, after ore was discovered in 1876.  With the later discovery of the Picher Field, mining extended from Oklahoma into Kansas in the vicinity of Baxter Springs, KS and Treece, KS.  The Picher Field will be the focus of an all-day MHA conference field trip. The Oklahoma portion of the Tri-State was the legendary Picher Field.  It was the largest and most productive part of the Tri-State District.  Mining started in 1891 near Peoria, OK, and in Commerce, OK in 1907. This was Indian land comprised of Indian allotments.  The allotees leased the mineral rights and received royalties for the ores produced. Tri-State production peaked around 1925 but during both World Wars the District was an essential source of lead and zinc.  In 1968 (1), cumulative 1850-1964 production for the district was reported as 2,825,000 short tons of lead and 11,631,000 short tons of zinc valued in 1964 prices at over $4 Billion. At that time the price of lead was $0.16 per pound and zinc was $0.145 per pound.  The corresponding prices in November of 2025 were $0.9125 for lead and $1.3658 for zinc making today’s value over $36 billion. Nearly all mining had stopped by 1974 due to declining ore grades, depletion of ore, and depressed metal prices.  As mining ceased and pumping stopped, the mines flooded.  Shallow mine workings and hundreds of mine shafts collapsed.  Gigantic mounds of chat (processing waste) dotted the landscape.  Acid mine drainage from metals leaching out of mine workings and the solid wastes caused pollution of local aquifers.  These problems caused the district to be declared the mega-Tar Creek Superfund site, consolidating 4 subsites: -The Oronogo-Duenweg Mineral Belt [Missouri] Site, AKA the Joplin Field -The Cherokee County, Kansas Site, AKA the Galena Field -The Tar Creek [Oklahoma] Site, AKA the Picher Field, AKA the Miami-Picher District -The Newton County, Missouri Mine Tailings Site Two EPA Regional Offices shared jurisdiction, Region 6 in Tulsa covered the Oklahoma portions and Region 7 in St. Louis covered the Missouri and Kansas portions.  It took some time for the two Regions to adopt a unified approach to solving the environmental problems. EPA’s cleanup efforts are still underway after more than 30 years. The EPA Regions prepare periodic reports on their remedial progress at each part of the Superfund site. (1) Brockie, Douglas C., Hare, Jr., Edward H., Dingess, Paul R., “Ore Deposits of the United States, 1933-1968,” Chapter 20, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), 1968, New York, New York. WEIR-PITTSBURG COAL FIELD – A BRIEF MINING HISTORY The heritage of Southeast Kansas is not like the rest of the state. It starts with stories of Native Americans and pioneers finding coal along streams. After the Civil War, the demand for coal from railroads and for home heating led to numerous boom towns along the Weir-Pittsburg Coal Field. But there were multiple challenges. Deep shaft mining was deadly work and pay was low. When Winter ended, the need for coal decreased and the number of jobless increased. With no unemployment benefits or workers compensation if they were injured, many miners would turn to bootlegging. Most were European immigrants with generations of winemaking traditions. They just happened to live in a state where Prohibition would last 67 years. The area was a hotbed for worker rights and was home to the largest socialist newspaper in the nation. A 1921 protest by thousands of women made national headlines. A child of one of the organizers eventually became a congressman who fought for benefits for miners suffering from black lung. Centrally located on the Weir-Pittsburg Coal Field and the largest community along the coal field, Pittsburg, was also a major lead and zinc smelting center for the Tri-State Mining District located just 30 miles to the south. Population around the coalfield peaked at around 95,000 in 1920, and steadily declined during the transition to surface mining. Surface mining came to an end in the mid 1970s.  ACCOMODATIONS The Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Pittsburg Kansas Crossing will serve as our official conference hotel. The planning committee has established a room block with a room rate of $109 per night for May 27 through Monday, June1. It includes a full breakfast. The location of the Hampton Inn is 1285 U.S. 69 HWY Pittsburg, Kansas 66762 USA. Click on the link for a map.  Phone number: 620-231-3100. CLICK ON THE LINK to make reservations at Hampton Inn.  TRANSPORTATION BY AIR. Joplin Regional Airport (JLN) offers daily non-stop flights to/from Chicago and Denver, and is 30 miles east of Pittsburg. For most attendees, the most convenient airports will be Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), 90 miles east of Pittsburg; Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), 95 miles southeast of Pittsburg; Tulsa International Airport (TUL), 135 miles southwest of Pittsburg; or, Kansas City International Airport (MCI), 140 miles north of Pittsburg. All of these have rental cars available. BY AUTOMOBILE. Pittsburg is located on U.S. 69. From Joplin, Mo.: Get onto MO-43. Take MO-43 north to MO-96. Take MO-96 west to MO-171. Take MO-171 northwest to US-69. Take US-69 north into Pittsburg. From Springfield, Mo.: Get onto I-44. Take I-44 west to I-49. Take I-49 north to MO-126. Take MO/KS-126 west into Pittsburg. From Bentonville, Ark.: Get onto I-49. Take I-49 north to MO-171. Take MO-171 northwest to US-69. Take US-69 north into Pittsburg. From Tulsa, Okla.: Get onto I-44. Take I-44 northeast to US-400. Take US-400 northwest to US-400/US-69. Take US-69 north into Pittsburg. From Kansas City: Get onto I-29. Take I-29 south to I-635. Take I-635 south to I-35. Take I-35 south to US-69. Take US-69 south into Pittsburg. From Historic Route 66: While America turns 250, Route 66 turns 100, and the original route goes through the extreme southeast corner of Southeast Kansas. From Riverton, which is on the route, get onto US-400/US-69. Take US-400/US-69 north into Pittsburg. CONFERENCE PROGRAM AND REGISTRATIONPROGRAM CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION CLICK HERE TO REGISTER BY MAIL Please note, each attendee must register individually so that they receive the tickets and meal choices they want. SOCIAL EVENTS WELCOMING RECEPTION, Thursday, May 28, 2026, 4:30-7:00pm. The venue is the Joplin History & Mineral Museum, 504 S Schifferdecker Ave, Joplin, MO 64801. Phone and location map:  (417) 623-1180 ext. 1586.  Be sure to arrive on time to enjoy the full agenda: 4:30-5:30pm, Visit to Museum; 5:30-6:00pm, Food & Drinks; 6:00-6:45pm, Speaker, Chris Wiseman, Curator, Joplin History & Mineral Museum, “Mining, Milling, & Smelting Technology of the Historic Tri-State Lead and Zinc District” AWARDS BANQUET, Friday, May 29, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.  The venue is the Crimson & Gold Ballroom A, Pittsburg State University Campus PRESIDENTIAL LUNCHEON, Saturday, May 30, Noon-1:30pm,The venue is the Crimson & Gold Ballroom A, Pittsburg State University Campus. Speaker: Paul Bartos, MHA President, “Tales from Cerro Rico de Potosi / San Bartolome.” TOURS AND FIELD TRIPS Weir-Pittsburg Coalfield Field Trip Thursday, May 28, 2026, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This all-day field trip includes stops at the world’s largest remaining electric shovel, Big Brutus; the Heartlands Railroad Museum; a memorial and mass grave at Highland Park Cemetery for men killed in a local mining disaster; Miners Memorial in Downtown Pittsburg; the new Heritage Hall Museum, which lets you experience a bustling coal town like the town's first immigrants; Dragline Park, home to a Page 618 Walking Dragline; and, Miners Hall Museum. Tri-State District of Oklahoma Sunday, May 31, 2026, 8am-530pm This all-day filed trip will begin at the Baxter Springs Museum, to introduce the Tri-State Mining District through photographs, maps, and museum artifacts.  After the museum, folks will be taken to the Quapaw Nation where officials of the Environmental Office will provide an introduction to the Picher/Douthet/Tar Creek mine community and land reclamation sites in the Quapaw Nation.  From there, the field trip will take attendees to Picher/Douthet/Tar Creek to see the sites.  Lunch will be hosted by the Quapaw Nation at the Quapaw Farmer's Market.  After lunch, the tour will head to Commerce, Oklahoma, where Bob Nairn, University of Oklahoma Environmental Scientist with 35-years of experience will lead the tour of Mining Remnants & the Passive Treatment System (water recovery).  After visiting this site, the field trip will visit the Mickey Mantle Home Site & Statue.  Time permitting, the field trip will end at the Quapaw Museum before returning to Pittsburg. DO IT YOURSELF TOUR OPPORTUNITIES The Missouri Portion of the Tri-State Mining District. Because of time constraints, the tours conducted during the conference will be focused on the Kansas and Oklahoma portions of the Tri State Mining District. The Missouri portion of the district also contains many more locations of mining historical interest.  CLICK HERE for a suggested tour route. SIDE TRIPS ON THE WAY TO THE MHA From the north: Just off US-69 in Fort Scott is the Fort Scott National Historic Site and their historic downtown. If you are into mid 1800’s history, this stop is a must. Also, downtown is the Lowell Milken Center’s Museum for Unsung Heroes. From the east: If you are taking US-160 from Missouri, just before you get to the state line you will see the turnoff for the Prairie State Park. See what this region looked like before agriculture and mining reshaped it. From the south: Route 66 enthusiasts will love the last Marsh Arch Bridge on Route 66 near Baxter Springs, Nelson’s Old Riverton Store in Riverton, and Galena: Cars on the Route (home to the tow truck that inspired the PIXAR movie series “Cars”), a Route 66 Giant drive-thru shield, and the Gearhead Curios souvenir shop (home to the most famous restroom on Route 66). From the west: If you are taking US-400 and you like trains, Parsons is home to the Iron Horse Museum. In Pittsburg: Attendees will see gorillas everywhere throughout town. That is because Pittsburg State University is the only college in the nation with a gorilla as its mascot.

Inaugural Peter Iverson Distinguished Lecture

Peter Iverson’s Legacy: The Relevance of the Indian Past in the Present with Albert L. Hurtado

Thursday, April 30, 2026 Noon–1:30 p.m. in West Hall 135

Throughout his professional life Peter Iverson argued that historians of Native America should turn their attention away from the nineteenth-century history of frontier conquest and Indian wars to the twentieth century’s more complex story of resurgence and endurance. Peter’s efforts to reorient the field of Native American history are part of his enduring legacy. But, as Peter understood, a focus on contemporary Indian issues such as tribal sovereignty, resource development and gaming does not mean that the more distant past has been left behind. Often the most contentious “modern” problems in Indian country have roots deep in the past. Thus, history remains relevant to contemporary Indians as well as to their non-Indian neighbors.

About Albert L. Hurtado

Albert L. Hurtado held the Travis Chair in Modern American history at the University of Oklahoma where he taught courses on the American West and Native American history until he retired in 2012. His books and articles on these subjects have won awards, including the Billington Prize for Indian Survival on the California Frontier (1988), the Neuburg Award for Intimate Frontiers: Sex, Gender and Culture in Old California (1999), and the Caughey Prize for John Sutter, A Life on the North American Frontier (2006). Professor Hurtado’s most recent book is Herbert Eugene Bolton: Historian of the American Borderlands. He has also edited books including Major Problems in American Indian History (1994, 2001, 2014), and Reflections on American Indian History (2008). He is past president of the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association and the Western History Association.

About the Peter Iverson Distinguished Lecture

This lecture celebrates and commemorates the contributions of Dr. Peter Iverson during his exemplary 30 year career at Arizona State University. Professor Iverson is one of the most recognized leading historians of the American West and Native History – he is the author of ten books, the editor of five books, and served as the President of the Western History Association in 2004. At ASU, Professor Iverson was the first history professor appointed as Regents’ Professor, and he served as the Director of Graduate Studies for History for several years. A beloved teacher and mentor, Professor Iverson oversaw the work of 50 PhD students and was recognized for his commitment to his students’ continued success by being awarded Outstanding Doctoral Mentor from Arizona State University in 2003.

ASU School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies Arizona State University

A light lunch will be provided, but RSVP is required.

RSVP: specialevents.asu.edu/iversonlecture2026

With your interest in the history of the American West and Oklahoma, we invite you to attend an upcoming program Monday, April 13. Award-winning historian Paul Hutton will discuss his latest book The Undiscovered Country. The new book received the 2026 Western Heritage Award for best nonfiction book from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 

The Undiscovered Country

Monday, April 13

2:00 pm, Paul Andrew Hutton discusses The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West, Constitution Hall, Nigh University Center. The program is free and open to all.

6:00 pm, Ticketed dinner with the author, Heritage Room, Nigh University Center.

Dr. Paul Andrew Hutton is professor emeritus of history at the University of New Mexico, former executive director of the Western History Association, and interim curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. Sponsored by the Department of History and Geography, College of Liberal Arts, and Presidential Partners. 

For more information about the programming, to order a signed copy of the book, and to register for the ticketed event: https://www.centralconnection.org/hutton

The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) invites abstracts (sessions, papers, posters, and videos) for the Program of the 87^th Annual Meeting in Norfolk, VA, March 23-27, 2027. The theme of the Program is “Futures, Fractures, and Fixes.”

The 2027 SfAA Annual Meeting offers researchers, practitioners, and students from diverse disciplines and organizations the opportunity to discuss their work and consider how it can contribute to a better future. SfAA members come from a host of disciplines — anthropology, geography, sociology, economics, business, planning, medicine, nursing, law, and more. The annual meeting provides a fertile venue in which to trade ideas, methods, and practical solutions, as well as an opportunity to enter the lifeworlds of other professionals. 

The deadline for abstract submission is October 1, 2026. For additional information on the theme, abstract size/format, and the meeting, please visit our web page www.appliedanthro.org and click on annual meeting.

The Society for Applied Anthropology is pleased to announce our 87^th Annual Meeting in Norfolk, VA, March 23-27, 2027.  

For meeting information visit www.appliedanthro.org/annual-meeting

The Extractive Midwest

Call for Proposals for Edited Volume

Description:

Typically defined as a fertile, renewable, and nurturing region, the Midwest has also experienced a long history of extraction. Its laborers, free and unfree, used the region’s natural resources to build cities and to create economic empires, both within and beyond the region’s boundaries. Yet this extraction has been hidden from both the region’s popular perceptions and from its scholarship, which tends to look at extraction at local levels, not from a regional perspective. This collection aims to acknowledge the Midwest’s extractive past and its creation of the region’s present.

The impetus for this collection came from panels about midwestern mining, logging, and agriculture at the annual conferences for the Western History Association and the Midwestern History Association. Feedback revealed the need for new scholarship that foregrounds extraction within Midwestern history. Although recent scholarship on midwestern history has emphasized the region’s distinctive nature, this collection will consider how the Midwest, as a region, developed through extractive processes that were similar to those seen in western and southern US history.

We aim to produce an edited collection that draws on the provocative recent scholarship foregrounding extractivism while remaining accessible to non-specialist audiences. Proposals should examine the relationship between extraction in its manifold forms and the history of the Midwest, broadly defined. We recognize that extraction happens in various forms so we’re excited to accept proposals that explore extraction from multiple disciplinary angles.

Themes:

Below is a list of ideas around the central theme of “extraction” that the editors have developed. The list is by no means exhaustive and instead only serves to generate ideas.

• Agriculture as an extractive industry / modern agribusiness / soil depletion

• Capitalism / Political Economy / Boom and bust cycles in the Midwest

• Cultures of extractivism in the Midwest

• Data / Information & Technology

• Energy in the Midwest / biofuels / midwestern coal, oil, and, gas

• Fishing / Hunting

• Forestry

• Indigenous History

• Labor / Talent / Immigration into and Emigration from the Midwest

• The Midwest in Modern Global Systems and Economies / International Capital and Commodity Flows

• Mining / Mineral Extraction

• Recreation / Tourism

• Transportation

• Waste / Reclamation & Remediation

Target Audience:

We intend this collection to appeal to scholars of the Midwest, especially historians and literary scholars engaged in the recent boom in Midwestern studies, as well as a broader readership interested in exploring the Midwest’s character and development through serious nonfiction. 

Plan for Collaboration:

We plan to create an edited collection with clear, consistent arguments woven throughout each chapter. Thus, the editors and chapter authors will work collaboratively to craft a collection that, we hope, will be greater than the sum of its parts.

The editors will begin by reviewing abstracts for proposed chapters and inviting authors to submit full chapter drafts. Interested contributors should submit a 300-500 word abstract describing their proposed chapter, along with a brief biography (150 words), and a short CV by August 30, 2026.

At the chapter draft stage, we seek well-researched and original chapters between 6,000 and 8,000 words, not including notes, which should be completed in Chicago Manual of Style footnotes. Submissions should be grounded in scholarly analysis and should align with the above themes and the collection’s overall argument about extractivism’s role in shaping the Midwest.

In late 2026, the editors will convene regular meetings of the contributors (via video call) in a writing group format. We will workshop chapter drafts in a supportive, generative manner that aims to improve submissions and align our arguments. We tentatively plan for final chapter drafts to be due in June 2027.

Tentative Timeline:

• March 31, 2026–Release CFP

• August 30, 2026–Proposals Due

• Mid-September 2026–Acceptances

• Mid-to-Late December 2026–Virtual symposium

• June 1, 2027–Chapter Drafts Due

• January 1, 2028–Final Chapter Drafts Due

Editors:

Brian James Leech is Associate Professor of History at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. His research focuses on the history of natural resources in the American West and Midwest.

Sarah Mittlefehldt is Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences at Northern Michigan University. Her research focuses on the history of forest management and the development of wood-based energy technologies.

Hayden L. Nelson is a Gale Scholar, Research Historian at the Minnesota Historical Society. His research focuses on the relationship between resource extraction and colonization in the Great Lakes and Great Plains.

Jeff Schramm is Associate Professor of History at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. His research focuses on 20th century industrial technology, specifically railroads and mining, and the engineering and regulation thereof. 

Send all inquiries and submissions to: 

Hayden L. Nelson (hayden.l.nelson@outlook.com)

JOHN O. BAXTER
September 2, 1927 - July 24, 2025
John Otis Baxter, a historian, rancher, and family man, passed away peacefully at age 97 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Born in Chicago, John spent summers on his grandfather's Montana ranch, where he developed a lifelong love of ranching. After graduating from Princeton, he returned to Montana to work as a cattle rancher-and had great fun competing in rodeos as a team roper. 

He eventually settled in New Mexico, where he earned a Ph.D. in history and became a respected research historian and author on the American Southwest. His books and preservation work on New Mexico's cultural and water history are widely recognized. During his 56 years living in Santa Fe, John had a very rich social life. An avid outdoorsman and birder, he was a member of the hiking group known as the Santa Fe Chile and Marching Society, and he made frequent trips to the Bosque del Apache and several trips to the Grand Canyon.

A music lover, he regularly attended the Santa Fe Opera, knew the lyrics to countless country songs, and enjoyed listening to Tejano tunes on road trips with his daughters throughout New Mexico. John looked forward to evenings on the dance floor at La Fonda, and-if one watches closely-it's possible to see him in a couple of scenes in the movie Silverado.

He will be remembered for his intellectual rigor, storytelling, love of the land, and dedication to family and friends. John is survived by his wife, Betty Baxter; daughters, Sarah Baxter (Jeremy Shields) and Betsy Baxter; grandson, John Baxter; stepdaughters, Sophie Martin (Brian Carnes) and Claire Martin (Todd Thedinga); step-granddaughter, Frances Thedinga; stepchildren, Jane Schwartz Maclean, Andy Schwartz, and Nikki Schwartz; and a large extended family of step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his second wife, Lenore Schwartz Baxter; his brother, Pete Goodrich; and his sister, Joanna Henderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name can be sent to the Historic Santa Fe Foundation.

2026 H-Net Teaching Conference - Call for Proposals

Title: Why It Matters: Teaching Empathy, Critical Thinking, and Civil Discourse across the Humanities and Social Sciences

Proposals Due: May 22, 2026
Conference Dates: August 17–20, 2026
Location: Virtual on Zoom

H-Net is excited to announce Why It Matters: Teaching Empathy, Critical Thinking, and Civil Discourse across the Humanities and Social Sciences will be the theme for the fifth annual H-Net Teaching Conference. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of the humanities and social sciences in building the knowledge, skills, and abilities that support civil discourse, which is a foundation of functional democracies. In addition to civil discourse, this year’s theme focuses on using the humanities and social sciences to build understanding and connections through empathy and critical thinking.

We welcome individual, panel, and roundtable proposals and encourage interactive formats such as workshops, digital posters, assignment charrettes, and other innovative sessions that promote engagement and discussion.

Keynote speaker: To be announced.

The conference will be fully virtual during the week of Monday, August 17, 2026. Sessions may be recorded for later access via H-Net Commons, and selected presenters may be invited to publish in the H-Net Conference Proceedings.

All proposals should include a title, CVs and email addresses for all presenters, and an abstract of no more than 200 words. No pre-recorded sessions will be accepted. Submissions are encouraged to address one or more of the following areas:

1. Applied learning in the classroom to enhance empathy, critical thinking, and civil discourse while navigating difficult or controversial topics.  
2. Assessment of student growth in empathy, critical thinking, and civil discourse
3. The role of storytelling in developing empathy, critical thinking, and civil discourse
4. Challenges facing the teaching of the humanities and social sciences due to federal and state mandates, with a focus on pedagogical responses
5. How public-facing educational programs and resources (H-Net, National History Day, literacy initiatives, etc.) can enrich knowledge, skills, and abilities related to empathy, critical thinking, and civil discourse
6. Connecting the humanities and social sciences to workplace needs, including perspective-taking, collaboration, and problem-solving through critical thinking

Email proposals to brothe10@msu.edu by Friday, May 22, 2026.

As a proponent of open access, the H-Net Teaching Conference will be free and open to all. 

Job Description

Join Our Campus Community!

Thank you for your interest in joining the University of Wyoming.  Our community thrives on the contributions of talented and driven individuals who share in our mission, vision, and values. If your expertise and experience align with the goals of our institution, we would be thrilled to hear from you. We encourage you to apply and become a valued member of our vibrant campus community today!

Why Choose Us?

At the University of Wyoming, we value our employees and invest in their success. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits include:

• Generous Retirement Contributions: The State contributes 14.94% of your gross salary, and you contribute 3.68%, totaling 18.62% toward your retirement plan.
• Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage: Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, that include 4 deductible options to suit your needs.
• Paid Time Off: Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.
• Tuition Waiver: Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs: Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.

At the University of Wyoming, we are committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW’s Benefits Summary.

JOB TITLE:

Assistant Director/Archivist, Associate

JOB PURPOSE:

The Assistant Director – Associate Archivist serves as a senior leader of the American Heritage Center (AHC), supporting the Director in strategic planning, policy development, and institutional decision-making while ensuring alignment with university priorities and archival best practices. This position oversees departmental operations, collections acquisition, facilities administration, compliance, and resource stewardship to ensure the preservation, protection, and accessibility of state, regional, and nationally significant collections. Acting with delegated authority, the Assistant Director assumes full administrative responsibility in the Director’s absence and represents the Center in executive-level meetings and committees. The role requires independent judgment, advanced archival expertise, and leadership in personnel management, donor relations, facilities planning, research development, and professional scholarship, including supporting and advancing the center’s research mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Director in leadership, strategic planning, and institutional decision-making for the American Heritage Center (AHC).
• Review and provide recommendations on short- and long-range plans, budgets, policies, and procedures.
• Advise the Director on the interpretation and application of university regulations, state and federal laws, contracts, deeds of gift, and financial account requirements; oversee related compliance and records management responsibilities.
• Coordinate and evaluate programs, services, and departmental operations to ensure alignment with institutional goals and archival best practices.
• Ensure the preservation, protection, and accessibility of state, regional, and nationally significant collections.
• Oversee daily operational decisions related to collection handling, processing priorities, space allocation, and service delivery.
• Assume full administrative authority for AHC personnel, facilities, and fiscal resources in the Director’s absence, and represent the Director at executive-level meetings and committees.
• Serve as primary administrator for AHC facilities, including building operations, security systems, environmental controls, refrigerated storage, chemical management, and emergency preparedness and response.
• Lead facilities planning, infrastructure improvements, renovations, and expansions, and provide training on proper facility use and safety.
• Oversee the full collections acquisition process—from donor consultation through contract negotiation and transfer of ownership, advise on collections policies and initiatives, support donor relations, and chair the Acquisitions Committee.
• Assist with personnel management, including recruitment, supervision, and required faculty and staff evaluations.
• Conduct research on archival practices or topics related to AHC collections, and disseminate findings through publications, presentations, exhibits, or other appropriate channels.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS:

• Other duties as requested by the Director.

COMPETENCIES:

• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Negotiation
• Quality Orientation
• Technical/Professional Knowledge
• Strategic Planning

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• EDUCATION: Master’s degree in library and information sciences, e.g., MLIS, or master’s degree in a relevant field or closely related discipline.
• EXPERIENCE: 10 years of progressively responsible administrative experience, with at least 5 years of that in an archival or library setting.
• LICENSURES, CERTIFICATIONS, REGISTRATIONS, OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
• Valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the Driving for University Business SAP. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Knowledge of facilities management principles related to environmental controls, security, emergency preparedness, hazardous materials handling, and preservation-quality storage.

• Ability to exercise independent judgment, coordinate departmental operations, set priorities, manage facilities initiatives, and assume full administrative authority in the Director’s absence.

• Expertise in donor relations and collection development, including consultation, negotiation, stewardship, and evaluation of acquisition proposals.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and compliance responsibilities simultaneously.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS: 

Complete the online application.  The department additionally requests candidates upload the following document(s) for a complete application:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume or C.V.
3. Contact information for four work-related references (references will only be contacted if you are selected as a finalist for the position).

This position will remain open until filled. Complete applications received by 4/3/2026 will receive full consideration. 

WORK LOCATION: 

On-campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work on campus.

WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: 

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the United States. Sponsorship for H-1B work authorization or work visa is not available for this position. 

HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email jobapps@uwyo.edu. 

ABOUT LARAMIE:

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website.

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado’s Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie’s beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/

The American Historical Association has released the 2026 edition of Careers for History Majors, a practical, data-informed guide that connects the skills developed in undergraduate historical study to meaningful career pathways. Designed for students, advisers, and departments, it offers clear evidence of the value of the history degree and concrete advice for professional success. Learn more or order copies here: historians.org/careers-for-history-majors. 

15th annual Western History Dissertation Workshop, May 8, 2026 at the University of California, Davis.

This writing workshop offers vigorous dissertation support to advanced western history PhD students in a collegial group of 10-12 leading scholars from participating institutions across the United States. Applicants who are most likely to benefit from this workshop are those who have completed a few chapters of their dissertation and who expect to defend in the 2026-27 academic year. Selected participants will share one chapter (of no more than fifty pages) at the workshop and receive feedback from other participants and from senior scholars affiliated with the sponsoring institutions.

The workshop

This year’s workshop is hosted by the Department of History at the University of California, Davis. UC Davis will pay travel expenses for up to five advanced graduate students writing a dissertation exploring any topic dealing with the history and culture of the American West. The workshop is co-sponsored by: the Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest at the University of Washington; the Center for the Southwest at the University of New Mexico; the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West; the Center of the American West/University of Colorado Boulder Department of History; the University of Nebraska Department of History; the Clements Center for Southwest Studies at Southern Methodist University; the Pennsylvania State University History Department; the Princeton University Department of History; the UCLA Department of History; and the University of Kansas Department of History.

How to apply

Please provide a brief cover letter, a short CV, and a dissertation prospectus/description of not more than two single-spaced pages. Your cover letter should indicate which chapter of your dissertation you intend to circulate for the workshop. Send all items in a single PDF document to Rachel St. John (rcstjohn@ucdavis.edu). Please arrange for your dissertation adviser to send a letter of recommendation via email to Rachel St. John as well; that letter should address the significance and the status of the dissertation to date. Applications are due April 1, 2026, and participants will be notified of their selection by April 13. Selected applicants must submit a complete draft of a dissertation chapter for distribution to the group by April 30