Guide to the Estelle Reel Campaign Material Collection

Collection

Identifier: H54-91

Staff Only

Scope and Content

Letter from Estelle Reel to Thomas W. Brady for his vote "and influence" at the upcoming election. Also included are two campaign literature published and distributed by Reel in 1894.

Of note are statements made in the brochure and card about the suitability of a woman to fill the position. "Any Intelligent Woman and perform these duties satisfactorally." "The office of superintendent of public instruction is one which should be filled by a woman. Educational work is peculiarly that of a woman. Ninety-five per cent of the teachers in the State, and all of the County Superintendents except one, are women and the State Superintendent should be one of their own sex."

Dates

1894

Creator

Meyer, Estelle Reel, 1862-1959 (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Historical Note

Estelle Reel was born in Pittsfield, Illinois in 1862 and educated in schools in the Midwest and East. In 1886, she came to Wyoming and taught in the Cheyenne public schools. She was elected Laramie County superintendent of schools in 1891 and in 1894 was elected state superintendent of public schools, the first woman in Wyoming, and the second in the nation, to be elected to a statewide public office. In 1898, she was appointed by President William McKinley as national superintendent of Indian schools, a position she held until 1910. In 1910 she married Cort F. Meyer, and shortly afterward, moved to Topanish, Washington, where she lived until her death in 1959.

According to a note by the donor, these items "came from a trunk of Thomas Brady from near South Pass. He was town marshall at Atlantic City at this time."

At the time of the election, the duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's duties included serving as the secretary of the State Board of Charities and Reform and Secretary of the State Board of Land Commissioners, in addition to overseeing the public school system.

Extent

1 file folder

Additional Description

Abstract

Campaign materials from Estelle Reel's run for Wyoming Superintendent of Schools in 1894.

Arrangement

Organized by record type. See container list for more information. Item level inventory available on-site.

Acquisition Information

Donated in 1954 by Miller Brown of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Existence and Location of Originals

Original records available at the Wyoming State Archives unless otherwise noted in the container list.

Alternate Formats Available

Selected records may be available on microfilm or digital. See container list for more information.

Related Material

H60-110, Estelle Reel Meyer Collection, Wyoming State Archives.

RG1125, Laramie County Superintendent of Schools, Wyoming State Archives.

RG0005, Wyoming Department of Education, Wyoming State Archives.

P73-74, Estelle Reel Photograph Collection, Wyoming State Archives.

P73-86, Estelle Reel Photograph Collection, Wyoming State Archives.

MS120, Estelle Reel papers, Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane, Washington.