Biography of

Amos W. Barber was born in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1861. Barber obtained an academic education from the literary and medical departments of the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating Dr. Barber worked as staff physician at the Pennsylvania Hospital from 1883 until he came to Wyoming in 1885 as surgeon in charge of the military hospital at Fort Fetterman. Promoted to acting surgeon in the United States Army, Barber accompanied General Crook's expedition to Arizona. Later he was assigned to duty at Fort D. A. Russell and after resigning from the service, opened up a medical practice in Cheyenne. After joining the Republican Party, Barber was elected Secretary of State in September 1890 and served until January of 1895. Secretary Barber's term was interrupted while he served as Acting Governor from November 24, 1890 until January 2, 1893. He was assistant surgeon in the United States Army during the Spanish American War in 1898 and returned to Cheyenne after that conflict. Amos W. Barber died May 19, 1915 and was buried in Cheyenne.

Scope and Content

Correspondence and record series covering appointment records, petitions for pardons, the requisition and extradition of fugitives, rewards, conventions, expositions, commercial conferences, and Indian and military affairs. Topics include hunting requirements, legislative sessions, election information, oil and mineral deposits, lumber, irrigation, University of Wyoming matters, aid for famine in Russia, requests for the great seal, Indian depredation claims, invitations and brochures, livestock, and women's suffrage.

Restrictions

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.

Preferred Citation

Acting Governor Amos W. Barber Papers,

Processing Information

The finding aid for the collection was entered in 1989, and was periodically updated as needed through 2003. It is divided into seven subgroups including: General Records, Administrative Records, Appointment Records, Proclamations, Petitions for Pardons, Requisitions and Extraditions, and Indian and Military Affairs.

Related Material

Amos W. Barber was elected Wyoming Secretary of State, and as a result became Acting Governor. Additional Amos Barber records may be found in the Secretary of State records group.

Access Terms

Cattle Transportation

Clemency--Wyoming

Extradition--Wyoming.

Famines---Russian

Fugitives from Justice--Wyoming.

Indians of North America--Wyoming.

Legislature of the State of Wyoming

Livestock--Wyoming.

Mines and Mining--Wyoming.

Mining Convention

State Seals--Wyoming

Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress

University of Wyoming

Women--Suffrage--Wyoming.

World’s Fair (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)

Container List

Series I. General Records 

Sub-Series I. Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress 

Sub-Series II. Mining Conference 

Sub-Series III. Regulations - Cattle Transportation 

Sub-Series IV. World's Fair/Columbia Exposition Commission 

Series II. Administrative Records 

Sub-Series I. General Correspondence 

Series III. Appointment Records 

Applications requesting appointments for various positions: Commissioner of Deeds, Notary Public and Board of Trustees, University of Wyoming. There also are letters of acceptance and acknowledgment

Series IV. Proclamations 

Columbus Day Proclamation

Series V. Petitions for Pardon 

Sub-series I. Petitions 

Petitions requesting pardons and any related correspondence. 29 file folders. (See also Secretary of State's Records).

Sub-series II. Pardons Granted 

A listing of pardons granted, dates granted, crime, sentence, discharge date and reason for pardon.

See also Secretary of State's Records.

Series VI. Requests, Affidavits and Warrants 

Sub-Series I. Requests 

Sub-Series II. Rewards 

Series VII. Indian and Military Affairs 

Correspondence concerning public uprising, Buffalo, arms and ammunition, Big Horn County, Indian procurement of arms, circulars prohibiting arms sale to Indians, settlers' complaints of game destruction, militia concerns regarding borrowing tents from U.S. Government.