Biography of Willis Van Devanter

Willis Van Devanter (1859-1941) was Wyoming’s first State Supreme Court Justice and eventually came to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He graduated from Cincinnati University Law School in 1881 and began practicing law with his father in Marion, Indiana.

Van Devanter moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1884 to practice law and soon became very involved with politics as a member of the territorial legislature and commissioner to revise the territorial statutes. In 1889, President Harrison appointed him Chief Justice of the territorial Supreme Court. After Wyoming became a state in 1890, he was elected to the same position and became the state’s first Chief Justice.

In 1897, President McKinley appointed him Assistant Attorney General. He remained very active in the Republican Party, and President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him a United States Circuit Judge in 1903. He was named to the Supreme Court by President Taft in 1910, and he remained on the bench until his retirement in 1937. While on the Supreme Court, Van Devanter was considered the Court’s foremost expert on cases relating to public lands, mining claims, water rights, and other matters of interest to the Western United States.

Van Devanter died as a result of a heart attack in 1941.

Scope and Content

The Willis Van Devanter papers include several photographs of Van Devanter and several publications. Also included are a legal fees book belonging to Van Devanter, and artifacts, including an embroidered silk flag and a cane belonging to F.E. Warren.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Willis Van Devanter papers, 1879-1966, Collection Number 00804, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Monte Kniffen in January 2001.

Acquisition Information

The Willis Van Devanter papers were donated to the American Heritage Center by Winslow Van Devanter in 1965.

Related Materials

There is another archival collection created by Willis Van Devanter at the date of processing. See:

Papers of Willis Van Devanter, 1884-1941, Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Washington, D.C.

Access Terms

Law offices--Wyoming--Cheyenne--19th century.

United States. Supreme Court.

Warren, Francis E. (Francis Emroy), 1844-1929.

Wyoming--History--1890-1918.

Wyoming--History--1919-1945.

Wyoming--History--To 1889.

Wyoming. Legislature.

Container List