Local author featured in first issue of Wyoming Historical Society’s new journal

(Riverton, WY) – Local writer Randy Tucker’s work is featured in the premier issue of the Wyoming Historical Society’s new, independent flagship journal The Wyoming Historian.

The issue includes Tucker’s article “Persimmon Bill” (aka William Chambers), described as “a compelling biographical sketch of one of the more colorful and notorious characters in Wyoming’s history,” as well as a review of Tucker’s recent book “Rails to Trails Along the Sweetwater.”

New name

The publication of the premier issue of The Wyoming Historian follows a decision by the State of Wyoming to “move in a different direction” with the name of the Wyoming Historical Society’s previous publication, “The Annals of Wyoming,” Wyoming Historical Society President Beki Speas said in a press release this week.

The Wyoming Historical Society saw the state’s decision “as an opportunity to reaffirm our promise to our supporters,” she explained, adding that, while the name of the organization’s journal has “evolved, our mission has never wavered.”

“The Society has been at the helm of Wyoming’s historical publishing for over 70 years,” Speas said. “The Wyoming Historian is our commitment to a future where Wyoming’s history is preserved with the same integrity and independence that characterized our beginnings in the 1920s.”

The Wyoming Historian also represents “a deliberate return to the enduring power of the printed word,” the press release states, with the Society placing “a significant focus on the physical quality of the publication.”

“Our earliest journals were produced with a high degree of professional craftsmanship, and The Wyoming Historian marks a deliberate return to that legacy of quality,” Wyoming Historical Society Executive Director Alexandra Philp said. “We have designed this to be more than just a periodical; it is a professionally bound volume intended to be a permanent, treasured resource on any bookshelf. 

“In this way, we are honoring the standard of excellence that the Society’s founders originally envisioned for our historical record.”

The Wyoming Historian stands as a testament to the fact that while names and partnerships may change, the story of Wyoming remains everlasting, the press release states.

“Our mission hasn’t changed,” Speas said. “Our core purpose is to preserve and share Wyoming’s history and promote history education. Whether we are called the ‘Quarterly Bulletin’ as we were in 1923, or The Wyoming Historian in 2026, the quality of our research and the heart of our storytelling remain the gold standard for the West.”

The first issue of The Wyoming Historian was mailed to Wyoming museums, libraries, schools, and other subscribers on Jan. 26, 2026, and additional copies will be made available for sale on the Wyoming Historical Society’s store website.

Beginning Feb. 5, local residents can also purchase copies of the of the first issue of The Wyoming Historian at the Wyoming Historical Society’s new headquarters at 110 N. Sixth St. E. in Riverton, Philp said this week – or they can donate $100 to the Historical Society and receive the current and subsequent editions in the mail.

The next issue will be a commemorative issue for Wyoming in celebration of the United States of America’s Semi-quincentennial.

Inaugural issue

In addition to Tucker’s work, the inaugural issue of The Wyoming Historian includes: 

• Taking the Train to Yellowstone by Loretta Evans: A fascinating look at the early days of tourism and the rails that brought the world to Wyoming’s crown jewel.
• William A. Carter and the Fort Bridger Sutler Store, Part I: Struggles of the Early Years, 1857-1861 by Ephriam D. Dickson III: A detailed examination of one of the state’s most influential early figures and the commerce of the frontier.
• Wyoming’s Beehive Boom: Southwestern Wyoming’s Charcoal Burning Kilns and Industry in the Late Nineteenth Century by Thomas J. Straka and Douglas H. Page, Jr.: An industrial history that explores the massive structures that fueled the region’s economic growth.
• 7 December 1905 on the Overland Limited: A Night of Speed and Sorrow in Western Wyoming by J.M. Brink: A gripping account of a fateful night on the Union Pacific line.

Other book reviews in the journal include Nancy Tabb’s review of Sacred Wonderland. 

The issue concludes with Society Chronicles and a look at Upcoming Events, keeping supporters connected to the ongoing work of the Society today. 

Established in 1953, the Wyoming Historical Society is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, exploring, and sharing Wyoming’s history for the benefit of all generations. 

With partners across the state, the Society works to ensure that the heritage of the state is protected and shared through publications, treks, awards, and community engagement.

For more information, click here.