A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
Ivadell Alberta Swindler was a former music teacher in Lander schools, during the mid to late 1920’s. She was also an avid lover of the West and Wyoming in particular, and photographed much of her outdoor sojourns capturing a fascinating view into Wyoming landscapes and people giving us great insight to this time period.
Ivadell was born February 1, 1893 in Cromwell, Iowa. She was the youngest of five children and raised on a small farm in Iowa. Both of her parents were musically inclined, playing piano and other instruments along with singing capabilities, giving Ivadell an impression that impacted her for life and ultimately where her career path would be. While her childhood was very happy, her father Albert passed away in 1902 and her mother Hannah Marie sold the farm and moved them to Prescott, Iowa. There Ivadell began her studies, which she continued throughout a good portion of her life, focusing on vocal and music in addition to teaching.
After a trip to the west in 1922, Ivadell seems to have become enamoured of Wyoming in particular. She has several photos from a trip to Yellowstone from this summer in her collection, a feature that would continue throughout her various outdoor excursions. She accepted a teaching position in Lander in 1924, moving to teach music education amongst the various grade schools. She directed the high school orchestra and student produced musicals while here, garnering praise for her efforts in local newspapers. Outside of work throughout the years both inside and outside of Lander, she was involved in choral groups (such as some named The Robinettes and The Hummingbirds), as singing seemed to be her favorite way of performing music, and joining the women’s club The Musical Research Club. She participated in choral performances for various events including an impromptu reception in October of 1925 for Governor Nellie Tayloe Ross.
Ivadell’s summers and off hours were most often spent camping, exploring, and horseback riding around Wyoming. Most often she was accompanied by fellow teachers, or close female friends. From a reminiscence of hers, she learned horseback riding from her brother Ernest, and she seemed to have ridden horses as often as she could. Throughout her adventures, she documented with her camera either by photographing scenery and friends herself or by handing the camera to someone to get her in photos as well. Trips to local areas such as Sinks Canyon or Atlantic City show up, but also longer trips well up into the mountains and around Jackson occur. Her collection of over 800 photographs in the Pioneer Museum archives give a wonderful insight into outdoor recreation and former landscapes of our area, before human advancements came and built roads and other infrastructure. Such insights by one person’s documentation don’t always occur and it offers great opportunity for research and study, alongside being a marvelous look back on recreation and social interaction.
Ivadell taught until 1928 in Lander, then relocated back to Iowa to teach for another twenty three years. She still felt a pull to Wyoming however, and applied for an opening with the Sheridan school district in the early 1940’s. She was hired and taught music in the high school there until retiring in 1958. She remained in Sheridan until her death in 1984, a long life at 91 years of age spent in music and exploration.
Next up for the Fremont County Museum
May 14, 7pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Lander 100 Years Ago” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
May 14, 6pm at the Riverton Museum, “Cowboy Poetry & Roundtable with Jack Schmidt” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
May 23, 10am at the Dubois Museum, “Kids Corner: Blacksmithing History” Bailey’s Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
May 30, 2pm at the Riverton Museum, “Draper Raptor Experience” Bailey’s Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
Daily through December at the Pioneer Museum, “Sweetwater Ranch Life, The Paintings of Jack Corbett” Exhibition Opening
Rare Relics Road Show: Save the Date: Saturday October 10, 2026 Lander, WY Lander Community Center, You Are Invited!
Call the Dubois Museum 1-307-455-2284, the Pioneer Museum 1-307-332-3339 or the Riverton Museum 1-307-856-2665 for detail regarding their programs.
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax deductible contribution through the Wind River Cultural Centers Foundation https://windriverccf.funraise.org/ or by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.