Wyoming State Archives Presents “Barney L. Ford and the American Dream: From Enslavement”

The Wyoming State Archives hosts a virtual presentation and Q&A session on, “Barney L. Ford and The American Dream: From Enslavement,” by Dr. Doug Kupel held on Thursday, July 14, at 7 p.m. in the Wyoming State Museum classroom, located at 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne.

This will be a hybrid viewing party and virtual presentation. For those not able to attend in-person, registration to attend the event online is through Eventbrite. This free public event is part of the Archives’ monthly second Thursdays evening speaker series.

Kupel will explore the facts and fiction surrounding the life of Barney L. Ford, an escaped slave turned wealthy entrepreneur and civil rights pioneer in the Mountain West. In 1870, Ford opened the modest Ford’s Hotel which grew to become the Inter-Ocean Hotel, the finest in Cheyenne.

Ford also operated wildly successful hotels, restaurants, and mining ventures in Denver and Breckenridge, where he used his wealth and influence to promote education for former slaves and universal suffrage in Colorado.

Doug Kupel is a long-time adjunct faculty instructor who has taught in higher education since 1996. He received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University in history, and has a master’s degree in history from the University of Arizona. He also has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in Eugene. Doug also has a degree in archeology from the University of South Carolina and is a registered professional archeologist. He spent his career in water resources, first at the City of Phoenix in the City Attorney’s Office and later for the City Manager’s Office. After retiring from Phoenix, he worked for the City of Glendale, Ariz., where he finished his government career as the deputy director of the Water Services Department. Today, he is active in the environmental consulting field for the private sector. He is currently the senior historian and archeologist for Urbana Preservation and Planning in San Diego.

The WSA Speaker Series hosts talks at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Upcoming topics include Bombing Wyoming: Operation Fu-Go with Dave Marcum on August 11 and Chinese Communities in Western Wyoming with Dr. Dudley Gardner on September 8, with others scheduled throughout the year.

To view upcoming events, check out the Wyoming State Archives events calendar. A recording of this talk will be available on the WSA YouTube channel the week following the talk.

The Wyoming State Archives collects, manages, and preserves Wyoming state public records that have long-term administrative, legal, and historical value. These records document the history of our state and the activities of Wyoming Government offices. The Archives also collects non-government records that contribute to the understanding of the state’s history.

For more information, contact Sara Davis, Wyoming State Archivist, at sara.davis@wyo.gov or call the WSA at 307-777-7826.

The Wyoming State Archives is accessible according to the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. If you require special assistance, please contact the Wyoming State Archives at 307-777-7826.

Story by the Wyoming State Archives