P L A C E S O F L E A R N I N G H I S T O R I C A L C O N T E X T O F S C H O O L S I N W Y O M I N G clayton b. fraser mary m. humstone rheba massey prepared for the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office Planning and Historic Context Development Program Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources Lander Public School, Fremont County P L A C E S O F L E A R N I N G H I S T O R I C A L C O N T E X T O F S C H O O L S I N W Y O M I N G clayton b. fraser mary m. humstone rheba massey prepared for the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office Planning and Historic Context Development Program Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources December 2010 Figure 1. Rock Springs School, left center , 1904. C O N T E N T S Introduction . 4 Contextual Study. 8 Research................................................................................. 10 Regulatory Requirements. 17 Determining National Register Eligibility. 18 Summary. 22 Endnotes. 23 Overview. ....................................................................................... 25 1. Preamble: The American Educational System. 26 2. Timeline of Wyoming School History. 29 3. Pre-Territorial Period: 1850-1868. 34 Early Army Post Schools. 35 Pre-Territorial Public School. 37 Summary. 38 Endnotes. 39 4. Territorial and Early Statehood Period: 1868-1915. 40 Territorial Designation and Legislation. 41 State Legislation. 43 School Funding. 44 Curriculum and Teachers. 44 Territorial Development. 45 Statehood. 53 Rural Schools. 60 High Schools. 62 Kindergartens. 66 School Libraries. 66 University of Wyoming. 67 State Government Schools. 68 1 Summary. 69 Endnotes. 70 Wyoming Schools Built in the Territorial and Early Statehood Eras (1868 - 1915). 76 5. Progressive Era: 1915-1930. 79 Wyoming Education: 1915-1930. 81 School Funding and Equalization . 82 High Schools. 83 Junior High Schools. 89 Elementary Schools. 91 Rural Schools. 92 Beginnings of Standardization. 96 Transportation and Consolidation. 98 Changes in Roles of Schools and School Curriculum. 101 World War I and the Role of Schools. 104 “Americanization”. 105 School Libraries. 106 Schools as Social Centers. 106 Summary. 108 Endnotes. 109 Wyoming Schools Built in the Progressive Era (1915 - 1929). 112 6. The Great Depression and War Years: 1930-1945. 114 Public Works Administration. 115 Works Progress Administration: 1935-1943. 117 Wyoming Education: 1930-1945. ..