Daniel Davis

Elwood Mead, Arid Land Cession, and the Creation of the Wyoming System of Water Rights

Daniel Davis — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:37:30 PST

Those acquainted with Wyoming history know that Elwood Mead was Wyoming's first territorial engineer and the father of the "Wyoming System" of water rights. This system has been widely praised as a progressive model and all the Western states, in one form or another, have copied it. Even today, Wyoming's water laws are based on the foundation Mead built during his time in the state from 1888 to 1899. Mead's system has promoted irrigation development and limited expensive litigation for farmers and ranchers. Although Wyoming has less agriculture than its neighboring states of Colorado and Nebraska, this is a result of a short growing season and limited markets and not a flawed legal system. There is more, however, to the story. For Mead, the Wyoming system was supposed to be the opening shot in a war on, what he considered to be, misguided federal land laws.

Information Professional or Caretaker of "Old Stuff"

Daniel Davis — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:37:28 PST

Do archivists emphasize their role as technicians with specialized skills and knowledge or do they emphasize their role as sort of "semi-pro" historians? This debate has been around since the 1930s and is not likely to be decided any time soon. My argument is that young archivists cannot afford to take an either/or approach and must incorporate elements of both paths or risk obsolescence and/or continued low salaries.

Information professional or caretaker of "Old Stuff"

Daniel Davis — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:44:09 PDT

Appreciating a Pretty Shoulder: The Risquie Images of Charles Ellis Johnson

Daniel Davis — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:27:44 PDT

Housed in the collections of the Special Collections and Archives at Utah State University is an intriguing set of risqué photographs dating roughly from 1890 to 1910. Some of the images are stereo-views or cabinet card portraits of burlesque actresses either in tights or displaying bare necks, shoulders, and upper bosoms. Other photographs in the collection are even more suggestive with women undressing, lounging about with dresses that reveal their thighs, wearing body suits, and removing one-another’s clothing. By today’s standards they are more comical than pornographic. Considering the conventions of the time, however, especially in conservative, turn-ofthe-century Utah they are quite shocking.