The Wyoming Digital Newspaper Collection has added five prison newspapers to its database. Titles include Best Scene, J-A-B-S, Wyoming State Honor Farm, Wyoming Pen, and The New Approach. These newspapers span from 1915 to 1992 and give insight into the daily lives of those in the prison system.

“Providing the titles provides a different aspect of Wyoming history,” said Travis Pollok, Wyoming State Library legislative librarian.

These collections of newspapers were all written, edited and published by those in the prison system. Topics range from entertainment pieces to local news. Local news from these articles include prices, agricultural information, and government and school events. On the entertainment side, newspapers include opinion columns, poetry, and short stories.

To read more from these collections, visit the Wyoming Digital Newspaper Collection, at wyomingnewspapers.org. One may also enjoy other unique newspaper collections such as Heart Mountain, Wingspan, and P.O.W.

The Wyoming State Library was first established in 1871 as the Wyoming Territorial Library. By statute, it is the official repository of state government documents and is responsible for the extension and development of library services statewide. The WSL manages the statewide WYLDcat library catalog, the GoWYLD research databases and electronic resources and the Digital Collection Suite of Wyoming historical documents and information. Learn more about the WSL at library.wyo.gov.