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Wyoming State Seal
Wyoming State Seal: Great Seal of the State of Wyoming
Wyoming gained statehood in 1890, but it wasn't until the second Legislative session, in 1893, three years later, that the design of the official state seal was approved.
The most prominent feature of Wyoming's seal is the central figure of a woman standing before a banner which reads "Equal Rights". Wyoming bears the honorable distinction of being at the forefront of states advocating equal rights for men and women, well before the turn of the century.
On either side of the female figure are two pillars, each with scrolls that proclaim Wyoming's major economic strengths: oil, mines, livestock, and grain. On each pillar are burning lamps, symbolizing the "Light of Knowledge."
In the foreground, a striped shield and star, topped by an eagle, represent Wyoming's sovereignty and dedication to the Union. The number 44, within the star, identifies Wyoming as the 44th state to enter the Union.
On either side of the shield are the dates1869 and 1890, which represent, respectively, the date that Wyoming organized as a Territory, and the date that Wyoming gained statehood.
Flanking the pillars are figures representing the livestock and mining industries.
Chapter 49 of the Sixteenth Wyoming Legislature, meeting in 1921, increased the dimension of the seal from a diameter of 1 1/4" to a diameter of 1 1/2".
Wyoming Law
The following information was excerpted from the Wyoming Statutes Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 3, Section 8-3-101.
Title 8 General Provisions
Chapter 3 State Seal, Flag, Flower, Bird and Other Symbols
Wyo. Stat. § 8-3-101 (2015)
§ 8-3-101. Great seal of the state of Wyoming.
There shall be a great seal of the state of Wyoming, which shall be of the following design, viz: A circle one and one-half (1 1/2) inches in diameter, on the outer edge or rim of which shall be engraved the words "Great Seal of the State of Wyoming." The design shall conform substantially to the following description: A pedestal, showing on the front thereof an eagle resting upon a shield, the shield to have engraved thereon a star and the figures, "44," being the number of Wyoming in the order of admission to statehood. Standing upon the pedestal shall be a draped figure of a woman, modeled after the statue of the "Victory of the Louvre," from whose wrists shall hang links of a broken chain, and holding in her right hand a staff from the top of which shall float a banner with the words "Equal Rights" thereon, all suggesting the political position of woman in this state. On either side of the pedestal and standing at the base thereof, shall be male figures typifying the livestock and mining industries of Wyoming. Behind the pedestal, and in the background, shall be two (2) pillars, each supporting a lighted lamp, signifying the light of knowledge. Around each pillar shall be a scroll with the following words thereon: On the right of the central figure the words "Livestock" and "Grain," and on the left the words "Mines" and "Oil." At the base of the pedestal, and in front, shall appear the figures "1869-1890," the former date signifying the organization of the territory of Wyoming and the latter the date of its admission to statehood.
HISTORY: Laws 1893, ch. 3, § 1; R.S. 1899, § 1; C.S. 1910, § 1; C.S. 1920, § 1; Laws 1921, ch. 49, § 1; R.S. 1931, § 111-101; C.S. 1945, § 18-2201; W.S. 1957, § 8-43; W.S. 1977, § 8-5-101; Laws 1978, ch. 37, § 1.
The following information was excerpted from the Wyoming Statutes Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 1, Article 3, Section 9-1-301.
Title 9 Administration of the Government
Chapter 1 State Officers
Article 3. Secretary of State
Wyo. Stat. § 9-1-301 (2015)
§ 9-1-301. Custodian of state seal.
The secretary of state is the custodian of the great seal of the state.
HISTORY: Laws 1890-91, ch. 95, § 2; R.S. 1899, § 55; C.S. 1910, § 92; C.S. 1920, § 102; R.S. 1931, § 109-202; C.S. 1945, § 18-202; W.S. 1957, § 9-34; W.S. 1977, § 9-2-201; Laws 1982, ch. 62, § 3.
The following information was excerpted from the Wyoming Statutes Annotated, Title 1, Chapter 1, Article 3, Section 9-1-303.
Title 9 Administration of the Government
Chapter 1 State Officers
Article 3. Secretary of State
Wyo. Stat. § 9-1-303 (2015)
§ 9-1-303. Powers and duties; affixing seal to and countersigning commissions and documents; certified copies of acts; file of commissions and appointments.
(a) The secretary of state shall affix the great seal of the state to, and countersign:
(i) Commissions;
(ii) Official acts which the governor is required by law to perform except his approval or disapproval of legislative acts; and
(iii) Other instruments when required or authorized by the governor.
(b) The secretary of state shall deliver to every person upon request, copies of any act, resolution, order of the legislature, commission or other official act of the governor, roll, record, document, paper, bond or recognizance, deposited in the office by law, and certify the copies under his hand, and affix thereto the seal of the office upon tender of fees prescribed by law.
(c) The secretary of state shall keep a file of all commissions issued and appointments made by the governor. The file shall specify:
(i) The name of the person;
(ii) The office conferred or commission issued;
(iii) The district or county for which the appointment is made; and
(iv) The term of office.
(d) The secretary of state shall print the following documents and make those documents available to the public upon tender of fees prescribed by rule and regulation, which fees shall be sufficient to the extent practical to recover the secretary of state's cost of the document provided:
(i) The constitution of the state of Wyoming;
(ii) A directory of state departments and selected employees.
HISTORY: Laws 1890-91, ch. 95, §§ 8 to 10; R.S. 1899, §§ 61 to 63; C.S. 1910, §§ 98 to 100; C.S. 1920, §§ 108 to 110; R.S. 1931, §§ 109-208 to 109-210; C.S. 1945, §§ 18-208 to 18-210; W.S. 1957, §§ 9-40 to 9-42; W.S. 1977, §§ 9-2-208 to 9-2-210; Laws 1982, ch. 62, § 3; 2013, ch. 85, § 1.
The following information was excerpted from the Wyoming Constitution, Article 4, Section 15.
ARTICLE 4 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Article 4, Section 15. Great seal of state.
There shall be a seal of state which shall be called the "Great Seal of the State of Wyoming"; it shall be kept by the secretary of state and used by him officially as directed by law.
The seal of the Territory of Wyoming as now used shall be the seal of the state until otherwise provided by law.
Sources...
"§ 8-3-101. Great seal of the state of Wyoming." Wyoming Statutes Annotated. LexisNexis®, 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.
"§ 9-1-301. Custodian of state seal." Wyoming Statutes Annotated. LexisNexis®, 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.
"§ 9-1-303. Powers and duties; affixing seal to and countersigning commissions and documents; certified copies of acts; file of commissions and appointments." Wyoming Statutes Annotated. LexisNexis®, 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.
"Article 4, Section 15. Great seal of state." Wyoming Constitution. The State of Wyoming, 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.
"Chapter 3." Session Laws of the State of Wyoming Passed By the Second State Legislature. Laramie: THe Republican Book and Job Print, 1893. 21. Web.
"Chapter 49." Session Laws of the State of Wyoming Passed By the Sixteenth State Legislature. Laramie: Laramie Printing, 1921. 38-39. Web.
Shankle, George Earlie. State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols. Irvine, Calif.: Reprint Services Corp, Revised edition, 1971.
Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.
Additional Information
Great Seal: Office of the Wyoming Secretary of State.
State seals: Complete list of official state seals from NETSTATE.COM.
More symbols & emblems: Complete list of official Wyoming state symbols from NETSTATE.COM.
