Meyer, Estelle Reel, 1862-1959

Estelle Reel was born in 1862 in the State of Illinois. In 1895 she was elected state superintendent of public instruction, the first woman in Wyoming ever elected to a state office. In 1898 she was appointed by the president to the position of superintendent of Indian schools and special disbursing officer. In this position she served for twelve years. She was an indefatigable investigator of conditions in the Indian schools all over the United States. She traveled extensively by train, buckboard and on horseback when necessary. Reel prepared a text book for Indian schools, which received the commendation of many educational publications. The background material for this work is in the collection. While on a visit to the Yakima reservation she met and later married Cort F. Meyer. The couple became partners in a sheep raising business with the Kays Brothers. Estelle Reel Meyer passed away on August 2, 1959.