Nye, Bill, 1850-1896

Nye was a distinguished American journalist, who later became widely known as a humorist. He was also the founder and editor of the Laramie Boomerang.

From the description of Bill Nye newspaper articles, 1890-1898, 1935-1971. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 26729751

American humorist, journalist and lecturer.

From the description of Letters from Bill Nye to Major Pond, 1885-1896. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 19020021

Author and humorist. Full name: Edgar Wilson Nye.

From the description of Bill Nye papers, 1882-1902. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70983746

Western humorist who spent his last years in North Carolina.

From the description of Documentary proof of self-defense, undated. WorldCat record id: 24201809

American humorist.

From the description of Letter : Hudson, Wis., to an unidentified correspondent, 1886 June 8 [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647833955

From the description of Papers of Bill Nye [manuscript], 1870-1900, bulk 1870-1895. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647812214

From the description of Bill Nye letter to L. Herbert Jenkins [manuscript], 1886 November 9. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 781301259

Bill Nye was a Western humorist who spent his last years in North Carolina.

From the guide to the Bill Nye's Documentary Proof of Self-Defense, undated, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Edgar Wilson Nye was the founder and first editor of the Laramie Boomerang, a newspaper reputedly named after Nye’s mule. His humorous columns for the paper achieved national recognition, and he went on to become a nationally-known lecturer and author under the pen name Bill Nye. He was born in Shirley, Maine, on August 25, 1850, and came to Laramie, Wyoming, in 1876. He was initially employed by J.H. Hayford on the Laramie Sentinel but supplemented his income by writing for other papers as well, including the Denver Tribune, where he came to the attention of Eugene Field. In 1877 he married Fannie Smith and in 1881 began publication of the Boomerang . The newspaper was successful, and Nye soon began to publish books based on his humorous observations. Nye, however, became ill and sold his Laramie interests in 1883. He returned to his former home in Wisconsin where he continued to write. He later settled in North Carolina. He traveled widely in the 1880s and 1890s as a lecturer, often in partnership with James Whitcomb Riley, under the management of James B. Pond. His health, however, remained poor, and he died in 1896 at the age of forty-six.

From the guide to the Bill Nye papers, 1878-circa 1973, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)