Book Nook - Women Shaping the West: Stories from Wyoming

I'm not from the west, but my daughter and I love reading about women who are changemakers, so we were thrilled at the chance to review Women Shaping the West: Stories from Wyoming. 

The book is beautiful. There are dozens of amazing women from a variety of backgrounds - women involved in politics, arts, STEM fields, and more, including an Eastern Shoshone langauge keeper (as a language teacher, that was my favorite profile). Photographer and podcaster Lindsay Linton Buk logged over 15,000 miles interviewing and photographing amazing women full of courage, creativity, and conviction. It's a great book for anyone interested in the American West, female leaders, entrepreneurship, community advocacy, and more.

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

What makes the American West such a fascinating topic for both history and modern culture?

The vastness of the American West will always be captivating. The skies, mountains, canyons, rivers, wildlife and spaces that separate communities are wider and larger. In Wyoming, expansive terrain shapes the least-populated and tenth-largest state in the country. Three-quarters of our state are preserved grasslands or rangelands. Federal public lands comprise 48 percent of Wyoming. At its core, Wyoming is rural and wild.

In my book, I ask: “What can be forged across these stark, often harsh, largely untamed landscapes?” 

Life is a creative, physical act that demands devotion, energy and persistence. The sheer openness, beauty and also isolation of many western landscapes creates a lot of dynamic energy. I think humans will forever be enchanted by the awe, wonder, challenges, scarcity of resources, and opportunities of this region. 

Why is it important to recognize the women who have shaped the American West?

They call Wyoming the cowboy state, but women have always been at the heart of our most powerful transformations. Wyoming’s official motto is equal rights. Wyoming was the first state to recognize women’s right to vote and hold office in1869. While Indigenous women had to wait until the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, it is believed Wyoming supported the first female Black voters in history. Most women in Wyoming held power and positions of influence unmatched by their American contemporaries. 

As a result of the landmark 1869 legislation, Wyoming gave the country its first female governor (Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1925 to 1927), first woman bailiff (Martha Symons Boies Atkinson, 1970), first female jury (Laramie, 1870), and first woman justice of the peace (Esther Hobart Morris, 1870). Suffrage historian, Jennfier Helton, who advised the historical section of my book says, “While men still held most elected offices, women served on election boards, on school boards, as game wardens, as justices of peace, as mayors, as constables and county clerks. In other parts of the country, this might have been remarkable, but in Wyoming, it was routine.” 

My book connects past to present. In addition to the 20 historical stories in the book, the book is primarily centered around 25 contemporary women making an impact in Wyoming today. I tell their stories through portrait photography, captured on medium format film, and in-depth narratives. Additionally, I tell their stories through podcast interviews, a traveling art exhibit, and now, this book. Unless stories are preserved and shared, they are forgotten. Seeing is believing. When women and girls see their stories reflected in powerful ways, it inspires them to engage in their own personal leadership, illuminating the way for others to follow. 

What are some common myths people believe about the American West?

Traditionally, imagery of the American West has focused on monochrome nostalgia and largely been tied to a certain kind of mythology, like the cowboy or lone figure against the landscape. This project strives for broader representation beyond traditional portrayals, emphasizing the depth of experiences of humanity. Throughout the pages of my book, you’ll meet an artist, a politician, a community advocate, a backcountry pilot, an inventor, as well as women you may expect to meet in Wyoming like a rancher and farmer—all in vivid color. 

Creating this project also allowed me to confront a personal myth: Wyoming is limiting. Once, I believed I could never have a future in Wyoming. It felt too small, too isolated, too empty. But through the creation of this project, I’ve learned that creativity isn’t just about making art—it’s about shaping a life, a community, a state, and a state of being. Wyoming has offered me unique creative challenges, but more important, it has shown me what creation really means—turning possibility into reality, even in the hardest places.

Lindsay Linton Buk is a photographer, author, and fifth-generation Wyomingite whose work explores culture and humanity. Trained in New York City and now based in Wyoming, she is the creator of the Women of Wyoming podcast and museum exhibition. Her work has been widely exhibited and celebrated for its intimacy, depth, and cultural insight.  Her striking portrait work has appeared in Outside and Southwest magazines, and her acclaimed Women in Wyoming project has been featured on Forbes, the Travel Channel, and more.

 

For more information visit www.shapingthewest.com.

 

 

The Collective Book Studio is a woman-owned, full-service publishing studio that works with authors, brands, and companies to create, develop, and publish high-quality books. With a focus on innovative content and striking design, The Collective Book Studio offers a unique approach to the publishing process, providing clients with expertise and collaborative support from concept to creation.