Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series Features Historian Colton Bowden on the Life and Legacy of Commercial Artist Edgar Church

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Oct. 5, 2026 – The Wyoming State Archives will host sign painter, artist, and commercial art historian Colton Bowden for the next installment of its monthly Speaker Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. MDT.

The presentation will explore the career of Edgar Church, a prolific yet underappreciated figure in Western American commercial art. While world-renowned among collectors for his legendary comic book collection, Church spent more than 40 years as the lead advertising and design artist for the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company in Denver, Colorado. His work reached millions across Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado, shaping the visual culture of Mountain West telephone directories and commercial illustration from the 1920s through the 1950s.

Bowden will present virtually, with a public live-stream watch party hosted at the Wyoming State Museum Classroom. A live Q&A session with Bowden will follow the lecture.

Event Details

• What: Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series: The Life and Legacy of Edgar Church
• When: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. MDT
• In-Person Location: Wyoming State Museum Classroom, 2301 Central Ave., Cheyenne, WY
• Virtual Attendance: Free online participation with advance registration at wyomingstatearchives.eventbrite.com
• Cost: Free and open to the public

About the Presenter

Colton "Colt" Bowden is a fine artist, sign painter, commercial art historian, and steam locomotive restoration specialist based in McMinnville, Oregon. He holds a BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University (2012) and has published over 10 books on sign painting and design over the past decade. Bowden is currently researching Church’s life and work for an upcoming book.

About the Wyoming State Archives

The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series takes place on the second Thursday of each month and highlights the state's diverse history. The Wyoming State Archives preserves and makes Wyoming's rich history accessible, offering public programming, research resources, and educational series that bring the state's vibrant past to life.

The Wyoming State Archives is fully accessible under ADA guidelines. For more information or to request special assistance, please contact Sara Davis, Wyoming State Archivist.