To research brands registered before 1909, researchers must consult county brand records.
What are these?
- Until 1909, the county clerk’s office was responsible for registering brands. Information about brands appears in brand books, lists, and brand committee minutes. The county brand book is the official register of brands. The brand committee minutes document what brands were approved or rejected for registration. County brand lists were compiled for ready reference.
What information do they contain?
- All the records list the brand owner’s name and description of the brand.
Where do I find them?
- The Wyoming State Archives has microfilm of most county brand records. The Archives has original brand records from some counties. Otherwise, the books are kept with the respective county clerk.
How do I use them?
- Brand books usually have an index. A helpful hint: the early state brand books also provide the book and page when the brand was last recorded in the county brand books. But this entry could also be the last recorded entry or a renewal. This means the brand had been registered earlier.
- For brand lists and brand committee minutes, there is no easy means of research. Researchers should prepare to devote some time to perusing pages of entries.
