Frank Collins Emerson was born in Saginaw, Michigan on May 26, 1882. He received a degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan in 1904. After a short stint as city engineer for the city of Saginaw, Emerson moved to Cora, Wyoming, where he did consulting work, operated a general store, and was an assistant postmaster. Later he devoted himself entirely to engineering, working as an assistant state engineer and an employee of several companies. He was appointed state engineer in 1919. Emerson was heavily involved with negotiations on behalf of Wyoming in the Colorado River Compact. In the 1926 election for governor, he defeated Nellie Tayloe Ross and was re-elected in 1930. He died in Cheyenne on February 18, 1931.

Emerson married Zennia Reynders on January 17, 1910 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They had three sons (Frank, Jr., David, and Eugene).

The Frank R. Emerson Collection

The records of Governor Emerson's term in office include:

• General Records
• Corporations Failing to File Annual Report
• State Canvassing Board Minutes
• Administrative Records
• Correspondence
• Financial Records
• Minutes
• Appointments
• Governor's confirmation List of Appointments as Submitted to the Auditor
• Miscellaneous Employment Applications
• Applications, Clerical Positions
• Wyoming State Appointment Records
• Proclamations
• State Board of Pardons Records
• Requisitions and Extraditions
• Requests
• Rewards
• Legislative Affairs
• House Bills, Senate Files
• Budget Messages
• Correspondence Regarding Legislation

Additional Resources

• Frank C. Emerson papers, 1925-1931, Collection Number 00043, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
• "Wyoming's Engineer-Governor: Frank Emerson," Wyoming Postscripts, Wyoming State Archives, May 26, 2015. (accessed July 2015)
• Mackey, Mike. Protecting Wyoming's Share: Frank Emerson and the Colorado River Compact. Sheridan: Western History Publications, 2013.