Byrd Wall Sawyer Collection (MS-00316)

Byrd Sawyer was a noted historian, librarian, and educator in Nevada during the mid-twentieth century. Born Byrd Fanita Wall in Warrensburg, Missouri on May 5, 1895, she later relocated to Reno, Nevada where she met her husband Harry W. Sawyer (M.D.). The couple married on September 11, 1923 and moved to Berkeley, California, where Byrd attended the University of California, Berkeley. Byrd attained her Master of Arts degree in History in 1931. Sawyer’s thesis was titled, “The Gold and Silver Rushes of Nevada: 1900-1910.” Byrd and Harry relocated to Fallon, Nevada, where Byrd became engaged in both academic and philanthropic activities throughout Western and Northern Nevada.

Byrd Sawyer worked as the librarian at Churchill County High School from the 1930s through the 1950s. She served as a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Chapter X in Carson City, Nevada. She also created the organization’s fourth Nevada chapter, Chapter D of Fallon in 1927, and served as its first president. Sawyer’s role in the organization heightened as she became the Nevada PEO’s first State Organizer, and in 1949 she served as the Nevada State Chapter president. Sawyer also spoke at many meetings of the American Association of University Women at the University of Nevada, Reno, and toured Nevada providing histories of places to their local communities.

Byrd Sawyer was noted for writing the first complete history of the Nevada sheep industry. Her monograph, “Nevada Nomads: A Story of the Sheep Industry,” was published in 1971. In recognition of her research and writing skills, she received the 1972 Annual Award for the Best Writer of Nevada History from the Nevada Historical Society. Sawyer also co-wrote two textbooks prior to her monograph, including “Our State Nevada” (1956) and “Here is Nevada” (1965). She assisted in writing the first history of Nevada’s public education system. The book was called “Inside Nevada Schools: A Challenge for the Future” (1976), created by the Nevada Retired Teachers Association in observance of Nevada’s Bicentennial. Sawyer served as the State Chairman for the project, which was a nationwide effort of regional history projects created by the National Retired Teachers Association. Sawyer also co-wrote a history monograph titled, “The History Of Fifty Years of Mining At Tonopah, 1900-1950” (1976), with Russell Elliott and Jay Carpenter.

Byrd Wall Sawyer continued her active interest in Nevada history until her death in October 15, 1981. Byrd was the step mother to Grant Sawyer, the Governor of Nevada from 1959-1967.

Sources:

“Byrd Sawyer honored by PEO.” Nevada Appeal. May 11, 1977.

“New book details Nevada education.” Nevada Appeal. November 7, 1976.

“Bicentennial Book Features Teachers’ Works.” Nevada Appeal. February 17, 1976.

“Retired Teachers to Record Nevada History.” Fallon Eagle-Standard. February 11, 1975.