Early Bisbee with Richard W. Graeme IV and Annie Graeme Larkin
Free Online Program
Early Bisbee with Richard W. Graeme IV and Annie Graeme Larkin
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 11:00 AM – MST
Before Bisbee became a bustling mining camp, it was a haven for Native Americans for centuries. However, their presence brought the intrusion of army scouts and prospectors into the Mule Mountains. The coincidental discovery of vast mineral wealth at the future site of Bisbee permanently affixed the fate of the land forever. Rising from the remote desert was a dynamic mining city, a city that grew into one of the most influential communities in the West. Bisbee was unique in the Old West because of the mixed moral values. High society and the decadent underworld lived in a delicate balance, but a vibrant multicultural community was forged from these social fires.
Richard W. Graeme IV has worked in mines in Alaska, Colorado, California, and New Mexico. He also worked in Bisbee at the Queen Mine Tours as a guide, where his knowledge base was put to full use. Because of the difficult times for the domestic mining industry, Rich switched from a mining major to education. He earned a degree in education from the University of Arizona in 1999. He has been teaching for 26 years in the southeastern Arizona area. During this time Richard has authored and co-authored several books and articles including “The Mineralogy of Bisbee, Arizona, Volumes 1 and 2,” “7-Bells: Mine Accidents at Bisbee, Arizona,” and “Forgotten Caves of Bisbee, Arizona.”
From a Bisbee pioneer family, Annie Graeme Larkin has been steeped in the community’s history her entire life. It was her fascination with the community’s past that drew her to preserving the region’s history. Annie earned my bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University. She authored the postcard history book “Bisbee” and is the co-author of “Early Bisbee,” a work she wrote with her brothers, Richard W. Graeme IV and Douglas L. Graeme. She is currently the executive director of the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum.
To register or for more information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/BisbeeOnline03142026