MSS. Manuscript Collections

Abstract

Documents related to the appointment of Margaret Taylor Chapman to the office of Public Trustee for Jefferson County, Colorado.

Scope and Contents

Partial, typed manuscript with editing marks for Mary Helen Crain's book on the history of Evergreen, Colorado, and its pioneer families. Contains acknowledgements, foreword, and chapters 1, 2 and 3. Chapter 4 is incomplete and chapters 5-9 are missing, as is the index. This manuscript was published by Pruett Publishing Company, of Boulder, Colorado, in 1969.

Abstract The Morrison School records include documents created by the school as part of their activities as an educational institution serving the Morrison community and surrounding area. Records include teacher’s registers, school census records, school reports, correspondence, photographs and various school documents. Also included are documents pertaining to the legal and financial aspects of running a school, such as State of Colorado publications, district secretary’s record books, financial...

Scope and Contents Administrative records of the Mountain Area Planning Council, a group of mountain area organizations and individual landowners, active from 1967 to 1977. The function of the Council was to coordinate creative ideas, manpower, and financial resources in order to preserve the scenic and historic beauty of the area. In 1968, the Council learned that the Evergreen area was being considered as a venue for the Nordic events of the 1976 Winter Olympics. This became a major concern of...

Scope and Contents

Accounting book for the Murphy Coal Company of Golden, Colorado. Formed in 1872, Murphy Coal Company operated a coal mine on Ralston Creek. The daybook lists each day's mining transactions for later transfer to a ledger. It runs from January 31, 1880 to February 1, 1881.

Scope and Contents Victorian-era drawing room play, also called an exhibition and parlor drama. Drawing room plays were developed during the Victorian period in the U.K. and were designed for entertaining guests in the drawing room of one's home. They include instructions for simple costumes and props as well as stage directions. My Turn Next tells the story of Taraxicum Twitters, a village apothecary, just married and extremely timid. It illustrates the difficulties he encounters through marrying...

Scope and Contents

These memoirs, written by Sarah Ann Baker at age 85, document her childhood and her family's overland journey from Illinois to Kansas Territory and then on to Colorado Territory in the 1860s. This unpublished manuscript begins with Baker's first recollection of being lovingly held by her grandfather and continues throughout her childhood until her marriage to Frank Baker at age 19. It was edited and prefaced by her daughter, Helen Baker Reynolds.

Scope and Contents Jennie Pruden's daily diaries were kept from 1891 until her death in 1945. She and her husband Charlie came from Iowa and homesteaded 160 acres in Jefferson County near Plainview in the early 1900s. They also owned and operated the Post Office and store on the Plainview stop of the Moffat Line starting in 1909. Her diaries recount daily pioneer life. Background research and photographs included. Transcript of oral history recordings with Charles Moore recorded between 1975 and...

Scope and Contents

Hand-written and typed transcript of untitled, unpublished manuscript about Golden's various industries. Primarily the development of the smelting, brick, and paper industries in Golden, and especially the Adolph Coors Brewing Company.

Scope and Contents

Manuscript of an article about the location of early pioneer Alden Mowry's homestead. The homestead, near Bear Creek in Lakewood, Colorado, became known as the Pennsylvania House, a stage stop on the Bradford Road. Article was published in the 2009 issue of Historically Jeffco magazine.

Abstract From the introduction: "This is the story of the land that comprises and adjoins White Ranch Open Space Park northwest of Golden, and some of the people who have lived on the land. Most of the people have roots that go back to the very beginnings of Jefferson County. Many of them are immigrants. All are remarkable for their dedication to hard work and for their perseverance in the face of adversity. The land is the main character of this story. In a number of ways, it is unique. Curiously,...

Scope and Contents Personal papers of Jefferson County Commissioner Robert F. Clement, Commissioner from 1973-1981. Collection includes correspondence, certificates of election and oath of office. Also included are documents pertaining to the incorporation election of the proposed "Jefferson City" in 1969. Clement was an election commissioner for the election and also ran for the office of Alderman. This folder includes lists of election commissioners, election judges and precinct workers; vote tallies;...

Scope and Contents

This research project is about historic Rockland Cemetery, and the historic and cultural connection that the interred of this cemetery have to the development of Upper Mount Vernon Canyon, Colorado.

Contains biographical information for: Jacob Blum, Katherine Lee Craig, Elsie Cherry Lee Darling, Abraham Hartzell, William J. McCoy, Nancy J. McCoy, John McCoy, Lucian Hunter Ralston, and Lucian McKee Ralston.

Abstract Report created by the U.S. Army Engineer Topographic Laboratories in support of their task producing a high-resolution, high-accuracy, experimental digital terrain data base to be used with an inertial navigation system for an Autonomous Land Vehicle (ALV). The report provides a pictorial and descriptive introduction to the terrain characteristics of the ALV test site at the Martin Marietta (Lockheed Martin’s predecessor) facility in Jefferson County, Colorado. Jefferson County’s Mapping...

Scope and Contents Two legislative bills enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of Colorado Territory. A Bill for an act entitled "An act to encourage the destruction of wolves" allowed for payment of a premium of one dollar for every wolf killed. A Bill for "An act to provide for the collection of the Territorial Revenue in certain counties and for other purposes" allowed for the appointment of an assessor and collector to assess and collect revenue in those counties who had failed to contribute...

Abstract From the report: In 1991, the Jefferson County Horsemen's Association determined that there was a need for its members to have access to information which, even if less than encompassing, would provide some guidelines to businesses and regional planners when addressing issues tied to equestrian interests. Consequently, the information contained in this survey serves a two-fold purpose. First, because equestrian interests vary so widely, it attempts to define the activities horse owners have...

Scope and Contents Please note: While we are aware that the creator's use of the word in the title is offensive by today's standards, the Archives does not censor language used in previous eras. Please keep its historical context in mind.Victorian-era drawing room play, also called an exhibition and parlor drama. Drawing room plays were developed during the Victorian period in the U.K. and were designed for entertaining guests in the drawing room of one's home. They include instructions for simple...

Abstract From the introduction (edited): Jefferson County Open Space recently purchased land at the edge of Gilpin County, a small section of which holds evidence that the area may have been the site of an old homestead. The site contains several structures that are visible above ground. The most prominent structure appears to be an old fireplace. On the west side of the fireplace is a small enclosed structure made entirely of rock slabs. About 20 meters away, on the other side of the fireplace is a...

Abstract

Unpublished manuscript about the history of public school buildings in Lakewood, Colorado with emphasis on those located at 10th Ave. and Wadsworth Blvd.

Scope and Contents Home movie film of the James W. Bancker family from Summit, New Jersey, visiting Tiny Town, Colorado, and surrounding area about 1931. The film shows scenes of cars driving on a dirt canyon road along a rushing creek (possibly Turkey Creek Canyon), then the family at Tiny Town, then looking out from Lookout Mountain. Using census records and an obituary, we were able to piece together who the family is. Presumably the man (father) was James William Banker, born in London in 1874,...

Scope and Contents Unpublished manuscript about the life of William J. Howlett, a priest and writer. He describes his childhood in New York and Michigan, recounts his family's wagon journey to Denver along the Platte River in 1865, and his student days in the Seminary. Returning to Colorado, he embarked on mission and parish work under Bishop Joseph Machebeuf, whose biography he later published. This work provides glimpses of the growth of the Colorado Church in the last quarter of the 19th century. Note:...