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Poor Farm and Pauper Records, 1893-1939

 Collection
Identifier: Series-196

Scope and Contents

Records of aid provided to the county's poor by Jefferson County government.

Registers of the Poor may include name, address, nationality, where born, when person came to Colorado, age, sex, aid given (groceries, rent, coal, burial, etc.), whether sent to Poor Farm or hospital, how long supported, dollar amount, cause of poverty, and date of discharge.

The Pauper Record book is divided into sections: County Farm; Pauper and Mother's Compensation; Blind Benefit; and Hospital, and lists aid provided.

Miscellaneous documents include hospitalization agreements (signed by the beneficiary of hospital assistance that reimbursement would be made to the County within 90 days following discharge, showing address and signature of beneficiary); miscellaneous correspondence and notes; Record of County Poor; Statements of Expenditures for Relief of the Poor (monthly reports by the Superintendent of the Poor to the Board of County Commissioners listing names of people at the Poor Farm and others assisted, with type of relief (groceries, coal, medical, etc.) and dollar amounts); and copies of the Welfare Organization Appropriation Acts.

The Blind Benefit Record Book lists name of beneficiary and amount of benefits paid.

The Hospital Welfare Payment Ledger is a log of hospital charges and reimbursement payments made.

Dates

  • Record Keeping: 1893-1939

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Archives collection material is non-circulating, requires staff retrieval and is available for use by appointment in the reading room.

Extent

1.94 Cubic Feet (5 Volumes, 1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Archives with various transfers from the Clerk and Recorder's office in 1998, 2010 and 2015.

Related Materials

Foothills Genealogical Society Publication "Monthly Reports of Expenditures For Relief of Poor, 1894-1896" in archives' reference library.

Series 141, Item No. 8: Details of Septic Tank for Poor Farm, 1925

Also various unprocessed records: Welfare Dept. Monthly reports, 1947-49 and 1960; Warrant stubs, Support of Poor; Warranty Deed #63662, 1902, John W. Hall to Jefferson County for 10 acres for Poor Farm.

Processing Information

Processed by Ronda Frazier in 2017.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Jefferson County Archives Repository

Contact:
3500 Illinois Street
Suite 2350
Golden CO 80401 United States
1-303-271-8448