Denver Public Library: Western History Genealogy: News, Exhibits and Classes

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January 2008

Welcome to The Denver Public Library's Archives Collection News. This page is updated monthly and includes new Archives Finding Aids, Hidden Treasures of the Archives Collection, Recent Donations, Archivists Notes and previous Newsletters.

New Archives Finding Aids

A note about the Archives Collection: all Archives Collections are cataloged and a brief record is available through the Library catalog. Only a portion of the Archives Collection has extensive online guides found in the Archives Finding Aids that contain detailed descriptive information and lists of contents including the following new materials.

Belle Turnbull WH414

This collection is filled with wonderful poems. In 1937, Turnbull retired from teaching and moved to Frisco, Colorado with her friend, fellow poet and author, Helen Rich. Two years later, they moved to a cabin in Breckenridge, Colorado, where they remained for the rest of their lives. During World War II, Turnbull worked as a clerk typist for the War Price and Rationing Board in Breckenridge. She resigned in 1944 to devote all of her time to writing.

John Evans WH1724

The papers of Governor John Evans contain correspondence to and from Governor Evans and his wife, Margaret Gray Evans. The Governor's correspondence relates to business. His wife's correspondence focuses on her connection to the arts in Denver. Her role as mother is the main topic of the two diaries also contained in this collection.

John Evans, Jr. WH863

Governor Evans’ great grandson John Evans, Jr. (WH863) is also represented in the Western History Collection. He was born in 1915 and attended East High School in Denver, Colorado and Princeton University. Evans was president of Cheesman Realty Company and Evans Investment Company. The bulk of the collection consists of business papers from real estate, banking and the University of Denver. A few personal papers comprise a portion of the collection. He was a trustee of Winter Park Association from 1950 to 1970 and served on the board of trustees for the University of Denver.

Confederate States of America Records WH1643

The Confederate States of America Records contain several letters addressed to President Jefferson Davis, though none actually written by him. The collection also includes several government bonds and a 1.3 million dollar transfer draft.

Hidden Treasures

Burnis McCloud WH1128

Several photographs of Martin Luther King, Jr. are in the Burnis McCloud Collection. Among the items in the Collection are images of the civil rights leader with children, and many other local personalities. Several of the photos will be on display in the Gates Reading room Level Five of the Central Library during January.

Henry Lowenstein Papers WH1046

Photos in the Henry Lowenstein Papers (WH1046) include many early productions among them is the production of Sweeney Todd mounted in 1983. Lowenstein produced the show and Bob Wells directed the production, which opened the 30th season of the Bonfils Theatre to rave reviews.

David F. Barry Papers WH1621

Photographs of Indians taken before the turn of the century are in the David F. Barry Papers. Between 1878 and 1883, Barry traveled to Fort Buford, Fort Yates, and other forts in the Dakota Territory. He photographed famous Native Americans including Sitting Bull, Rain in the Face, Gall, Red Cloud, and Shooting Star. Barry also photographed some of the most important forts and battlefields of the Plains Wars, military officers including General George A. Crook, soldiers, trappers, and pioneers. His papers contain correspondence with photograph dealers and other customers seeking details and prices for Barry's portraits. In his correspondence, Barry often reveals details of his experiences as a pioneer photographer and with the people he photographed.

O.F. Davenport Papers

The O.F. Davenport Papers are a sobering account of travel on the frontier. In 1850, O.F. Davenport traveled overland from Georgia to California. He left behind his parents and son, Billy Grant, to find his fortune in the gold mines. Once Davenport reached California, he found life to be hard and lawless. He and his partner, Cochran had two mules stolen and a gun shot through their gold pan to prevent them from working. Even though Davenport experienced some success in mining, he still longed for home and dreamed of running a farm once he made the journey back to Georgia. The papers include a typescript of nine letters written by O.F. Davenport to his father from May 12, 1850 to October 5, 1851. The letters detail his journey from Georgia to the California gold fields and give a first hand account of mining life.

Recent Donations

Western History

Baker Historic Neighborhood Association – a partial box of records donated by Suzanne Gruba
Boge-Herbert, Winifred – one envelope of personal papers donated by Jim McNally
Children’s Museum of Denver – one box donated by Rosemarie Murane
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center – donated nine boxes of records
Cuaron, Sister Alicia – donated two boxes of plaques and awards
Unidentified Colorado Family photos – donated by Brad Dale
Daken Family – 46 boxes of the family’s papers spanning several generations donated by Martha Bullock and Peter Pollock
Daughters of the American Revolution - Colorado State Society – three scrapbooks donated by Ann F. Anderson
Dawdy, Doris Ostrander – donated one box of records
Denver Agricultural and Livestock Club – one envelope of photos donated by Ben Duke III
Denver Friends of Chamber Music – partial box of records donated by Rosemarie Murane
Denver Regional Council of Governments – the Organization donated two boxes of records
Denver Visitor Center – donated six boxes of brochures and clippings by city in Colorado
Downtown Civic Center – photo donated by Betty Plotz
Benjamin Duke Family – one envelope of family papers donated by Ben Duke
Fowler, Hugh C. – donated six boxes of his papers
Frontier Airlines – glasses and serving dish donated by Kenneth Schultz
Gonzales, Rodolfo “Corky” – six boxes of papers, recordings and photos donated by Geraldine Gonzales
Hernandez-Ramos, Florence – donated one box of material
Hispanic League of Colorado – one box of records donated by Rosemary Rodriguez
Jackson, William Henry – camera and tripod was donated by the William Henry Jackson Club
Kurtz, Maxine – donated a partial box of her material
Puls, Margaret – donated one envelope of material
Sandos, Sam – one box donated by Paul Sandos
Wilson, Raymond – Wilson Bonfils Flying School dinner set donated by Kenneth Schultz
Zint, Fred – donated slides of Denver

Conservation Collection

Bureau of Land Management – one box of records donated by Joyce Kelly
Denney, Richard – two boxes donated by Gail M. Denny McGowan
The Nature Conservancy – donated four boxes of its records
Student Conservation Association – donated two boxes of audio/visual and photos

10th Mountain Division

Dillard, Jerry T. – three photographs, one letter (copies), donated by Kitty Dillard
Duffy, John – donated three boxes Association Presidential papers
Evans, Hugh – donated two boxes of 2007 reunion and personal papers
John A. and C. Grove McCown – correspondence donated by Susan McCown, Andrew McCown
National Association of the 10th Mountain Division Records – two certificates and one binder of reunion financial records donated by George Loudis
National Association of the 10th Mountain Division Records – 2007 reunion article donated by Norman J. Ehrgott
Orrell, George D. – donated an autograph booklet
Orrell, George D. – book This Damn Tree Leaks by Bill Mauldin (book is filled with 10th Division autographs) - donated by Vickie Johnson
10th Mountain Division Artwork – sketch of Rudy Konieczny donated by Emily Burt
10th Mountain Division Oral Histories – National Public Radio donated a CD-ROM copy of Radio Diaries program about 10th Mountain Division
10th Mountain Division reference collection – book Peace in the Valley by Chaplain William Bell donated by William Bell, Jr.

Archivists Notes

Beginning in February the scope of this newsletter will broaden to include all of the activities within the Western History and Genealogy Department of the Denver Public Library:

Notices about recently purchased books and other materials
Information about current Western History and Genealogy activities and scheduled events
Insights from the experienced reference librarians and collection specialists
Expansion of the hidden treasures, and introductions to rare and unique items

Donations and Volunteering

If you have materials, artifacts or family information you would like to donate, please visit the donation guidelines page.

Volunteers are always welcome to assist with the processing of the Archives Collections and processing the related photographs. If you are interested in volunteering to help process Archives Collections, contact the volunteer office.

Previous Newsletters

March 2007, April 2007, May/June 2007, July 2007, August 2007, September 2007, October 2007, December 2007

View Slide Show

Cover of the 1940 edition of Belle Turnbull’s “Story of a search for gold, told by a poet of the Great Divide”

Belle Turnbull circa 1940

Letterhead stationary of D.F. Barry bearing images of Chief Gall and Curly, a Crow scout

Matthew Lau plays the title role in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” in the 1983 production at Bonfils Theatre.

One of the many rave reviews that greeted the 1983 Bonfils production of “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”