Western History and Genealogy

Manuscript Collection News

March 2007

Welcome to our first monthly installment of The Denver Public Library's Manuscript Collection News. This page will be updated monthly and will include new Manuscript Finding Aids, Hidden Treasures of the Manuscript Collection, Recent Donations and Archivists Notes.

New Manuscript Finding Aids

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

Henry Lowenstein Collection

Henry Lowenstein wrote his biographical sketch for the recently completed Lowenstein Collection finding aid. The Collection documents Lowenstein's career as a set designer and a producer at the Bonfils/Lowenstein theatre. His early papers consist of intricate set designs. The Collection also includes programs and fliers with artwork drawn by Lowenstein's wife and son; correspondence with actors, critics and prospective productions.

Denver Parks and Recreation Department Collection

The Denver Parks and Recreation Department Collection is one of the most frequently requested and consists of material spanning the earliest period of Denver's Parks Department history (1862) through 2001. This Collection of records, drawings, maps, financial books and survey materials provides information on the general park operations, the park systems, the parkways, and specific city and mountain parks.

Izaak Walton League of America Collection

The Collection of one of the early conservation groups, The Izaak Walton League of America, is completed and soon the finding aid will be available online. The Leagues' activities and internal communication from the mid 1950s are contained in this Collection. The preponderance of this Collection stems from activities in the 1970s through the 1990s. Correspondence sent and received by the national staff comprises much of the Collection. Reports by Congress, state and federal agencies along with information from other organizations and companies on the many issues the Izaak Walton League advocated, forms a large part of this Ccollection.

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Hidden Treasures

Denver Chamber of Commerce Collection
Finding aid available soon

The Denver Chamber of Commerce Collection contains a series of aerial photographs of downtown Denver taken from every conceivable angle during the fall of 1985. This Collection is nearing completion and soon the finding aid will be available online.

Public Service Company of Colorado Photograph Collection
Finding aid available soon

The Public Service Company of Colorado Photograph Collection has some hidden treats for longtime Denver residents. When new gas and electric lines were installed, a photograph taken at the Denver Zoo of Cookie (the elephant) became a favorite. A photograph of one of the Denver police officers who gave programs at Denver area schools in the 1950s and 1960s was also discovered. Officer Goody is captured on film with a group of youngsters in June of 1952. This extremely large Collection (more than 100,000 images) is being processed and soon the finding aid will be available online.

1863 Civil War diary of J.A. Young
Housed in the vault

The 1863 Civil War diary of J.A. Young was found in the Frances Melrose papers. The adjunct union soldier wrote descriptions of the events and people he came into contact with while serving under General Ambrose Burnside. He mentions places his unit went, deaths, drills, the weather and other activities. This fragile relic is housed in the vault with catalog number -M1890.

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Recent Donations

Western History

• Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) donated 60 boxes of materials. CLiC, a non-profit group that supports the Colorado Library Courier, provides continuing education and supports activities that promotes new ideas and information sharing within the library community.
• Colorado Authors League donated an additional box of materials to their existing collection.
• Ted Gleichman donated eight boxes of his personal materials.
• Martin J. Wolf donated two boxes of materials.
• Galen Ulrich donated a photo album of the Wright family.
• Old Spanish Trails Association donated additional material.

Conservation Collection

• The Plains Conservation Center/West Arapahoe Conservation District donated 17 boxes of materials to the Conservation Collection.
• The Student Conservation Association donated six boxes of materials to their existing collection.
• The Wilderness Society added two boxes of materials to their extensive collection.

10th Mountain Division

• The 10th Mountain Division received materials from: Fred Nagel, Mrs. Laverne Gardiner, Edward Nowak, and Cliff Peterson.
• Earl Clark, a past president and chair emeritus of the 10th Mountain Division Association, donated a box of National Association and personal papers.

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Archivists Notes

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 Manuscript Collections and processing the related photographs. If you are interested in volunteering to help process Manuscript Collections, contact the volunteer office.

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Publicity sheet from the Henry Lowenstein Collection drawn by Henry Lowenstein in 1979. In addition to these types of drawings there are hundreds of his set designs in the collection along with photographs of productions.

Detail of a publicity sheet drawn by Henry Lowenstein from the collection.