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Colorado Historical Society
Denver Public Library Western History/Genealogy Department
Terry Mangan Library
Colorado Historical Society
Address: Stephen H. Hart Library
1300 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 866-2305 Fax: (303) 866-5739
Contact: Stan Oliner, Curator Books and Manuscripts
Email: research@chs.state.co.us
Internet address: http://coloradohistory.org
Hours: Tue-Sat: 10 am - 4:30 pm; closed Sun and Mon.
Wheelchair Access: yes
History
The museum has been a state government agency since 1879.
Information about holdings
Manuscripts: 16 collections
Organizational records: yes
Printed material: yes
Clippings/vertical files: yes
Objects/ephemera: hundreds, including posters and banners
Film/Video/Sound: Denver TV newsfilms, 1958 - present
Photographs: yes
Microfilm: gay and lesbian newspapers
Other holdings/notes: Oral history cassettes
Time periods/geographical regions documented:
Colorado, 1958 to the present.
Significant People/organizations/subjects documented:
Evans v. Romer (US Supreme Court, 1996), 1990 - present; Metropolitan Church of the Rockies; and AIDS in Colorado, 1981 - present. There is an extensive periodical collection on microfilm, several manuscript collections, and oral history interviews on file; see guide and card catalog for holdings.
Collecting interests
Any material related to Evans v. Romer [Amendment 2 challenge] or to Colorado; any material related to current holdings.
Use requirements
Any person can use the collection's materials on-site.
Indices, finding aids, collection descriptions
Records in OCLC.
Denver Public Library Western History/Genealogy Department
Address: DPL/WHG
10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway
Denver, CO 80204
Internet Address: History.denverlibrary.org
Phone: 720.865.1820 Fax:720.865.1880
Contact Information: Jim Kroll, Manager
Email:jkroll@denverlibrary.org
History:
The Western History Collection and the Genealogy Collection merged into one department in 1995, moving into the fifth level of the new Michael Graves library building. Both departments' holdings started being collected in the first decades of the twentieth century, 1935 and 1910 respectively. The staff of the combined department numbers approximately forty-five, with many volunteers assisting with special projects.
The celebrated collection of Western Americana officially opened to the public in 1935, though it built upon a pre-existing Colorado authors collection of books and a Colorado history collection of pamphlets. Today the western subject specialty reflects all phases of development of the trans-Mississippi West. The collection continues to grow and presently includes 200,000 cataloged books, pamphlets, atlases, maps, and microfilm titles. In addition, it offers 600,000 photographs, 3,700 manuscript archives, and a remarkable collection of Western fine art and prints to researchers across the world.
The Genealogy Collection is the second largest between the Mississippi River and the West Coast and the largest in the Rocky Mountain area. Family history researchers find material spanning dozens of generations and covering a wide spectrum of ethnic and geographic categories. Sixty-thousand books, 75,000 pieces of microform, and hundreds of magazine and newsletter titles, charts, clippings, atlases and manuscripts constitute the collection. The joint holdings offer extensive historical resources to both western history researchers and genealogy researchers.
Current Holdings: Size and content:
Description: 12.5 linear ft. (13 boxes), 4 audiovisual boxes, 1 photobox
Organized in 6 series: 1. Sister Who, 1988-2005 (box 1-3). 2. Manuscripts, 1990-2005 (box 3-4). 3. Personal, 1981-2005 (box 4-10). 4. Unprocessed Material, 2005-2008 (box 11-14). 5. Audiovisual, 1990-2007 (AVbox 1-4). 6. Photographs, 1991-1995 (Photobox 1).
Summary: Manuscripts and correspondence related to the public access television show titled "Sister Who Presents ... "; newspaper articles by Sister Who; newsletter "Sister Who's Perspective;" printouts of Website sisterwho.com; and scrapbook pages with notes and color photographs of his travels. Representing Denver Nevaar's personal life, are manuscripts with handwritten notes, correspondence, photographs, resumes, and journals. The journals reflect his thoughts on identity and Sister Who. Personal material focuses on his relationships with friends and lovers as well as his search for spirituality. Collection remains open for additional material.
Finding aid in repository and online at: http://eadsrv.denverlibrary.org/sdx/pl/toc.xsp?id=WH749&qid=sdx%5Fq5&fmt=tab&idtoc=WH749-pleadetoc&base-fa&n=14&ss=true&as=true&ai=Advanced.
Call Number: C MSS WH1749
Description: 21 linear ft. (21 boxes), 10 audiovisual boxes, 2 oversize folders, 1 photo box
Organized into 10 series: 1. Board of Directors, Executive Director, 1984-1997 (box 1-9). 2. Fundraising, 1984-2004 (box 9-11). 3. Grants, 1985-2001 (box 11-15). 4. Client and Education Services, 1987-2001 (box 15). 5. Internal Operations, 1985-2004 (box 16-19). 6. Local and National Organizations, 1985-2000 (box 19-20). 7. Reference Materials on AIDS, 1986-1994 (box 20). 8. Julian Rush, 1979-1991 (box 21). 9. Audio-Visual Material, 1987-2005 (AVBox 22-AVBox 31). 10. Oversize, 2003-2005. 11. Photographs, 1987-1997 (PhotoBox1).
Summary: The collection documents the growth of the Colorado AIDS Project (CAP) from early 1980s through 2005. Includes broad range of documents from Board of Directors' minutes, Executive Director files, annual reports, fund raising records, financial papers, educational pamphlets, internal office documents. Also contains correspondence and newspaper articles about Julian Rush, Executive Director, prior to his joining Colorado AIDS Project. Audio and visual material includes public service announcements, television news segments, photograph fund raising events.
Finding aid in repository and online at: http://eadsrv.denverlibrary.org/sdx/pl/toc.xsp?id=WH868&qid=sdx%5Fq5&fmt=tab&idtoc=WH868-pleadetoc&base=fa&n=14&ss=true&as=true&ai=Advanced.
Call Number: C MSS WH868
Description: 1 linear ft. (1 box)
Summary: Correspondence, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, fliers, brochures, notices pertain to Gay Games II and Gay Games III and marches on Washington in 1987 and 1993 for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Equal Rights.
Finding aid in repository and online at: http://eadsrv.denverlibrary.org/sdx/pl/toc.xsp?id=WH1183&qid=sdx%5Fq5&fmt=tab&idtoc=WH1183-pleadetoc&base=fa&n=14&ss=true&as=true&ai=Advanced.
Call Number: C MSS WH1183
Description: 32 linear ft. (32 boxes), 2 oversize folios, 1 photo box.
Organized in 7 series: 1. Manuscripts, 1960s-2003 (Box 1-12). 2. Productions, 1950s-1986 (Box 12-14). 3. Palange v. DCTV, Richard Kennehan and the City and County of Denver, 1991-1996 (Box 14-17). 4. Personal, 1950s-2002 (Box 17-21). 5. Audio-Visual, 1960s-2002 (Box 22-32). 6. Oversize, 1990s (OVFolio 1-2). 7. Photographs, 1973-1994 (PhotoBox 1).
Summary: The collection contains manuscripts of plays, novels, poetry and operas written by Palange. Also included are video and audio tapes; transcripts and legal documents from Palange's lawsuit for censorship against Denver Community Television (DCTV); personal correspondence.
Finding aid in repository and online at: http://eadsrv.denverlibrary.org/sdx/pl/toc.xsp?id=WH1230&qid=sdx%5Fq5&fmt=tab&idtoc=WH1230-pleadetoc&base-fa&n=14&ss=true&as=true&ai=Advanced.
Call Number: C MSS WH1230
Description: 67 linear ft. (67 boxes)
Summary: Videocassettes and audiocassettes of Colorado Out Spoken and Lambda Report programs.
Call Number: C MSS WH1200
Description: 3 linear ft. (3 boxes), 2 oversize folders.
Organized in 5 series: 1. Organizations - Volunteer, 1987-2001 (box 1-2). 2. Organizations, 1991-2003 (box 2-3). 3. Personal, 1988-2002 (box 3). 4. Oversize, 1993-1997 (OVFF1-2).
Summary: Collection focuses on McFadden's volunteer and philanthropic activities in the Denver gay community; papers comprise correspondence, programs, photographs, memos, pamphlets and newsletters that originated from various gay organizations in Denver, Colo.
Finding aid in repository and online at: http://eadsrv.denverlibrary.org/sdx/pl/toc.xsp?id=WH638&qid=sdx%5Fq5&fmt=tab&idtoc=WH638-pleadetoc&base=fa&n=14&ss=true&as=true&ai=Advanced.
Call Number: C MSS WH638
Description: 29 linear ft. (29 boxes, 1 photobox), 1 audiovisual envelope, 1 oversize folder.
Organized in 9 series: 1. Administration 1988-2000 -- 2. Financial 1991-2000 -- 3. Legislative 1988-2000 -- 4. Subject files 1992-2000 -- 5. Awards 1996-1998 -- 6. Audiovisual 2000 -- 7. Oversize 1992-1993 -- 8. Restricted 1992-2000 -- 9. Photographs 1997.
Summary: Correspondence, meeting minutes, financial documents, press releases and newspaper clippings comprise the bulk of the collection. The subject files of the collection remain in the original order. Surveys, projects, and research are included, interfiled with the subject files alphabetically. Papers of groups that were precursors of Equality Colorado form a small portion of the collection. Newsletters published by Equality Colorado are included in the collection. Photographs, sample newsletters and articles about and generated by other organizations constitute a portion of the collection.
Finding aid in repository and online at: http://eadsrv.denverlibrary.org/sdx/pl/toc.xsp?id=WH1787&qid=sdx%5Fq5&fmt=tab&idtoc=WH1787-pleadetoc&base=fa&n=14&ss=true&as=true&ai=Advanced
Call Number: C MSS WH1787
Description: Laura Ann Hershey was a Colorado-based writer, poet, activist, and consultant. When she was a toddler, she was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Similar to Muscular Dystrophy, SMA is a condition that in most cases causes significant disability due to muscle weakness that progresses over time. A disability rights advocate, she was also a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Organized in 15 series: Personal, Professional, Independent Living, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Women and LGBT, International, Americans with Disabilities Act, Activism, Disability Culture and Studies, Biographical files, Robin Stephens, Ephemera, Publications, Audio-Visual and Oversize.
Scope Summary: Materials include Hershey’s poetry and writing, photos, audio tapes, protest signs, research material, biographical files, publications, correspondence, reports, ephemera from the MDA, protest and conference material, disability rights t-shirts, and Robin Stephens’ papers. There is some crossover of content between the different series. Laura Hershey and Robin Stephens worked together on many projects, so some papers of Robin Stephen’s were integrated in subject series and not separated into Stephens’ own series.
Collection Growth: The Western History/Genealogy Department seeks donations through the work of the acquisitions specialist and the acquisitions committee. The donation guidelines are posted on our website http://history.denverlibrary.org/about/donate.html
Access and Use:
A. 1. Requirements for using our collections necessitate the user registering at the reference desk, viewing the materials in the Mullen Research room, and following regulations regarding the handling of manuscript materials.
2. Requirements for LBGT and non-LBGT materials are the same.
3. Hours: http://history.denverlibrary.org/about/hours.html
4. Site is wheelchair accessible.
5. http://history.denverlibrary.org/collections/manuscripts_guide.html
B. 1. Mullen Research room is approximately 700 sq. feet of research space.
2. Reference librarians are available for assistance.
3. Limited telephone reference is available.
4. We have Internet reference available through our WHG homepage.
5. Research materials may be photographed or photocopied on request, depending upon physical condition and any donor or copyright restrictions. There is a charge for these services. We offer digital reproductions as well as the availability of additional large photocopying services for a fee.
6. We have audio-visual equipment available in separate AV rooms.
7. Exhibit Loan agreements would be arranged through Ellen Zazzarino.
8. Our collections are non-circulating.
C. Most of the collections have finding aids (please see the collections above).
D. Our staff shares news about the collections through tours and at academic and professional conferences and meetings. We welcome opportunities to meet with classes and other groups.
Terry Mangan Library
Address: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Center of Colorado
1050 Broadway
Denver, CO 80209
Phone: (303) 733-7743
Contact: Leonard Latham
Email: info@coloradoglbt.org
Internet address: http://coloradoglbt.org
Collecting areas: The Terry Mangan Library is a community library of approximately 5,000 volumes. Holdings include books, periodicals, and primary source material documenting local gay and lesbian history.
