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Manuscript Collection News

November/December 2007

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

New Manuscript Finding Aids

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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.

Citizens Committee on Natural Resources CONS13

The Citizens Committee on Natural Resources was a small organization whose members were leading conservationists from a variety of environmental groups. The organization was created in response to a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited the ability of non-profit groups to lobby on behalf of environmental legislation without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. It worked for the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964 and lobbied for and against other federal legislation affecting the environment. The materials in the collection include by-laws, meeting minutes, reports, and correspondence with government officials and others. It also contains testimony to Congress by environmentalists including Spencer M. Smith, Jr. as Secretary of the Citizen's Committee, public presentations, press releases, mailings, and brochures. The Collection spans the period from 1955-1976 with some undated material.

George F. Earle Papers TMD108

The George F. Earle papers have been separated from the 10th Mountain Collection to create TMD108. Part of the Collection includes 61 original oil paintings done by Earle under combat conditions in Italy and during the occupation of Kiska Island in the Aleutians. He had a small cigar box filled with tiny tubes of oil colors, and used Jeep gasoline instead of turpentine. He had only one beat-up brush, and painted most of the works in less than 30 minutes.

Elliott Edwins’ Papers M1953

We received another copy of Bill Mauldin's book This Damn Tree Leaks. This copy contains a 10th Mountain Division soldier's autograph on every page. This volume is found in Elliott Edwins’ papers.

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Hidden Treasures

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Anselm Holcomb Barker WH480

Anselm Holcomb Barker was among the earliest developers of Denver, arriving in October of 1858 after hearing stories in Plattsmouth Nebraska of gold at the mouth of Cherry Creek on the South Platte River. He built the first house after a survey was conducted in what was known as Auraria on the west side of the creek. His diary of the trip to Colorado was published in 1959 when Colorado celebrated the “Rush to the Rockies” centennial. His original diary is part of this Collection, as are several biographical sketches he wrote about the early part of his life.

Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Collection WH1971

Denver native Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales made a name for himself in the boxing ring as a young man, and in the political arena for the balance of his life. The Collection of his writings, speeches and other memorabilia document the impact of this man on his local community and the entire country. He was often described as a “Chicano activist” in the media after founding the Crusade for Justice. From his boxing career in the late 1940s and early 1950s, through the political challenges of the 1960s and 1970s, his leadership efforts are demonstrated in this rich collection.

The Wilderness Society Records CONS130

An unusual item is contained in The Wilderness Society Records. It is the 1969 letter from Theodore Kaczynski, questioning the voracity of the conservation efforts of the society. He was later to become known as the Unabomber.

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Recent Donations

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Western History

• Denver Agriculture and Livestock Club - one box of records donated by Shirley Christensen
• Denver Fortnightly Club - one envelope of the Club’s records donated by Gwen Ashbaugh
• Kurtz, Maxine - donated 3 boxes of her professional and personal papers
• Denver Friends of Chamber Music - partial box of records donated by Rosemarie Murane
• Children’s Museum of Denver  - one box donated by Rosemarie Murane
• Manual High School - 1908 photo of Colorado State Championship baseball team donated by S.L. Bronstein
• Old Spanish Trail Association - partial box of meeting minutes and records donated by Carol Corbet
• Swan Family - one envelope of family papers donated by Gwen Ashbaugh
• Tuesday Morning Class - partial box of records donated by Rosemarie Murane
• Zonta International District 12 - four boxes of organizational records donated by Mary Benoit as representative

 

Conservation Collection

• Wilderness Society Alaska Regional Office - donated three boxes of organizational records

 

10th Mountain Division

• Fowler, David M. - one letter donated by Stewart McCollom
• 10th Mountain Division Collection - 45 RPM recording The 86th! The 86th! donated by Charles Duane Street
• 10th Mountain Reference Collection - Goldenseal Magazine, with articles on Seneca Rocks Assault Training School donated by Robert Whetsell

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Archivists Notes

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Donations and Volunteering

• Newspaper articles are one of the most popular keepsakes found in the collections of individuals and families. World Series games, presidential elections or assassinations, tornados, floods and other sensational disasters and events can prompt many people to hang on to that day's newspaper.
• Daily newspapers are designed for immediate use and disposal. As such they are printed on the cheapest paper available. This paper is highly acidic and will damage other materials they come into contact with over a long period of time.
• Family historians and genealogists often clip an obituary about a family member, sometimes to send to an out-of-town relative.
• When cutting out an article be sure to write the date the clipping appeared, and the name of the paper on it for future reference.
• The telltale yellowing of adjacent photos or pages indelibly marks the non-newsprint materials.
• To prevent this “burning” it is necessary to isolate the newsprint from other items. This can be accomplished in a number of ways.
  • Simply separating the newsprint from other items in a separate box or folder will prevent the contamination of other materials.
  • Placing the newsprint in a plastic bag will also control the damage to adjacent items.
• However, the fact remains that the newsprint will continue to degrade and become increasingly brittle as the years pass. The best way to retain the information is by photocopying the article. It is recommended to use a laser copier since the long-term viability of images from ink jet printers is not as stable.

 

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.

Previous Manuscript News

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

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 View Slide Show

Brochure promoting public action on wilderness bills printed by the Citizens Committee on Natural Resources.

Camp Hale, Colorado, 1942-1944. Dog team workout. Transcontinental train above camp.

Page from book “Anselm Holcomb Barker, 1822-1895, pioneer builder and early settler of Auraria; his diary of 1858 from Plattsmouth, Nebraska Territory, to Cherry Creek Diggings, the present site of Denver, Colorado” edited by Nolie Mumey and published in 1959.

Notebook kept by Corky Gonzales while incarcerated. This page notes the arrival of 45 pieces of mail and a brief assessment of each of the writers.

Portion of 1969 letter to The Wilderness Society from Ted Kaczynski discussing the future of the wilderness movement and the impact of overpopulation.