Western History and Genealogy

Research Tools Exclusive to the Denver Public Library

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Colorado Genealogy and Obituaries

• 59ers' Directory – Colorado Argonauts
  A directory of their arrivals, removals, deaths, marriages, children, property, mines, and ranches, with names of old towns, mining camps, gulches, mountains, rivers, creeks, and other matters relating to the setting of their lives in the Pikes Peak Region.
• Colorado Mining Fatalities pre-1963
  Personal information and dates of persons killed as well as major mine accidents, causes of accidents, mining activity per county, poll of nationalities and more.
• Colorado Obituary Project
  Statewide index of approximately 50,000 non-Denver obituaries mostly from the 1970s through 1990. Researchers may request a copy of the full-text obituary through the Western History and Genealogy Department.
• Colorado State Reformatory Prisoner Records
  Index of names of prisoners in attendance from 1887 through 1939.
• Colorado Statesman Index
  Index of funeral notices, obituaries, and news articles from the leading weekly newspaper serving the African American community from 1904 to 1954.
• Colorado World War I Casualties in Europe
  Location of the burial place of each fallen soldier given.
• Denver Area Cemeteries
  Historical background and a list of current cemeteries.
• Denver Obituary Index
  Index of obituaries and funeral notices that appeared in the Denver Post and Rocky  Mountain News between 1936 and 2005.

• Denver’s War Dead - World War I
  The names of the men and women from Denver who lost their lives during WWI. List taken from the article, “Hail, Heroes! Hail!” which appeared in the Denver Post, November 11, 1920.
• Farmer and Hale Mortuary Index 1889 - 1909
  Index to registers by this mortuary. Registers are available for in library use only and require staff retrieval.
• Horan Burial Index 1900 - 1956
  Index to registers of burial by this mortuary. Registers are available for in library use only and require staff retrieval.
• Historic Materials Available in the Library
• Old Ladies Relief Society Index
  Index to residents of the old ladies home from 1897 to 1980.
• Sons of Colorado Index 1906 - 1908
  Index of articles including biographies and obituaries of Colorado pioneers which appeared in the pages of the Sons of Colorado. This was published by the pioneer society, Sons of Colorado. The title was later changed to The Trail.
• Trail Index 1908 – 1929
  Index of articles including profiles and obituaries of pioneers that was published 1908-1929 by the Sons of Colorado.

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Colorado Maps and Place Names

• Digital Image Catalog (formerly Photoswest)
  Search the catalog for images of maps and places.
• Historic Materials Available in the Library

• Place Names of Colorado
  A comprehensive listing of place names or sites in Colorado that would direct the researcher to recent and readily available publications.

Colorado Pioneer Records

• 1885 Colorado State Census - Arapahoe County
  Schedules of population, agriculture, manufacturers and mortality.
• 1887 Denver City Directory
  Arranged alphabetically, by address, and by occupation, race, gender and employer in three volumes.
• Clear Creek Pioneers Index
  Index of pioneers taken from Annals of Clear Creek County, Colorado by J. S. Randall. Listing includes the pioneer's name, place and year of birth, residence or place and date of death.
  
• Colorado 1861 Territorial Election
  List of Colorado voters, boundaries, and poll locations in the 1861 territorial election.

• Colorado Argonauts – 59ers' Directory
  A directory of prospector arrivals, removals, deaths, marriages, children, property, mines, and ranches with names of old towns, mining camps, gulches, mountains, rivers, creeks, and other matters relating to the setting of their lives in the Pikes Peak Region.
• Real Pioneers of Colorado
  List of some 1400 names of pioneers who arrived in Colorado prior to February 26, 1861. Names organized alphabetically and include short biograhpies.
• Sons of Colorado Index 1906 - 1908
  Index of articles including biographies and obituaries of Colorado pioneers which appeared in the pages of the Sons of Colorado. This was published by the pioneer society, Sons of Colorado. The title was later changed to The Trail.
• Trail Index 1908 – 1929
  Index of articles including profiles and obituaries of pioneers that was published 1908-1929 by the Sons of Colorado.

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Colorado and Nebraska Military

• 10th Mountain Division Collection
  Name lookup, exhibit, links and how to access the collection.
• Civil War Grand Army of the Republic - Colorado
  List of Colorado veterans who served in the United States on land or sea during the Civil War.
• Nebraska Civil War Records
  Lists of Nebraska veterans who served in the United States on land or sea during the Civil War.
• Colorado World War I Casualties in Europe
  Location of the burial place of each fallen soldier given.

• Colorado World War I Draft Registration – Minorities
  Index to draft registration cards on microfilm.
• Colorado World War I Draft Registration Cards
  Index to draft registration cards on microfilm.
• Denver’s War Dead  -  World War I
  The names of the men and women from Denver who lost their lives during WWI. List taken from the article, “Hail, Heroes! Hail!” which appeared in the Denver Post, November 11, 1920.

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Colorado Mining

• 59ers' Directory – Colorado Argonauts
  A directory of prospector arrivals, removals, deaths, marriages, children, property, mines, and ranches, with names of old towns, mining camps, gulches, mountains, rivers, creeks, and other matters relating to the setting of their lives in the Pikes Peak Region.
• Colorado Mining Fatalities pre-1963
  Personal information and dates of persons killed as well as major mine accidents, causes of accidents, mining activity per county, poll of nationalities and more.

• Sons of Colorado Index 1906 - 1908
  Index of articles including biographies and obituaries of Colorado pioneers which appeared in the pages of the Sons of Colorado. This was published by the pioneer society, Sons of Colorado. The title was later changed to The Trail.
• Trail Index 1908 – 1929
  Index of articles including profiles and obituaries of pioneers that was published 1908-1929 by the Sons of Colorado.