Colorful Coloradans Biographies

Biographies of important Coloradans featuring digitized sources from the Western History collection to provide young researchers with high quality, primary source material for their history projects. Ideal for 4th grade and up.

Black and white photographic portrait of Jane Silverstein Reis taken in August 1961.

Jane Silverstein Ries (1909 - 2005)

Denver's first female landscape architect, Jane Silverstein Ries, created gardens around the state that were easy to grow in Colorado's unique environment.

Portrait 1911

Helen Ring Robinson (1860-1923)

Helen Ring Robinson was the first woman to serve as senator in the Colorado Legislature. 

Cleo Parker Robinson 1981

Cleo Parker Robinson (1948 - )

Cleo Parker Robinson grew up in Denver's Five Points neighborhood and developed an innovative dance school that operates to this day.

Pauline RobinsonLibrarian N.A.A.C.P. freedom activist in her college years; responsible for the integration of Lakeside Amusement Park; coordinator of Children's Services, Denver Public Library; 1964, recipient of the Nell I Scott Memorial Award for outstanding Library service; college instructor, guest lecturer. Listed in Who's Who in American Women, Who's Who in the West, and Who's Who in Library Services. Inducted 1973.

Pauline Short Robinson (1915 - 1997)

Pauline Robinson was the first African American librarian in Denver and fought for equal rights and better educational opportunities for children. This is a special biography brought to us from the staff of the Pauline Robinson Branch Library.

Josephine Roche

Josephine Roche (1886 - 1976)

Josephine Roche was a labor advocate, a defender of immigrant rights, a voice for children's rights, a promoter of health care, and a businesswoman.

Luis Rovira (1923 - 2011)

Judge who worked to modernize the Colorado courts, and was the United States' first ever Hispanic chief justice. Luis Rovira is best remembered for declaring discrimination against gay people unconstitutional. 

Dr. Florence Sabin (1871-1953)

Dr. Florence Sabin was a medical research scientist who pioneered the field for women and helped improve the health of Coloradans.

Photo of Francisco Valadez Sanchez

Francisco "Paco" Sanchez (1915-1973)

Paco Sanchez came to America, started Denver's first Latino radio station, and helped built institutions to serve the community.

Chin Lin Sou (1836 - 1894)

Chin Lin Sou was among the earliest Chinese immigrants to Colorado. He became a successful businessman and supporter of the Chinese community. Some of his descendants still live in Denver.

Studio portrait of Silas S. Soule. He wears a military uniform from the Civil War era.

Silas Soule (1838 - 1865)

Captain Silas Soule of the Colorado Cavalry refused to participate in the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, where one hundred and fifty unarmed Cheyenne and Arapaho women and children were murdered. His letters and testimony about the events of that day are the reason the truth of Sand Creek is known as a massacre rather than a glorious battle.