The Eleanor Gehres Award Celebrates 25 Years and Honors Kevin Beaty as This Year’s Recipient

2025 marks 25 years of celebrating contributions made to the Special Collection and Archives by community historians, organizations, and activists.

The award began in 1999 in honor of Eleanor Gehres, who managed the Western History Department for over 25 years! She bolstered the Denver Public Library’s archives and historical artifacts, all with the goal of serving the public. Her passion was to make history inviting and accessible. This award recognizes an individual or organization that supported Eleanor’s vision through significant contributions of library materials (books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, works of art, or other items), scholarship, lifelong service, or bequest, thus enhancing the Special Collections and Archives sub-division and its value to the community.

In its 25 years of history, the Denver Public Library award has recognized individuals like David Duffield, whose research and work contributed 28 collections of LGBTQ+ history; author Sandra Dallas for her photographic contributions to historic Denver; and organizations like the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division for its support in creating the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, which is filled with records and artifacts related to the World War II-era U.S. Army Division, among many others. View a full list of previous award recipients here.

This year’s award recipient is photojournalist Kevin Beaty for his work in journalism and historic preservation. His reporting at the Denverite and Colorado Public Radio are crucial resources for the Denver Public Library's Special Collections and Archives Department, which integrates his work into its collections. A robust historical record depends on those capturing events as they unfold, and Kevin’s work strengthens the connection between past, present, and future. Kevin also frequently utilizes archival materials to add historical depth to his reporting.

As is common with all recipients of the Eleanor Gehres Award, his dedication enriches the Denver Public Library’s mission and ensures Denver’s history and evolving story remain accessible to all.