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Colorado Black History / Historia Negra de Colorado

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Annaclaire Crumpton in Library Blog

Lincoln Hills, Colorado
Image of Lincoln Hills, Colorado. Courtesy of Western History and Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library

It’s Black History Month! This month, we honor the unique contributions of Black individuals who shaped Colorado and recognize the discrimination, prejudice, and challenges they faced and continue to face today.

Last year, we shared the stories of remarkable Black figures in Fort Collins history. Below, are the stories of Black individuals, leaders, and communities from across the state. To explore local Black History, read our Black History article from last year.

¡Es el Mes de la Historia Negra! Este mes, honramos las contribuciones únicas de las personas afroamericanas que dieron forma a Colorado y reconocemos la discriminación y los desafíos que enfrentaron.

El año pasado, compartimos las historias de notables figuras afroamericanas en la historia de Fort Collins. De este mes, compartiremos las historias de personas y comunidades afroamericanas de todo el estado.

James H. Harvey

If you attended the MLK Day celebration at Colorado State University last month, you may have gotten an intimate view into the remarkable life of James H. Harvey – the grandfather of this year’s keynote speaker Panama Soweto. He is best known as a Tuskegee Airmen, a group of the first Black fighter pilots to serve in the U.S. military in WW11 at a time when the nation and the military were still segregated. Harvey graduated high school valedictorian and later attempted to enlist in the military in 1943. He was denied entry due to his race. Just three months later, Harvey was drafted into the military and trained as a pilot.

Despite the institutional and societal barriers set in place to challenge Tuskegee Airmen like Harvey, he completed training, served in two wars, and went on to win the U.S. Air Force’s Top Gun competition (a grueling 10-days of aerial acrobatics.) Eventually, he relocated to Denver where he lives today. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2006 in addition to over a dozen other military awards over the course of his 25 years of service. In retirement, he’s an active member of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., which has raised over 1 million dollars in scholarship funds for high-performing high school graduates. He is Colorado’s last remaining Tuskegee Airman and will turn 100 years old in July 2023.

Si asististe a la celebración del Día de MLK en la Universidad Estatal de Colorado el mes pasado, es posible que hayas escuchado sobre la extraordinaria vida de James H. Harvey, el abuelo del orador principal de este año, Panamá Soweto. Es mejor conocido como uno de los Tuskegee Airmen, un grupo de los primeros pilotos de combate afroamericanos que sirvieron en el ejército de los EE. UU. en la Segunda Guerra Mundial en un momento en que la nación y el ejército aún estaban segregados. Harvey se graduó como el mejor alumno de la escuela secundaria y luego intentó alistarse en el ejército en 1943. Se le negó la entrada debido a su raza. Solo tres meses después, Harvey fue reclutado por el ejército y entrenado como piloto.

A pesar de las barreras institucionales y sociales establecidas para desafiar a los aviadores de Tuskegee como Harvey, completó el entrenamiento, sirvió en dos guerras y ganó la competencia Top Gun de la Fuerza Aérea de los EE. UU. (10 días agotadores de acrobacias aéreas). Luego, se mudó a Denver, donde vive hoy. Recibió la Medalla de Honor del Congreso en 2006 además de más de una docena de otros premios militares en el transcurso de sus 25 años de servicio. Al jubilarse, es un miembro activo de Tuskegee Airmen Inc., que ha recaudado más de 1 millón de dólares en fondos de becas para graduados de secundaria de alto rendimiento. Es el último aviador de Tuskegee vivo en Colorado y cumplirá sus 100 años en julio de 2023.

Lincoln Hills

Image of Lincoln Hills, Colorado
Image of Lincoln Hills, Colorado
Image of Lincoln Hills, Colorado

Tucked into the mountains, Lincoln Hills is a beautiful area of the state with a remarkable history. Lincoln Hills was once the only resort for African-Americans west of the Mississippi and at the time of its founding, was just one of three resorts that specifically catered to African-Americans. In the early 1920s, Denver’s Five Points neighborhood had a booming Black population. At the same time in history, the Ku Klux Klan infiltrated Denver politics; this, in addition to pre-existing segregation, lead to increased racial tensions and race-related violence. In an effort to establish a space for Black families to come and enjoy the outdoors, Denver businessmen E.C. Regnier and Roger Ewalt founded Lincoln Hills Development Company, purchasing a large swath of land outside Denver and selling small lots to families or individuals for $50-$100. Lincoln Hills offered time in the great outdoors for Black families at a time when other recreation spaces were shaped by tangible racism and prejudice.

Obrey Wendall “Winks” Hamlet eventually founded the Winks Panorama Lodge in Lincoln Hills in 1925 and built the three-story building himself out of local materials. His lodge became a hub for outdoor recreation and community and cemented Lincoln Hills as a resort destination. Hamlet was passionate about providing opportunities for young people and fostering a welcoming culture that would go on to attract individuals and families from across the nation. He had a particular passion for engaging young people in outdoor recreation and operated the lodge until his death in 1965. After Winks’s death, the lodge was passed through many hands. Today, Wink’s Lodge is run by Lincoln Hills Cares, a non-profit that fosters environmental leadership through outdoor education and recreation for young people. The organization continues Winks’s legacy through the development and empowerment of young leaders who may not otherwise have the opportunity due to economic, social, or family circumstances. To date, the organization has served over 103,000 youth in the state. Learn more about Lincoln Hills Cares here.

Escondido en las montañas, Lincoln Hills es una hermosa área del estado con una historia notable. Lincoln Hills fue una vez el único centro turístico para afroamericanos al oeste del Mississippi y, en el momento de su fundación, era solo uno de los tres centros turísticos que atendían específicamente a los afroamericanos. A principios de la década de 1920, el vecindario Five Points de Denver tenía una población afroamericana en auge. Al mismo tiempo en la historia, el Ku Klux Klan se infiltró en la política de Denver; esto, además de la segregación preexistente, condujo a un aumento de las tensiones raciales y la violencia basada en la raza. En un esfuerzo por establecer un espacio para que la gente afroamericana viniera y disfrutara de la naturaleza, los empresarios de Denver E.C. Regnier y Roger Ewalt fundaron Lincoln Hills Development Company, compraron un terreno en las afueras de Denver y vendieron lotes pequeños a familias o individuos por $50-$100. Lincoln Hills ofreció experiencias en la naturaleza para las familias afroamericanos en un momento en que otros espacios recreativos se vieron marcados por prejuicios y racismo tangibles.

Obrey Wendall “Winks” Hamlet finalmente fundó Winks Panorama Lodge en Lincoln Hills en 1925 y él mismo construyó el edificio de tres pisos con materiales locales. Su albergue se convirtió en un centro para la recreación al aire libre y la comunidad e hizo que Lincoln Hills fuera un destino turístico. A Hamlet le apasionaba brindar oportunidades a los jóvenes y fomentar una cultura acogedora que atrajera a personas y familias de todo el país. Tenía una pasión por involucrar a los jóvenes en la recreación al aire libre y operó el albergue hasta su muerte en 1965. Después de la muerte de Winks, el albergue pasó por muchas manos. Hoy en día, Wink’s Lodge está a cargo de Lincoln Hills Cares, una organización sin fines de lucro que fomenta el liderazgo ambiental a través de la educación y la recreación al aire libre para los jóvenes. La organización continúa con el legado de Winks a través del desarrollo y empoderamiento de jóvenes líderes que de otro modo no tendrían esta oportunidad debido a sus circunstancias económicas, sociales o familiares. Hasta la fecha, la organización ha servido a más de 103,000 jóvenes en el estado. Obtén más información sobre Lincoln Hills Cares aquí.

Dr. Justina Ford

Dr. Justina Ford

Justina Ford overcame oppression, discrimination, and prejudice to become Colorado’s first female Black physician. Born in Knoxville, Illinois, Justina showed interest in medicine from an early age and eventually attended medical school in Chicago before moving to Denver’s Five Points neighborhood around 1900 where she practiced out of her home for 50 years. Dr. Ford served any patient regardless of their race, language, gender, or ability to pay; many of her patients were those who were turned away from hospitals. Those who could not afford to pay her money would instead pay her in goods and services. Justina herself was also denied hospital privileges for most of her career, making house calls to sick patients across the city. Dr. Ford specialized as an OBGYN and delivered nearly 7,000 babies throughout her career. She was affectionately known as “The Lady Doctor” by her patients. It was not until 1950 that Justina was allowed into the Colorado and American Medical Associations at which time, she was still the only Black, female physician in Denver. She passed away in 1952 in her home which is now the Black American West Museum.

Justina Ford superó la opresión, la discriminación y los prejuicios para convertirse en la primera médica afroamericana de Colorado. Originaria de Knoxville, Illinois, Justina se interesó por la medicina desde una edad temprana y finalmente asistió a la escuela de medicina en Chicago antes de mudarse al vecindario Five Points de Denver alrededor de 1900, donde operaba una práctica en su casa durante 50 años. La Dra. Ford atendía a cualquier paciente independientemente de su raza, idioma, género o capacidad de pago; muchos de sus pacientes habían sido rechazados en los hospitales. Aquellos que no podían permitirse el lujo de pagarle dinero, en cambio le pagaban en bienes y servicios. A Justina también se le negaron los privilegios del hospital durante la mayor parte de su carrera, y tuvo que hacer visitas a domicilio para atender a sus pacientes enfermos en toda la ciudad. La Dra. Ford se especializó como obstetra y ginecóloga y atendió a casi 7000 partos a lo largo de su carrera. Sus pacientes la conocían cariñosamente como “The Lady Doctor”. No fue sino hasta 1950 que a Justina se le permitió ingresar a las asociaciones médicas de Colorado y Estados Unidos. En aquel momento, era la única médica afroamericana en Denver. Falleció en 1952 en su casa, que ahora es el Black American West Museum.

Barney Ford

Mr. Barney Ford

Barney Ford was one of Colorado’s most successful businessmen and civil rights advocates in the late 1800s. On his path to success in business and activism, he overcame challenges, institutional barriers, and racism to become one of Colorado’s most influential citizens. Ford was born enslaved in Virginia; his father was also his enslaver. He escaped bondage in his early adulthood on the Underground Railway eventually migrating to Colorado during the Gold Rush. He staked a claim to land in Breckenridge but was later barred from claiming a stake because he was African-American. He and his wife Julia then moved to Denver where they opened a successful barber shop that later burned down in the Great Fire of 1863. Following the fire, Ford was able to acquire a loan that he used to create a restaurant and barber shop; it was so successful that he was able to pay off his $9,000 loan (equivalent to $198,073 today) in just 90 days.

He left Denver for a short time after Colorado prohibited Black men from voting in 1864. For the next several years, Ford lobbied Congress against Colorado statehood until the state covered voting rights for men of color. Thanks in part to his efforts, Colorado became the first state in the country without racialized voting restrictions written into its constitution. Barney eventually returned to the Centennial state and by the 1870s, he was one of the richest men in Colorado and the owner of several hotels and restaurants. He later opened a successful steakhouse in Breckenridge and built a home that you can still visit today for free (The Barney Ford Museum.) Beyond his business ventures, he ran an Underground Railway station in Chicago, was the first Black man nominated to the Colorado Territory Legislature, the first black man to serve on a Grand Jury in Colorado, and established a school for Black citizens in Denver. A stained-glass window depicting Barney shines light above the Speaker of the House seat in the State Capitol building, immortalizing him as one of the giants of Colorado history.

Barney Ford fue uno de los empresarios y defensores de los derechos civiles más exitosos de Colorado a finales del siglo XIX. En su camino hacia el éxito en los negocios y el activismo, superó desafíos, barreras institucionales y racismo para convertirse en uno de los ciudadanos más influyentes de Colorado. Ford nació esclavizado en Virginia; su padre fue su esclavizador. Escapó de la esclavitud en su edad adulta temprana en el Ferrocarril Subterráneo. Trabajó en todo el Medio Oeste en muchos trabajos diferentes, incluso fue dueño de un hotel por un corto tiempo en Nicaragua antes de emigrar a Colorado durante la fiebre del oro. Trató de reclamar un terreno en Breckenridge, pero fue expulsado de la ciudad y se le prohibió reclamar un terreno porque era afroamericano. Luego, él y su esposa Julia se mudaron a Denver, donde abrieron una exitosa peluquería que luego se incendió en el Gran Incendio de 1863. Después del incendio, Ford pudo adquirir un préstamo que utilizó para crear un restaurante y una peluquería; tuvo tanto éxito que pudo pagar su préstamo de $9,000 (equivalente a $198,073 en la actualidad) en solo 90 días.

Salió de Denver por un corto tiempo después de que Colorado prohibiera votar a los hombres afroamericanos en 1864. Durante los siguientes años, Ford presionó al Congreso contra la condición de estado de Colorado hasta que el estado cubriera los derechos de voto de los hombres de color. Gracias en parte a sus esfuerzos, Colorado se convirtió en el primer estado del país sin restricciones raciales de votación escritas en su constitución. Barney finalmente regresó a Colorado y, en la década de 1870, era uno de los hombres más ricos del estado y propietario de varios hoteles y restaurantes. Más tarde abrió un restaurante especializado en carnes exitoso en Breckenridge y construyó una casa que todavía se puede visitar gratis (el Museo Barney Ford). Más allá de sus negocios, dirigió una estación de tren subterráneo en Chicago, fue el primer hombre afroamericano nominado para la Legislatura del Territorio, el primer hombre afroamericano en servir en un Gran Jurado en Colorado, y estableció una escuela para ciudadanos afroamericanos en Denver. Una vidriera que representa a Barney brilla sobre el asiento del Presidente de la Cámara de Representantes en el edificio del Capitolio, inmortalizando a Barney como una de las figuras más importantes de la historia de Colorado.

Clara Brown

Clara Brown

Clara Brown is also known as the “Angel of Rockies” and is assumed to be Colorado’s first black settler. She was born enslaved in Virginia later at age 18 and married a man named Richard who was also enslaved; together they had four children. At age 35, she was separated from her husband and children by her enslaver at an auction; she spent the rest of her life searching for her children. She was freed by her third enslaver in 1859 at which time she came to Denver during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. Once she reached the Centennial state, Clara ended up settling in Central City where she established the town’s first laundromat. The business was fruitful and allowed her to begin investing in mines and real estate. She accrued a small fortune (~$1 million) and used it charitably, never turning anyone in need away. Clara was affectionately known by her community as “Aunt Clara.” She also began searching for her remaining child Liza Jane while helping other formerly enslaved persons in Colorado settle in the state (one of which was another one of our Black history figures, Barney Ford.) She eventually went to Kentucky to retrieve her daughter but was unsuccessful though she returned to Colorado with 16 freed men and women who she helped settle. Clara is remembered for her pioneering role in Colorado history and her remarkable life spent helping others. 

Clara Brown también es conocida como el “Ángel de las Montañas Rocosas” y se supone que es la primera colona afroamericana de Colorado. Ella nació esclavizada en Virginia y a los 18 años se casó con un hombre llamado Richard que también estaba esclavizado; juntos tuvieron cuatro hijos. A los 35 años, su esclavista la separó de su esposo e hijos en una subasta; ella pasó el resto de su vida buscando a sus hijos. Fue liberada por su tercer esclavista en 1859, momento en el que llegó a Denver durante la fiebre del oro de Pikes Peak. Una vez que llegó al estado de Colorado, Clara se asentó en Central City, donde estableció la primera lavandería de la ciudad. El negocio fue fructífero y le permitió comenzar a invertir en minas y bienes raíces. Ella acumuló una pequeña fortuna (~ $1 millón) y la usó con caridad, sin rechazar nunca a nadie que lo necesitara. Clara era conocida cariñosamente en su comunidad como “tía Clara”. También comenzó a buscar a su hija, Liza Jane, mientras ayudaba a otras personas anteriormente esclavizadas en Colorado a establecerse en el estado (una de las cuales era otra de nuestras figuras de la historia afroamericana, Barney Ford). Eventualmente fue a Kentucky para recuperar a su hija, pero no fue exitoso el viaje, aunque regresó a Colorado con 16 hombres y mujeres liberados a quienes ayudó a establecerse. Clara es recordada por su papel pionero en la historia de Colorado y su extraordinaria vida dedicada a ayudar a los demás.

Julia Greeley

Julia Greeley

Julia Greeley is also known as Denver’s Angel of Charity. Julia was born enslaved between 1833 and 1848. She was liberated by the Emancipation Proclamation and later moved to Colorado in the late 1870s. Julia dedicated herself to helping the city’s poor. Nightly, she distributed resources to impoverished families in her neighborhood in a red wagon – often working at night to avoid racial persecution. When she didn’t have her own resources, she found resources by forming connections with service employees, firefighters, police officers, and more. Julia converted to Catholicism in 1880 and was very active in her congregation. She lived her life caring for others and passed away in the boarding house she resided in. It’s estimated that nearly 1,000 people attended her funeral waiting up to five hours in line to pay their respects to her. Today, she is one of six Black Americans in the canonization (sainthood) process of the Catholic Church. This is the only known picture of Julia, holding Marjorie Urquhart, a child of one of the many families she served.

Julia Greeley también es conocida como el Ángel de la Caridad de Denver. Julia nació esclavizada entre 1833 y 1848. Fue liberada por la Proclamación de Emancipación y luego se mudó a Colorado a finales de la década de 1870. Julia se dedicó a ayudar a los pobres de la ciudad. Todas las noches, distribuía recursos a las familias empobrecidas de su vecindario en un vagón rojo que a menudo trabajaba de noche para evitar la persecución de su raza. Cuando no tenía sus propios recursos, los encontró formando conexiones con organizaciones de servicio, bomberos, policías y más. Julia se convirtió al catolicismo en 1880 y fue un miembro muy activo de su congregación. Vivió su vida cuidando a los demás y falleció en la casa de huéspedes en la que residía. Se estima que casi 1,000 personas asistieron a su funeral esperando hasta cinco horas en fila para presentarle sus respetos. Hoy, ella es una de los seis afroamericanos en el proceso de canonización (santidad) de la Iglesia Católica. Esta es la única foto conocida de Julia, cargando a Marjorie Urquhart, una hija de una de las muchas familias a las que sirvió.

Ron Stallworth

Ron Stallworth with KKK card
Young Ron Stallworth

Ron Stallworth’s remarkable story hails from the south of the state. Born in Chicago and later relocating to Texas and then Colorado Springs, Stallworth became the first black cadet and later detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department in 1972. He took an immediate interest in undercover police work; his most famous case was a brilliant infiltration of a Colorado Springs chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. Using his real name, Stallworth responded to a newspaper ad for new members to a regional branch. The branch’s leader at the time was a soldier at Fort Carson and Stallworth’s partner (a white officer) posed as Stallworth with the soldier during face-to-face interactions. Stallworth’s undercover investigation of the group took place over the next nine months. During this time, he infiltrated the organization’s ranks using phone calls and gaining inside knowledge on plots against minority groups in Colorado Springs. He famously framed his KKK membership card and kept it hung in his office for years. He kept this story secret for decades, first sharing it with the public in 2014 when he published his best-selling book “BlackKklansman” which was later adapted into an award-winning film. He resides today in Utah with his family. You can check out his book or the movie adaptation from our collection.

La notable historia de Ron Stallworth proviene del sur del estado. Nacido en Chicago y luego reubicado en Texas y luego en Colorado Springs, Stallworth se convirtió en el primer cadete afroamericano y luego en detective del Departamento de Policía de Colorado Springs en 1972. Se interesó de inmediato en el trabajo policial encubierto; su caso más famoso fue una brillante infiltración en un capítulo del Ku Klux Klan en Colorado Springs. Usando su nombre real, Stallworth respondió a un anuncio de periódico para nuevos miembros para una sucursal regional. El líder de la rama en ese momento era un soldado en Fort Carson y el compañero de Stallworth (un oficial blanco) se hizo pasar por Stallworth con el soldado durante las interacciones cara a cara. La investigación encubierta de Stallworth sobre el grupo se llevó a cabo durante los siguientes nueve meses. Durante este tiempo, se infiltró en las filas de la organización mediante llamadas telefónicas y obtuvo conocimiento interno sobre complots contra grupos minoritarios en Colorado Springs. Famosamente tenía encuadrada su tarjeta de membresía de KKK en su oficina y la mantuvo colocada durante años. Guardaba esta historia en secreto durante décadas, compartiéndola con el público por primera vez en 2014 cuando publicó su libro más vendido “BlackKklansman”, que luego se adaptó a una película galardonada. Reside hoy en Utah con su familia. Puedes sacar este libro o la adaptación cinematográfica de nuestra colección.

Wellington Webb

Denver Mayor Wellington Webb

From the heart of downtown Denver to the halls of the United Nations, Wellington Webb has spent the majority of his life in public service. Webb was elected first as a Colorado state legislator, later appointed by Jimmy Carter to lead the regional department of the Department of Health, and eventually won the Denver mayoral race in 1991. His efforts shaped the Denver we know today. Webb served as Denver mayor for 12 years during which time he created more park space than any other mayor, spurred the revitalization of downtown, and helped develop bond proposals that contributed to renovations in cultural venues and libraries (including the creation of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library.) During his terms, Coors Field, Ball Arena (formerly the Pepsi Center), and the new Mile High Stadium were built. He also helped negotiate 25-year leases for the Nuggets, Broncos, and Colorado Avalanche. After his time as mayor, he was also appointed by President Barack Obama as a delegate to the United Nations.

As a state legislator and as mayor, Webb introduced six different bills to honor Dr. Martin Luther King in Colorado, all of which failed. His wife, Wilma Webb was also a state legislator and introduced three bills that failed to pass until finally, in 1984, the state adopted a bill to create Colorado MLK Day which has now grown to be one of the largest MLK celebrations in the country. This year, Webb spoke at the MLK celebration and parade in Denver. Today, Webb continues to enjoy retirement and lives in Colorado with his family.

Desde el corazón del centro de Denver hasta los pasillos de las Naciones Unidas, Wellington Webb ha pasado la mayor parte de su vida en el servicio público. Webb fue elegido primero como legislador del estado de Colorado, luego Jimmy Carter lo nombró para dirigir el departamento regional del Departamento de Salud y finalmente ganó la carrera por la alcaldía de Denver en 1991. Sus esfuerzos dieron forma al Denver que conocemos hoy. Webb se desempeñó como alcalde de Denver durante 12 años, tiempo durante el cual creó más espacio de parques que cualquier otro alcalde, estimuló la revitalización del centro de la ciudad y ayudó a desarrollar propuestas de bonos que contribuyeron a las renovaciones en lugares culturales y bibliotecas (incluida la creación de la Biblioteca Blair-Caldwell de investigación afroamericana). Durante su carrera como alcalde, se construyeron Coors Field, Ball Arena (anteriormente el Pepsi Center) y el nuevo Mile High Stadium. También ayudó a negociar contratos de arrendamiento de 25 años para los Nuggets, Broncos y Colorado Avalanche. Después de su etapa como alcalde, también fue designado por el presidente Barack Obama como delegado ante las Naciones Unidas. Como legislador estatal y como alcalde, Webb presentó seis proyectos de ley diferentes para honrar al Dr. Martin Luther King en Colorado, todos los cuales fracasaron. Su esposa, Wilma Webb, también fue legisladora estatal y presentó tres proyectos de ley que no se aprobaron hasta que finalmente, en 1984, el estado adoptó un proyecto de ley para el establecimiento del Día de MLK en Colorado, que ahora se ha convertido en una de las celebraciones de MLK más grandes del país. Este año, Webb fue uno de los interlocutores en la celebración y desfile de MLK en Denver. Hoy, Webb sigue disfrutando de su jubilación y vive en Colorado con su familia.


Below are some staff picks for Black History Month. Enjoy your reading!

Adult Choices

Remembering Lucile by Polly E. Bugros McLeans 

Frontier grit: the unlikely true stories of daring pioneer women by Marianne Monson

Buffalo Soldiers on the Colorado Frontier by Nancy K Williams

In the country of women : a memoir by Susan Straight  

Crossing the line : a fearless team of brothers and the sport that changed their lives forever by Kareem Rosser (a story of the CSU Polo Team)

Black smoke: African Americans and the United States of barbecue by Adrian Miller


The president’s kitchen cabinet : the story of the African Americans who have fed our first families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas  by Adrian Miller

Soul food: the surprising story of an American cuisine, one plate at a time  by Adrian Miller

Guidebook to relative strangers : journeys into race, motherhood, and history  by Camille T Dungy

Trophic cascade  by Camille T Dungy

Suck on the marrow : poems  by Camille T Dungy

All That Is Secret  by Patricia Raybon

The fourth perspective : a C.J. Floyd mystery (Series) by Robert Greer

Teen Choices

Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert 

Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi 

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson 

Dark Sky Rising by Henry Louis Gates Jr. 

How to Build a Museum by Tonya Bolden 

The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman 

Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott 

Paul Robeson: No One Can Silence Me by Martin B. Duberman 

We Are Not Broken by George M Johnson 

They Better Call Me Sugar by Sugar Rodgers 

Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi 

Find Where the Wind Goes by Dr. Mae Jemison 

Failing Up by Leslie Odom Jr. 

Facing Frederick by Tonya Bolden 

Lifting As We Climb by Evette Dionne 

The Beautiful Struggle: a Memoir by Ta-Nehisi Coates 

This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew 

Children’s Choices

Clara Brown : African-American pioneer = Clara Brown : pionera afroamericana  by Suzanne Frachetti

Justina Ford, medical pioneer Joyce B. Lohse

Barney Ford : empresario pionero / by Jamie Trumball = Barney Ford : pioneer businessman / por Jamie Trumball

The Watsons go to Birmingham–1963 : [a novel] by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis

Elijah of Buxton  by Christopher Paul Curtis

One crazy summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Follow me down to Nicodemus town : based on the history of the African American pioneer settlement  by A. LaFaye, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell

This is the rope : a story from the Great Migration  by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by James Ransome

Lillian’s right to vote : a celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965  by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Shane W. Evans

 Virgie goes to school with us boys  by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Little leaders : bold women in black history  by Vashti Harrison

Little legends : exceptional men in black history  by Vashti Harrison with Kwesi Johnson

Timelines from Black history : leaders, legends, legacies by Mireille Harper]

Your legacy : a bold reclaiming of our enslaved history by Schele Williams, illustrated by Tonya Engel

Black History, book recommendation, Fort Collins, material collection Read More

2023: A Look Ahead

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Katie Auman in Book Recommendations, Library Blog, Library Programs, Library Services

As we turn the page on the calendar to begin a new year, we wanted to take a moment to revisit some of the strategic projects completed in 2022 before looking forward to what you can expect from your libraries in the year ahead.

2022 Rewind

Here are a few of the highlights.

New Executive Director

Diane Lapierre started January 4, 2022 and immediately immersed herself in our library and community and put into place high-level organizational goals she wanted to achieve in her first year including turning outward and holding Community Conversations, creating a new strategic plan, and strengthening internal staff culture.

Turning Outward and Community Conversations

“Turning outward” entails taking steps to better understand our community; making conversations more community-focused; being proactive to community issues; and putting community aspirations first as the Library looks to the future of our resources, services, and programs. Between April and August, 2022, Library staff coordinated 18 community conversations with various staff and community groups, and created an online version through Survey Monkey to reach additional individuals and groups. 

New Text Alert Service Launches

The new service provides more robust and streamlined digital experiences for customers. The SMS platform has additional features including receiving a list of titles or items available for hold pickup instead of a general notification and getting a list of items available for renewal and a list of items that must be returned because they are on hold by another a customer.

Imagination Library of Larimer County

Poudre Libraries was excited to support the new Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Larimer County. The Imagination Library is a FREE early literacy program available to children, aged zero to five. More details and online enrollment is available at www.uwaylc.org/ImaginationLibrary.

image of dolly parton holding a book

Improvements to Library Facilities

We are always looking for ways to improve our libraries and make them a welcoming place for our community. This year it was Council Tree Library’s turn for interior updates with brand new carpeting throughout the space.

After nearly a year’s delay due to supply chain issues with materials, the Old Town Library roof replacement project finally kicked off in 2022 and was completed by year’s end.

Top Library Checkouts

Here are our top checkouts for books, movies, and magazines in 2022.

Books

  1. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
  2. Shadows Reel by C.J. Box
  3. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
  4. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  5. The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah

Movies

  1. Dune
  2. No Time to Die
  3. The Last Duel
  4. Free Guy
  5. Stillwater

Magazines

  1. People Weekly
  2. Consumer Reports
  3. The New Yorker
  4. Cooks Illustrated
  5. The Economist

2023 Look Ahead

Poudre Libraries is excited to see what the new year brings our community and our libraries. There is a lot to look forward to in 2023. Here are just a few of the events and strategic projects slated for this year.

New Strategic Plan

The 2023-2025 Strategic Plan launches on January 1 and will guide the Library’s plans and services for the next three years. Thank you to everyone who provided input during our Community Conversations sessions to help inform the plan. Read the Strategic Plan Overview online at PoudreLibraries.org.

Community Conversations Report

Speaking of community input, we look forward to sharing with you the results of our Community Conversations. You may remember that we spent last summer holding input sessions asking about the  

Fort Collins Book Fest Returns

A month-long Fort Collins Book Fest celebration takes place throughout February and features author visits, writing workshops, readings, panel discussions, and more. There are kid-friendly activities and sessions specially designed for teens. The event is free and open to all ages. Visit the festival website for updates and announcements: www.FoCoBookFest.org

Laptop-Lending Kiosk Opens

As part of our efforts to help close the digital gap, we’re adding a new self-service laptop-lending kiosk at Old Town Library for customers to check out individual laptops for use inside the library. These laptops are available in addition to the existing public computer stations.

Document and Photo Scanning Stations Available

Old Town and Harmony Libraries have added new ScanEZ document and photo scanning stations to their technology offerings. The technology can restore and enhance old, faded photos, documents, newspapers, and other materials. These stations were made possible by the generous support of the Poudre River Library Trust and donations from the community.

Automatic Renewals on Checkouts

This convenient service will automatically renew your eligible materials 1 day prior to the due date as long as there are no holds placed on them by other customers and the items have not reached the maximum number of renewals allowed. Some materials such as Prospector items may not be eligible for auto-renewal.

Community Outreach eVan Debuts

The new Community Outreach eVan makes its debut in late April with a week of fun activities throughout the community, giving people a chance to tour the electric vehicle and meet the Outreach team. The eVan allows the Library to expand delivery of essential library services to more remote locations, under-resourced communities, and individuals who are unable to access library buildings.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful new year – see you at the library!

Poudre Libraries Staff
All Library staff

Fort Collins, Library Services, Poudre River Public Library District Read More

Harmony, Education, and Determination through the Decades

Posted on December 16, 2022 by Annaclaire Crumpton in Library Blog

Meet Your Librarian Series: Elaine Burritt, Adult Services Librarian 

There’s a name for the inconspicuous desks placed at the entryways of Libraries across the country – the beloved reference desk.  

Each time a customer poses a question to Elaine Burritt at the reference desk at Harmony Library, she answers from a basin of knowledge formed over 35 years of working in libraries. The reference desks and reference questions are one of Elaine’s favorite parts of her job.  

“What I enjoy about working on the public desk is finding those books and information and just the variety of questions that range from very simple to answer to unusual and complex.” 

In June 2023, Elaine will reach a milestone 30 years of service at Poudre Libraries.  Elaine is one of the few employees that has worked at Harmony Library since it opened in 1998 and has watched the Library District transform from a one-branch governmental Library system serving a community of about 95,000 people to a three branch District independently funded by property taxes serving a city of ~170,000. 

Meaningful Mentorship 

Elaine spent the first 20 years of her life in New Jersey, growing up in a small town called Mine Hill. Libraries were first written into Elaine’s story by a  volunteer job at her high school library. Then, she landed a job in a public library in a nearby town where she worked through her first two years of community college.  

Her beginnings in community college threads into her everyday work with students on the Front Range Community College Larimer campus. “The college students are really fun to work with. They come in at the beginning of the semester and it’s great to let them know that we’re here to help.”   

Elaine at Harmony Library

She formed an even deeper affinity for libraries after the Library Director at her job in New Jersey became her mentor while working in circulation. After noticing she was a fast learner, the director had Elaine take on extra responsibilities beyond shelving books, guiding her through various library processes. “He was such a nice guy and really good at his job, and I think he inspired me to continue to work in libraries.” 

Elaine went on to finish her Bachelor’s Degree in English at the University of Arizona and went straight into library school, receiving her Master’s in Library Science in 1982.  

125 Degree Desert Days to the Chilly Winds of the Foothills 

After college, Elaine found a job at a public library in Yuma, Arizona where she worked for four years. “It was 125 degrees in the summer, so it was definitely hot.”  

A couple of friends she had met working in Yuma moved to Riverside, California, where they worked in the libraries there. After visiting, Elaine packed up and moved to Riverside where she spent three years working at the main library branch.  

There, Elaine met her husband Don who she has spent the last 33 years of her life with. Their relationship can, ironically, be traced back to a library, having met through a mutual friend that Elaine worked with in Riverside.  

Eventually, she was promoted to be a branch manager in Palm Desert, California where she commuted an hour and a half each way. The high cost of houses in California prompted a move to Colorado where Elaine’s brother-in-law was settled. Her husband’s father attended Colorado State University and Elaine and Don decided to visit Fort Collins. They were so impressed with Horsetooth Reservoir and Old Town that they decided to move to  Fort Collins.  

There weren’t library job openings on her arrival so Elaine spent a short time working as a secretary at an engineer’s office and as a church secretary before she was hired as a Library Assistant at Old Town Library. “I stepped down a couple of notches from being a branch manager to a Library Assistant but that was ok and I was glad to be back in the library field. About a year later, there were a couple of Librarian positions open so I was lucky to become a Librarian once again which I’ve obviously enjoyed.” 

From Adult Services to Nonprofits 

Elaine has spent much of her time in the District working as an Adult Services Librarian  in various capacities. However, she has spent the last two years serving as our Nonprofit Services Librarian.  

With the storm of restrictions that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person programming was extremely difficult to manage, particularly with our buildings being closed to the public for some time. There was an opening for our Nonprofit Librarian so Elaine stepped in, drawing on her previous research skills and expertise. 

“It was quite the learning curve to get to know all the nuts and bolts of being a nonprofit and starting a nonprofit. I delved into watching webinars online and reading about them and trying to connect with people.” 

A cornerstone of Nonprofit Librarianship is how to find grants and information on becoming a start-up. “I’ve enjoyed particularly working with nonprofit clients one-on-one. Connecting with people and meeting in our nonprofit center is very rewarding.” 

Nonprofit Librarianship obviously serves specific customers. The journeys and relationships that develop from guiding an individual through so many elements of the non-profit process are quite unique.  

“One lady had the idea to start a nonprofit during COVID, and I emailed her a lot of resources and steps of exactly what to do… about a year later, the library had opened again and she contacted me looking for grants for the nonprofit she had started. I felt so proud, like she was one of my graduates and was really pleased that she had followed through and done a lot of groundwork.”  

After two years of serving local non-profits, Elaine is now transitioning back to her Adult Services Librarian role.  

Because of the Internet 

In most industries, three decades spans remarkable change and libraries are no exception. With the dawn of the internet, digitization has drastically increased the capacity libraries have to serve their communities. 

The internet transformed the way librarians like Elaine can research and assist customers. “When I started as a reference librarian long ago – we didn’t have Google so we found answers in the reference collection and reference books. So, we really had to rack our brains to find the appropriate information for people.” 

Google is an empowering tool for a Librarian’s toolbox; however, nothing can replace an expert researcher. “Even though Google is great, it still doesn’t replace a librarian who has had advanced-level training to find information that is accurate and comes from good authority,” Elaine said of the digital age.  

Fundamental Range 

Elaine has touched so many parts of the Library District we are today through her career. “I’ve done a lot of things over the years. You know there’s always the line in your job description that says ‘other duties as assigned’ right?” she said, laughing as she reviewed accomplishments and projects at Poudre Libraries.  

Have you ever checked something out through Prospector? Elaine was part of the collaborative in the library that made Prospector a reality for our customers. She was instrumental in training staff on how to use the system stating, “It was fun. Challenging, but fun, and I’m proud of my work on that.” 

She previously maintained and updated the Fort Collins Organizations Directory, a print book of nonprofits in the area which has since been digitized and is now run and owned by United Way of Larimer County.  

Elaine and another librarian, Currie Meyer (now the branch manager of Council Tree Library), were the co-founders of the library Learning Organization Team.  Elaine spent about three years guiding this team, and it continues today.  The Team coordinates the annual staff day of learning and other educational events for library staff throughout the year. 

One of Elaine’s Harmony in the Round Concerts

Elaine has also helped make selections for our collection including  books in various subjects and music over the years. She also collaborated with Front Range Community College staff to  continue the Harmony  in the Round series – a beloved music-based program featuring a variety of concerts. “It was really fun to plan the concerts and get to meet the public that attended. We tried to offer a variety of music and everyone was happy to come and listen and left with a smile.” 

Additionally, she oversees training for new hires at Harmony Library. “A big piece of my work that I enjoy is being a mentor to new staff. It’s fun to work one-on-one with someone and tell them all about Harmony Library and how being on campus factors in.” Her trainings and mentorship today for new staff reflects her own beginnings in New Jersey where a mentor greatly impacted her career path. 

Avians and Adventures 

When she’s not researching questions or performing ‘other duties as assigned’, Elaine is passionate about spoiling her cat, riding her e-bike, walking, being on a local lake on her jet ski, spending time in nature, and photography – in particular photography of birds in flight. Two of her photographs of airborne avian are currently featured in the staff art exhibit at Old Town Library. Elaine has particular affinity for bald eagles.  

Some of Elaine’s bird photography displayed at Old Town Library

“I also love going to Rocky Mountain National Park and photographing baby moose, elk, deer, whatever I can find.”  

She also loves the education, research, and planning that comes with traveling whether domestically or internationally. She’s visited France, Italy, and the Galapagos Islands which as a passionate bird photographer was a wonderful place to witness avian biodiversity. 

Her favorite adventure was to Ireland where for a short time she and her brother,  spent time following the band, The Elders, a Celtic rock band originally from Kansas City. They first saw The Elders at summer festivals across Colorado where they learned about their Irish tour.   Elaine and Joe joined the band tour as certified Elders groupies touring around the Irish countryside during the day. “Every night we would listen to our favorite band, follow them to the local pubs where they would also perform, drink Guiness, get home at 2AM, and do it all over again the next day. It was really fun.” 

Back to Basics 

Like most Librarians, Elaine also loves to read. Her most recent favorite genre is general fiction though she also has an affinity for romance. Nora Roberts is her favorite author of all time and more recently she has been reading books by Colleen Hoover. Of Hoover, Elaine said, “She creates great characters, has wonderful character development, and there are always some twists you don’t expect in the end.” 

Despite the changes Elaine has witnessed over the years at Poudre Libraries, there are also the elemental parts of her job. 

The favorite part of her day-to-day schedule is simply, “Interacting with people, whether its customers or my colleagues. Being friendly to our customers and making sure they feel happy and leave the library just the same or better as when they came in.” 

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Exploring Pebble Go

Posted on December 6, 2022 by Library Staff in Library Services, Resources

By Bonnie Post, Library Assistant

Your library card can unlock worlds of possibilities; one of these worlds is the excellent learning resource, PebbleGo! Access this wonderful resource that provides a wealth of exciting and fun activities to reinforce learning. 

Use PebbleGo for Free!

PebbleGo is designed for beginner readers Kindergarten through 3rd grade and is also a wonderful resource for educators of those ages.  

Sign in is easy! Go to our website’s research page, search PebbleGo and click on the link, then choose from 5 subject areas; Animals, Science, Biographies, Social Studies or Health and start your exploration! 

Safe, simple and engaging research is organized into five modules. This resource includes hundreds of articles for reading a broad selection of topics such as animals, biographies, health, earth and space, and social studies.  

The format is laid out in bright, simple to follow pages. It’s easy to use!  

PebbleGo has a function to read it to you, with highlighted vocabulary words. There is a fun “surprise me” spinner that you can click and look at a random topic from the many options. 

For example, if you have a report due on alligators: search in the box, and click enter. {Alligators on PebbleGo} 

At the top of the page, PebbleGo supplies a pathway of what you are looking at in their content:  

Home> Animals > Reptiles > Alligators 

You can find out what they eat, where they live, and how much they weigh! 

Did you know that Alligators can go 2 years without eating?! 

Ease of Use  

Let’s say you were interested in owls. You narrow down your topic starting with  “animals,” then “birds,” then “birds of prey,” and there on that page, you can choose between owls, and snowy owls. 

Here at the foot of that page, there are buttons for a video clip of the owls, a sound clip, and an activity sheet you can print out!

Activity Sheet about Snowy Owls 

It also includes a map of where they live in the world!  Did you know that Snowy Owls may lay as many as 11 eggs at a time?  

Report creation:  

When you need to author a report for school, there is even a citation creator. Here is one created for Alligators:  

“Alligators.” PebbleGo, Capstone, 2 Nov. 2022, www.pebblego.com. 

Available in Spanish: 

Except for Dinosaurs, all content can be read in Spanish. Toggle between languages using the language button at the top of the page.

Did you know that Fiordland Penguins cheeks turn white when they are scared? 

PebbleGo for your Classroom, or Home

This is a trustworthy beginner’s encyclopedia with engaging activities for elementary students to use independently to explore interests whether they are just engaged to learn something new, or gathering information for a school assignment.  

Teachers can also use the Activity sheets for curriculum support. It could also be used to find discussion content.  

Please investigate PebbleGo for a rich educational and entertaining learning resource, easily accessed with your Poudre River Public Library card! 

Start exploring today!  

early literacy, kids and family Read More

We Have Work to Do: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Identity, History, and Stories

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Katie Auman in Library Blog

Book & Film Recommendations Following the Events at Club Q in Colorado Springs

Now is the time for the community to work on bringing about change in society for our LGBTQ+ friends and family and for ourselves. It starts with listening and learning, with eliminating hate and the “othering” of people, and seeking compassion and acceptance.

We have work to do. And that work can’t just be confined to Pride Month. It goes beyond parades and placards. It’s more than politics.

It is humanity. It is love.

Poudre Libraries urges everyone to listen and learn from those who have stories to share. You can start with one of these recommended books or films covering a variety of topics and genres (listed by age).

Additionally, two members of Poudre Libraries staff organized a community resource guide for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Find or download the PDF below.

LGBTQ-Resource-DocumentDownload

Adult Books 

Skye Falling: A Novel by Mia McKenzie 

100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell 

We Want What We Want: Stories by Alix Ohlin 

Summer Fun by Jeanne Thornton 

Borealis by Aisha Sabatini Sloan 

Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison 

Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993 by Sarah Schulman 

Punks: New & Selected Poems by John Keene 

Gumbo Ya Ya: Poems by Aurielle Marie 

Mouths of Rain: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Thought by Briona Simone Jones 

The One You Want to Marry (and Other Identities I’ve Had) by Sophie Santos 

Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir by Brian Broome 

Maurice by E.M. Forster

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

The Headmistress by Milena McKay 

Stone Fruit by Lee Lai 

The Savage Kind: A Mystery by John Copenhaver 

No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull 

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel

The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman

Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground by Chris Tompkins

Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting your LGBTQ Child by Telaina Eriksen 

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

An Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

Young Adult Books

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

Flamer by Mike Curato  

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Nimona by ND Stevenson

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson 

All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown 

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes 

She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick 

The Afterward by E.K. Johnston 

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell 

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell 

Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig 

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan 

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Love and Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller 

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio 

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Colthurst 

Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon 

Out of Salem by Hal Schrieve 

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde 

Squad by Mariah McCartney 

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin 

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo 

The Heartbreak Bakery by A. R. Capetta

LGBTQ: The Survival Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel Madrone 

Children’s and Picture Books 

The Whispers by Greg Howard

Charlie Chooses by Lou Peacock 

My Own Way by Joana Estela (translated from the original Portuguese)

Rainbow by Michael Genhart 

Maiden & Princess by Daniel Haack 

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman 

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima 

A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith and Brooke Kerrigan

Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders

Stonewall: A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution by Rob Sanders  

Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack

The Family Book by Todd Parr 

El Libro de la Familia para Todd Parr

Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang 

Federico and All His Families by Mili Hernández 

Federico y sus familias para Mili Hernández 

Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love 

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill 

George [Melissa’s story] by Alex Gino       

What are your Words?: A Book about Pronouns by Katherine Locke  

Calvin by JR Ford 

Movies and Documentaries on DVD and Streaming on Kanopy

Rainbow’s End – The European LGBTQ Movement 

In My Shoes – Children of LGBTQ Parents 

What are you?: Microaggressions and LGBTQ Identities 

America’s Most Unwanted : LGBTQI Foster Youth in America from Echelon Studios 

Forbidden 

Quiet Heroes 

Why Can’t I Be Me? Around You 

My Best Friend    

Silence is a Falling Body 

In Full Bloom: Transcending Gender 

Odd Ones Out 

The Man Card 

All We’ve Got 

The Queen of Ireland from Blinder Films 

Every Act of Life, a Floating World Pictures film 

book list, book recommendation, eResources, LGBTQ+ Read More
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Including the collection of Front Range Community College, Larimer Campus