Douglas County History Research Center Collection Guides
Collection Guides provide information about the contents of various collections belonging to the Douglas County History Research Center. Each guide contains information such as the dates the collection covers, its title, a brief description, a timeline of the events covered in the collection and a list of the folder names and numbers within the collection.
Acres Green Homeowner's Association Records [PDF] - This collection documents the development of Acres Green, a subdivision on the extreme northern border of Douglas County.
Ancestor Seekers Genealogy Society Records [PDF] - The collection documents the history of the Ancestor Seekers Genealogy Society, Inc. from its inception in 1983 until its dissolution in 1995.
Castlewood Circle Women of Woodcraft Records [PDF] - Collection documents the life of Castlewood Circle # 328 (Castle Rock, Colorado), Women of Woodcraft. The records portray the financial and social makeup of the Circle, events they sponsored, and activities they took part in.
Cherry Homemakers Club Records [PDF] - This collection documents the interests, governance and growth of the Cherry Homemakers Club and, to an extent, that of the El Paso County Extension Homemakers Council. The collection includes information concerning women, the family, and rural life for close to 70 years.
City of Lone Tree Records [PDF]
Civil Defense in Douglas County - See: Fleming, Morris - Civil Defense Papers [PDF]
Colorado Front Range Project - See Maguire, Sally - Colorado Front Range Project and Perry Park Landowner's Association [PDF]
Colorado Western Development Company - See Pickoff, Julius - Papers [PDF]
Colorado Western Development Company - See Schafer, A. L. - Photographs [PDF]
Coors III, Adolph Murder Investigation Records [PDF] - Collection contains notes, Douglas and Jefferson County Sheriff's Department reports, warrants and other materials relating to the investigation of the disappearance, murder, and discovery of Adolph Coors, III
Cornish, Mary - Papers - Douglas County Schools History Project [PDF] - Mary Cornish’s papers contain notes, clippings, and ephemera relating to the County School Legacy Project. The collection also includes clippings and ephemera about Douglas County, Colorado, history; notes, correspondence, and clippings from the Douglas County Schools History Project, which was based on the Country School Legacy Project with similar objectives for schools in Douglas County. Correspondence, clippings and ephemera about the Indian Park School, included in both projects, are also part of the collection.
Daughters of the American Revolution - See Smoky Hill Trail Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution Records [PDF]
District Court for Douglas County. Declaration of Intention for
United States Citizenship. Certified copies of declarations
of intentions for citzenship of Douglas County residents between 1871
and 1938. Photocopies provided to the Douglas Public Library District
from originals held by the District Court of
Douglas County.
Doepke Family Papers [PDF] - This collection documents the Doepke family activities in Douglas County between 1868 and 1971. The materials describe Frederick Doepke and his children’s social activities, work environment and community activities. Correspondence reflects personal concerns, social activities and current events affecting the family. The daily routine of ranch life is found in records of animal purchases, brand certificates and sales receipts. Books, poetry, photographs and other printed materials refer to leisure time and how it was celebrated.
Douglas County Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Hoofed Livestock [PDF] - The Ad Hoc Committee on Dovestic Hoofed Livestock was formed in 1990 by the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners. The purpose of the committee was to decide "the extent to which the County should regulate [horse] boarding, breeding and training." The committee also dealt with other hoofed livestock such as llamas, buffaloes and miniature horses.
Douglas County Community Development Historic Preservation and Master Plan Files [PDF] - Collection of Douglas County Historic Preservation Board's Landmark Program files and Douglas County Community Development's images (mostly slides) created to prepare for Douglas County Master Plans from 1992-2000.
Douglas County Council for the Arts and Humanities Records [PDF] - These are the records of the Douglas County Council for the Arts and Humanities, 1979 to 1987.
Douglas County Cultural Council - Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Records [PDF] - These are the records of the Douglas County Cultural Council, a local entity distributing funds received through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), an organization created in 1988 in the Denver Metro Area to provide funding to regional arts, scientific, and historical institutions and groups.
Douglas County Fair - See Rantanen, Renee - Fair Books and Articles [PDF]
Douglas County Fair Board Records [PDF] - The Douglas County Fair Collection contains Fair program and premium lists from 1892, 1894 and 1918 - 1997. The books contain information about businesses, schools, people, events and interests in Douglas County, Colorado. Collection includes complete index of the fair books.
Douglas County Forum on Children and the Family Records [PDF] -This collection contains records of the Douglas County Forum on Children and the Family (1993 - 1996). Topics for discussion included teen violence, single parenting, and maintaining the quality of life despite the massive population growth in Douglas County throughout the early 1990s.
Douglas County Historical Society Records [PDF] - The Douglas County Historical Society was the main historical institution in Douglas County during its existence. The Douglas County Historical Society’s paper based collections provided the nucleus for the Douglas County History Research Center when the society disbanded in 1992.
Douglas County Jane Jefferson Democratic Club Records [PDF] - The Jane Jefferson Democratic Club was formed in 1902 in Denver, CO in response to women’s desire to be more involved in the Democratic Party. In 1955, 43 independent clubs (including Douglas County) were federated into a statewide organization. By 1976 there were clubs in 28 counties, including Douglas County. The main purpose of the club was to provide fundraising opportunities, a study group and forum for Democratic speakers, and to assist the party during election years.
Douglas County Open Lands Coalition Papers [PDF] - The Douglas County Open Lands Coalition is a nonprofit corporation whose corporate purpose is to "draw members from private and public sectors to work in equal partnership toward the common goal of acquiring preserving and maintaining significant open lands in Douglas County, Colorado."
Douglas County Public Library - See Mead, Genevieve - Papers [PDF]
Douglas County Schools - See Saunders, Elizabeth Gilbert - Papers [PDF]
Douglas County Schools - See Cornish, Mary - Papers [PDF]
Douglas County Water Advisory Board Records [PDF] - The Douglas County Water Advisory Board was established to address short and long term water needs of Douglas County and to advise the Board of County Commissioners concerning water resource issues in the County. The Advisory Board was Composed of members of the scientific, legal, water resource, agricultural, land development and water supply fields.
Douglas County Woman's Club Records [PDF] - The records of the Douglas County Woman’s Club consist of Colorado Club Cues, 1952 - 1954; Banking records, statements and a Treasurer’s Record Book for 1950 - 1956; a copy of Colorado Clubwoman, the journal of the Colorado Federation of Women’s Clubs, April, 1956; a Colorado Federation of Women’s Clubs Directory, 1955 - 1956; a constitution and by-laws for the Douglas County Woman’s Club, undated; correspondence, bills and a book list for the Woman’s Club Library, 1950 - 1956; Douglas County Woman’s Club Yearbooks, 1954 - 1956 and Club Minutes, 1950 - 1956.
Ferguson, Jane - Papers - Douglas County Community Activist [PDF] - These papers document Jane Ferguson’s community activism in the mid 1980’s. The collection contains newspaper articles, correspondence, notes and brochures mostly dealing with growth issues in Douglas County.
Fleming, Morris - Civil Defense Papers [PDF] - Morris Fleming served as Douglas County Civil Defense Coordinator at the height of the Cold War from 1962 — 1968. Douglas County tried to plan for the very real possibility of a nuclear attack on the area between the North American Air Defense Headquarters in Colorado Springs and the missile factories, air bases and nuclear testing facilities of Denver. Through a series a weekly articles, pamphlets and other methods, Mr. Fleming tried to keep Douglas County prepared in the event of an emergency. The office of Civil Defense was most useful in handling local emergencies such as the flood of 1965 and the UFO hoax of 1968. Mr. Fleming did all this while continuing to operate his jewelry and watchmaking business in downtown Castle Rock.
Friendly Larks Club Records [PDF] - These are the records of the Friendly Larks, a Douglas County Extension Homemakers Club, 1937-1995, and the Douglas County Extension Homemakers Council, 1958-1990. The collection documents the history of both the club and the council. Included in the records are Minutes, Secretary’s Reports, Handbooks, Programs, Treasurers’ Reports, Council Keynotes (newsletter of the Colorado Extension Homemakers Council), a scrapbook, correspondence and by-laws for the Douglas County Extension Homemakers Council.
Fritz, Donald - Papers - Mining Claims and Maps [PDF] - Collection is composed of maps, plats and other materials related to mining, mostly in the area of Cripple Creek, Colorado. Several books on chemistry, history, and government are included in the collection, as is information on dowsing and fortune telling through the swinging of a pendulum.
Garden Study Club, Parker [PDF] - This 3-ring notebook contains programs and membership lists of the Garden Study Club of Parker, CO. Hand drawn pictures and pressed flowers decorate the pages.
Hamling, Dana - Papers - Articles on Perry Park [PDF] - These papers are mostly composed of newspaper articles and issues of the Perry Park Panorama and Echo Hills Club Echoes.
Kirby, William - Papers [PDF] - William Kirby is a writer and one of the creators of Douglas County Television's Emmy Award-Winning "Legends and Oddities" series. The collection contains Mr. Kirby's research notes on gold mining, ghost stories, Diamond Jack, ghost towns, treasure hunting, the Plainfield Addition, the B-17 crash, the Monster of Plum Creek, UFO sightings in Douglas County, and Wildflowers of Castlewood Canyon, as well as minutes and information about Mr. Kirby's time on the Douglas County Historic Preservation Board.
Leonard, Terri - Van Schaack Realty Papers [PDF] - Floor plans and price lists of several home building companies and housing developments in Highlands Ranch, a suburb of Denver in extreme northwest Douglas County. Although Mission Viejo was the main developer of Highlands Ranch, it had several divisions which provided different floor plans and pricing options. Limited information is also included in the collection about the development of the Meadows, a subdivision in Castle Rock, and about Stroh Ranch, a subdivision near Parker.
Maguire, Sally - Colorado Front Range Project and Perry Park Landowner's Association [PDF] - Materials relating to the 1980 Colorado Front Range Project, a multi-county project to assess the impact of growth on the Denver urban corridor. Other materials in the collection include maps, newspaper articles and newsletters relating to the Perry Park development in the 1970s.
McConnell, Anne Scrapbooks [PDF] , Star Lighting Photos [PDF], and Golden Dobbin Restaurant Photos [PDF]. Anne McConnell ran a successful restaurant / tearoom in Castle Rock, Colorado from 1964-1994. She was instrumental in starting Castle Rock's Star Lighting Ceremony, a December event that celebrates the Star on Castle Rock.
Mead, Genevieve - Papers - Founding of the Douglas County Public Library [PDF] - This collection documents the opening of the Douglas County Public Library in 1968. It also contains programs for the Douglas County on Parade House Tour which was a major fundraiser for the library.
Parker Breakfast Club Records [PDF] - The Parker Breakfast Club is an informal group which sponsors weekly programs which address community issues as well as broader concerns with potential local impact. They are also donate money to local Douglas County charities. The group meets at 7AM every Monday at the Village Inn in Parker, CO.
Parker Mainstreet Advisory Committee [PDF] - This collection documents the efforts of the Parker Mainstreet Advisory Committee to preserve Parker's Mainstreet area through historic preservation. Historic preservation experts from the east coast came to Parker for an assessment. Community leaders wrote a preservation ordinance and development standards to clarify the town's goals.
Parker Methodist Church Records [PDF] - The collection reflects the life of the Parker Methodist Church in the first half of the 1900’s, especially through the Ladies’ Aid Society’s records and the financial records of the church. Families important to the formation and early history of the church served on its boards, donated money and attended worship services through the 1960’s.
Parker Water and Sanitation Court Case - See Shultz, Robert - Papers [PDF]
Parker Woman's Study Club Records [PDF] - The Parker Women’s Study Club was formed in 1923 for "the improvement of the intellect and to promote the general welfare of the community."
Perry Park Development - See Pickoff, Julius - Papers [PDF]
Perry Park Development - See Schafer, A. L. - Photographs [PDF]
Perry Park Landowner's Association - See Maguire, Sally - Colorado Front Range Project and Perry Park Landowner's Association [PDF]
Perry Park Metropolitan District Records - See Woolston, Douglas - Papers [PDF]
Pickoff, Julius - Papers - Colorado Western Development Company [PDF] - These records were collected, and in most cases created and produced by the Colorado Western Development Company between 1965 and 1980. Most of the records relate to the development of the Perry Park subdivision located west of Larkspur, Douglas County, CO.
Pinery Property Protection Committee Records, 1969-2000 (bulk 1981-1986) [PDF] - This collection contains information regarding the development of The Pinery subdivision in Parker, Colorado. Documents include the bankruptcy papers of Terracor, the original developer, and various other items.
Public Relations Office of the Douglas County Libraries Records [PDF] - These are the files of the Douglas County Libraries, Public Relations Office, 1988-1998. The collection documents the activities of Douglas County Libraries branches.
Rantanen, Ranae - Fair Books and Articles [PDF] - Collection includes Douglas County Fair and Rodeo Program Books from 1935, and 1950-1995. Other items in the collection include judging materials for poultry and rabbit categories, as well as newspaper articles.
Rantanen, Ranae - Castle Rock Promotional Materials [PDF] - Collection includes Douglas County Fair and Rodeo Program Books from 1935, and 1950-1992. Other items in the collection include judging materials for poultry and rabbit categories, as well as newspaper articles.
Saunders, Elizabeth Gilbert - Papers - Douglas County Schools [PDF] - The records consist of ephemera, clippings and some assignments from the Cherry Valley School and the Douglas County High School.
Schafer, A. L. - Photographs - Colorado Western Development Company [PDF] - Visual materials created and duplicated by A. L. Schafer as the result of his relationship with the Colorado Western Development Company in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Most of the materials relate to the development of the Perry Park subdivision located west of Larkspur, Douglas County, CO.
Scholz, Ollie Brown - Scrapbooks [PDF] - Scrapbooks kept by Ollie Scholz (Mrs. Karl Scholz) in Castle Rock from 1915-1963. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings relating to people and events in and around Castle Rock, birthday cards, get well cards, invitations, and photos.
Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Records - See Douglas County Cultural Council [PDF]
Shultz, Robert - Papers - Parker Water and Sanitation Court Case [PDF] - The collection contains three subjects: tractor manuals, a court case against Parker Water and Sanitation District, and newspaper articles and other sorts of "public information" such as meeting minutes, handouts, management plans, published correspondence, etc.
Smoky Hill Trail Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution Records [PDF] - These are the 1979 - 1996 records of the Smoky Hill Trail Chapter NSDAR #8-040-CO, Parker, CO. The records include scrapbooks, newsletters, correspondence, commemorative programs and yearbooks. There are no financial records or actual minutes of meetings.
Upton Treat Smith House Wallpaper Samples - Wallpaper samples from the house at 403 Cantril, Castle Rock, CO. The samples were collected in 1995. Some may be from when the house was built in 1902.
Van Lopik Family Visual Materials and Papers [PDF] - The collection consists of newspaper articles, legal documents, diplomas, and other ephemera collected by the Van Lopik family. Most of the materials were collected while the family was living in Castle Rock in the 1940’s. Other items relate to the family after they left Castle Rock. Some articles relate to World War Two veterans who were residents of Douglas County.
Weston, Mark - Papers [PDF] - The collection document's Mark Weston's involvement in the Douglas County Open Lands Coalition and the Douglas County Planning Commission from 1992-1994. The main components of the collection are the Douglas County Open Lands Coalition financial and organizational records and materials relating to the McLain Pit, and sales tax surveys from Douglas and Jefferson Counties.
Woolston, Douglas - Papers - Perry Park Metropolitan District [PDF] - The Perry Park Metropolitan District, a quasi-municipal body, was formed in 1977 as a special district, with taxing power, to manage Perry Park Ranch, a subdivision near Larkspur, Douglas County, Colorado.
If you would like more information on resources available in the DCHRC, or would like to volunteer to help, call (303) 688-7730.