Think Locally (Read a book about Northern Colorado)
December 9, 2021
We live in a beautiful and fascinating part of the country. How much do you know about your local history? The people, the places, the struggles and victories of Northern Colorado can be an enlightening way to appreciate this diverse and wonderful place we call home. Dig in!
Weld County by John Fielder & Peggy Ford Waldo
Colorado’s favorite photographer has focused his lens on Weld County in his newest book. His beautiful pictures of the ranches, plains, wildlife, and towns of Weld County is accompanied by the historical text of the late, great Greeley historian, Peggy Ford Waldo.
White Gold Laborers by Jody Lopez & Gabriel Lopez
This book offers a social and cultural history of the men, women, and children who worked the sugar beet farms and lived in the Spanish Colony north of Greeley. Thousands living today in different parts of our country can vividly and intimately relate to the history presented here.
Good Time Girls of Colorado by Jan MacKell Collins
An integral part of western history, the stories of these women continue to fascinate readers and captivate the minds of historians today. Whether escaping a bad home life, lured by false advertising, or seeking to subsidize their income, thousands of women chose (or were forced) to enter prostitution where they faced segregation and persecution, fines and jailing, and battled the hazards of their profession.
Confluence: The Story of Greeley Water by Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr. & Michael Welsh
This engaging book covers 150 years of water history, which began with a single irrigation ditch in 1870. Today, this system provides award-winning water to over 140,000 people. Meet the heroes who helped create, protect, and maintain this precious resource.
A Brief History of Erie Colorado by James B. Stull
Did you know that from 1866 until 1979 Erie was one of the largest coal-producing towns in the nation? Emeritus Professor James B. Stull illuminates Erie’s earliest pioneers, houses, schools and churches and the town’s enduring evolution.
People of the Red Earth by Sally Crum
Lavishly illustrated with maps, drawings, and historic photographs, this accessible history offers an overview of the earliest peoples and tribes of Colorado.
Remembering Lucile by Polly E. Bugros McLean
In 1918 Lucile received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, becoming the first female African American graduate. The first-born daughter of emancipated slaves, her story is inspiring and offers a unique blend of feminist historiography as well a glimpse into major events in African American history and culture in Colorado.
Haunted Hotels of Northern Colorado by Nancy K. Williams
Perhaps you like a little creepiness in your reading? This book highlights wispy apparitions and ghostly tales from the famous Stanley Hotel to Hotel Jerome and many others. You’ll want to read this with all the lights on!
Bears in the Backyard by Rebecca Safarik and others
Written by a team of local history experts, this book explores the special neighborhood in and around the University of Northern Colorado. They examine how a community of determined settlers on the Colorado High Plains secured one of Colorado’s first colleges.
Rocky Mountain National Park: The First Hundred Years by Mary Taylor Young
Yes, RMNP is a beautiful mountain escape for those of us living on the plains. It is also rich in history as detailed here in this exquisitely illustrated book. Journey back to meet the ancient settlers, Utes and Arapaho, as well as the pioneers and explorers who roamed this harsh and wonderful landscape. Meet the engineers who created the famous Trail Ridge Road. Learn about the conservation efforts to protect the land and wildlife.