Every January, the City of Denver regresses back to its Wild Western roots, during the National Western Stock Show. Sometimes, this time of year brings frigid temperatures and blizzards to Colorado. This year, the sun shown brightly in the crispy cold air while the blizzards stayed in the high country. Plenty of ranch folks came to town to show off their best livestock. The Old West was alive and well during the exhibitions of beautiful animals all all sorts.

Post-holiday January was predictably chaotic for me, with membership renewals to process for Women Writing the West, history research, articles to write, while fighting off a wicked, nasty cold. What a delight it was to head off to the stock show, as if skipping school, with my pal, Carol, both of us wearing cowboy boots, letting our inner cowgirls run free for the day.

After we watched draft horse classes, we meandered through the stockyards to visit with mules, longhorn steers, yaks, and buffalo. Nothing clears the brain like being outdoors on a sunny, winter day, visiting with critters who remind us of our Western history and culture.

Joyce B. Lohse, 2/1/10
www.lohseworks.com

Denver Welcome Arch Early 1900s

My research route took me once again to the Denver Post Card Show. Do not overlook post cards as a fun and fabulous source for historic images from the past. Another Denver Post Card Show is scheduled for April 30 and May 1 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. Be careful. Collecting historic post cards can be addictive. Check E-Bay and online sources as well.

There is a movement afoot to rebuild the Denver Welcome Arch, pictured in the post card image above. The arch, built about 1906 in front of Union Train Station, was torn down around 1930 as a traffic impediment. Rumor has it that pieces of the original arch still exist in dark corners of basements in the LoDo section of Denver. History buffs are collecting money, interest and energy to rebuild it. History repeats, indeed!

A productive history week in Colorado continued. With the sun on our faces and snow crunching under our boots, my research pal, Christie, and I enjoyed the outdoors while tracking down cemetery facts in the bone yard. The next day found me indoors at Denver Public Library. While DPL struggles through construction woes, I sailed through reels of microfilm to collect data for a research client. Repeating visits to familiar haunts and repositories often yields new material and interesting experiences. This week was no exception to that rule.

History repeated on the front page of the Denver Post this week. Mayor John Hickenlooper announced he will run for state governor. My favorite pioneer governor, John L. Routt’s photo, appeared on the same page. Routt, the subject of my book, “First Governor, First Lady”,  was the first Denver mayor to run for governor, as Hickenlooper has chosen to do. Ah, yes, history repeats. Hickenlooper is a literary fellow. He introduced Kurt Vonnegut for a speech I attended about a decade ago. It was a stunning moment when I realized I would fulfill my destiny as a writer. So it goes.

Joyce Lohse, 1/15/10
www.lohseworks.com

Holiday grinches are not allowed in Colorado.

During the holidays, we can enjoy many opportunities to revisit and exercise traditions. They provide important links to the past, and a foundation for future generations to relate to their family history. These important historical links take the form of celebrations, decorations, rituals, and routines. When past rituals no longer work, we make up new ones. This year, we celebrated the week before Christmas, the actual day, and New Years weekend with those who were available at the time. Grinches are not allowed at our house. Thanks to good weather and good cheer, it all worked out.

Sometimes new traditions evolve. At our Columbine Genealogy Society, I learned about a Southern tradition of eating black eyed peas for good luck on New Years Day. We can all use good luck. I cranked up the crock pot and cooked a batch as a side dish with our New Years roast. They were pretty darn good! I can’t say I’ve had especially good luck in the tentative first days of the new Year, but I haven’t had any bad luck either. Yet.

As I pack away Christmas decorations and ornaments, I recall stories brought to mind about how each one was acquired, or about people who gave them to us as gifts. Once the holidays are boxed up and stashed away for the next eleven months, many interesting prospects and challenges await. It is exciting to anticipate a clean slate with new possibilities for writing, touching history, and preserving stories of pioneers.

Joyce B. Lohse, 1/5/10
www.lohseworks.com

While researching a Colorado pioneer character for an upcoming biography, I had difficulty finding her “voice”. Other people had plenty to say about her, good and bad. It was not until the final years of her life that she spoke out for others to hear. Unfortunately, by then, her thoughts were dominated by a spirit and dream world, leaving us with a jumble of disjointed perceptions.

As I waded through archival files, I was amused to find a pile of scribbled notes in my subject’s handwriting, which described remedies and recipes. At first, I gave them cursory attention, and set them aside. Then, I began to realize the truth. These notes were my character’s voice from the past! By preserving directions inside a well-used cookbook, she determined choices which provided signposts and clues about her daily life. Not only were personal preferences indicated by carefully saved instructions, but they also contained quotations, which gave cryptic meaning to her outlook and life.

One cookbook which contained notes was the White House Cookbook, published in 1887. Recipes were printed in paragraph format, containing little more instruction than a vague time frame, and whether to add fuel to the stove for a hotter fire. Some ingredients would be difficult to find now, or would defy logic in light of current cooking methods. For instance, one recipe suggested mixing a few “hops” with flour before baking. When I asked my friendly natural foods grocer about this item, he helpfully suggested I stop by a brew pub if I wished to find hops for my next baking project. I think I will pass on that one.

If you wish to get in touch with the past of your ancestors, pay attention to the well used cookbooks in their collection, as well as family recipes. Many cookbooks, such as the White House Cookbook, which is pictured here, have been republished and are available on the internet. I previously purchased an 1896 edition of the Fanny Farmer Cookbook as a solid example of American cooking, and a terrific historical resource.

Make sure you study household journals and recipe notes for unrelated items as well. You never know what you will find there.

If cooking is not your interest, other specialized books can contain voices from the past. Other titles might include topics such as gardening, woodworking, mechanics, sewing, livestock, agriculture, and the family bible. The fact that these resources were kept close at hand and were used liberally tells us quite a bit about their owners, their habits, interests, and beliefs. Think about the types of books which are important to your everyday life, and what they say about your identity.

Joyce B. Lohse, 12/15/09
www.lohseworks.com

If Thanksgiving is upon us, it must be time for CAL – the Colorado Association of Librarians Conference. Every year, publisher Filter Press hosts a booth for this event in Denver, allowing the authors to meet and greet librarians, teachers and readers. It is always illuminating, and a mixed bag of good news and bad news comments. The bad news is predictable … more book buying budget cuts, more social studies programs slashed, more demand for books about speicalized topics way down on the priority scale.

The good news is encouraging and will keep us going. As more people learn about our “Now You Know Bio” series, they find more ways to integrate them into their programs, and more people read them. They recognize the quality of the biographies and the research which has gone into each one. They love the topics we’ve chosen, and enthusiastically look forward to the newest arrivals.

I’m thankful for what we have, and I embrace the challenge of moving forward to produce more pioneer stories which appeal to young readers and history buffs of all ages. I appreciate Filter Press, who believes in my work and publishes it, giving me a voice, and for the encouragement and support of my colleagues there, and in Women Writing the West. I am honored to apply my writing skills to preserve history, and to give a voice to women who were formerly silent and consequently overlooked. Many of their stories have emerged and can now be celebrated, either as individuals or in conjunction with their pioneering partner.

John and Eliza Routt (rhymes with “scout”) provide a great partnership story. My award-winning book, First Governor, First Lady: John and Eliza Routt of Colorado, published by Filter Press, is a duo-biography about the life and work of the Routts as Western pioneers. I was fortunate to revisit their story and share it in an article for the current holiday issue of Steamboat Magazine. To read a condensed version of the article, go to: http://www.steamboatmagazine.com/articles/255.php

Happy Thanksgiving!
Joyce Lohse – 11/23/09
for more information about Now You Know Bios:
www.lohseworks.com
www.filterpressbooks.com

Little libraries make the world go round. On the plains southeast of Denver last Saturday, Librarian Gayle Gresham hosted an Author Open House at the Elbert Public Library, which shares space with the Elbert School Library. It is a warm and wonderful place, full of the hustle and bustle of folks looking for a good read, and kids Googling the internet.

Along with Filter Press, I was invited to meet and greet patrons, and display and sign books for sale. With a craft bazaar taking place elsewhere in the building, traffic moved from one venue to the other. It was a fine, fun time, well spent in a welcoming space for authors and readers to mingle and celebrate books.

The Elbert Library is also home of the Women Writing the West Collection. These books receive a second life when they are removed from the WWW trade show exhibits to make room for new titles. They are then processed and placed into circulation in Elbert, where they have become quite popular as locals seek out titles they might have missed, many with Western and historical themes. A new shelf will soon be added to facilitate expansion of the collection.

Joyce Lohse, 11/18/09
www.lohseworks.com

Transitional shoulder months in Colorado are full of beauty and surprises. One minute, a blizzard sends you scurrying toward the hearth and a pile of quilts, then the sun pops out and lures you outdoors to linger among crunchy leaves and inhale the warm breath of Indian Summer.

As shadows lengthen and the days grow shorter, activities related to collecting, preserving and enjoying pioneer history return indoors. During a recent snowstorm, I set aside research and read a book entitled, Prayers For Sale, by Sandra Dallas. As a longtime fan of  Sandra Dallas, I would be hard pressed to find fault with anything she writes. She is a lovely person, and a terrific role model for a writer on a quest to produce worthy and worthwhile historical books and articles.

Prayers For Sale is enjoyable on many levels. It is appealing to those who savor great historical fiction and to those who simply relish a darn good read. Dallas does her usual outstanding job of characterization while weaving, or rather quilting, an intriguing and well-crafted story thread set in a Colorado mining camp. Themes of pioneer courage, friendship, mentoring, enduring love, and forgiveness enrich the story, provoking thought and delighting historical sensibilities. When I need inspiration, or I wish to be transported to an earlier time and place, Sandra Dallas always delivers. The story motivated me to resume my needlework, always a centering activity.

To learn more about Sandra Dallas, go to: www.sandradallas.com

This coming Saturday, November 14, my writing path leads to the town of Elbert, on the plains southeast of Denver. Librarian Gayle Gresham has invited members of Women Writing the West to meet and greet the public at the Elbert Library Open House. Book displays and authors will be available between 1 and 3 p.m. in the public library, which shares space with the school library, at 24489 Main Street. Come out to Elbert to mingle with the authors and enjoy cider and cookies. Elbert Public Library is home of the Women Writing the West collection, over 100 books donated to their library by the non-profit national writing organization.

Joyce B. Lohse, 11/10/09
www.lohseworks.com

History researchers in Denver beware and be aware. As of Oct. 31, the Colorado Historical Society is closing its library for the next two years while they move and reconstruct their museum. Yes, I said two YEARS!! Realization of this closure has thrown my research schedule for my next biography into panic mode. The subject for the next book is Elizabeth Tabor, known around Colorado as “Baby Doe”, the Silver Queen of Leadville.

Although my writing and research schedule has become somewhat tospy-turvy and compressed, I hit paydirt this week when I squeezed in a visit to CHS before the impending closure. The large volume of the Tabor holdings are a two edged sword. The good news is that there is much information to read, view and assimilate. The bad news is that it takes time and organization to sort through the inconsequential, sift down to the nitty-gritty, and identify the really good stuff.

Frustrations slip away when treasures fall into the researchers hands. Fortunately, those moments came and I was transported to a time long ago when our pioneer state was newly formed. A silver king named H.A.W. Tabor put aside his ego and business concerns to scribble words of love to “Lizzie”, the bold script fading but the intent still clear on thin scraps of paper. A voyeur into the past, I was able to interpret these items directly from the source. History was in my hands.

I will miss CHS while they regroup. However, when one door closes, two more usually open. The adventure is just beginning. I am almost grateful that I was forced to scramble into disjointed action. Almost.

Joyce Lohse, 10/23/09

Colorado Sprgs Pioneers Museum

After an exceptional week of book and history activity, I come away with troubling news. I am not often motivated to make a political statement. Although I choose my battles carefully, this situation calls for action.

Colorado Springs, my home for 18 years, is on the cusp of an election which will make or break the city’s future. Without a tax increase, one of the casualties will be the closure of the  Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. This important historical resource in the old county courthouse is the repository of the region’s history. The staff are exceptional caretakers, the displays significant, and the acquisitions critical to researchers, educators, historians, and authors. Without access to this amazing resource, my biography of General William Palmer would not be complete. Although I am grateful and fortunate that I was able to study Palmer’s historic photographs, letters and journals for my research, I cringe to think that others might not have access to this important repository and the capable guidance of the museum staff. The thought of this museum closing is truly heartbreaking.

If you would like further information about the affect of these ballot issues, please go to the following link:

http://www.csindy.com/colorado/message-to-our-readers/Content?oid=1425860

If you lack the time or inclination to read the article, and you live in C. Springs, please vote YES on 2c, and NO on 300 in November, and encourage other residents to do so. Palmer founded this city on the premise that residents would benefit from an exceptional quality of life. The future of this beautiful city is at stake.

– Joyce B. Lohse, 10/4/09

Montrose County History in a D&RG Station

Sometimes as I explore Colorado, I stumble across a historic treasure. A few weeks ago, while visiting Grand Junction on the West Slope, I drove south in search of history and new outlets for my books. In Montrose, about an hour from Junction, I was drawn into a museum on a side street by an impulse fondly recognized by writers and researchers as serendipity.

Housed in a restored Denver & Rio Grande railroad station was a wonderful collection of artifacts from Colorado history. Deb Barr welcomed me inside while sharing her knowledge and passion for area history and other things. She wears many hats in the community, from museum curator, to reporter, to clerk, to jazz singer. She was pretty excited to learn about my latest title, “General William Palmer: Railroad Pioneer”, founder of the D&RG Railroad. The book is now for sale in the museum gift shop, a fine collection of items pertaining to area history.

This little museum is not to be missed. If you are in the area with little time on your hands, at least step inside the depot and gift shop. The museum, which operates independently, is well-deserving of support and attention from history buffs. It is open until mid-October before closing for the winter. Watch for gift shop events in the winter.

Montrose County Historical Museum
21 North Rio Grande
970-249-2085
open mid-May through mid-October
Monday through Friday 10 AM – 4 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM

– Joyce Lohse, 9/25/09