BIBLIOGRAPHY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN COLORADO AND THE WEST
COLORADO HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLORADO BOOK REVIEW CENTER www.coloradohistory.org/publications February 2005
Compiled by Kristine Slaughter, Clara Brown Intern, 2004–2005, with Modupe Labode, Chief Historian, Colorado Historical Society and Dr. Tom Noel, professor of history, University of Colorado-Denver.
This bibliography lists books, articles, dissertations, and sound recordings relating to the history of African Americans in Colorado. There are also some listings that refer to African Americans in the West. Most, but not all, of the resources listed here are available in the Stephen H. Hart Library of the Colorado Historical Society.
Abajian, James de T. Blacks and Their Contributions to the American West: A Bibliography and Union List of Library Holdings through 1970. San Francisco: San Francisco Public Library, 1970.
Adair, Harriet Elain Glosson. Trends in School Desegregation: An Historic Case Study of Desegregation in Dayton, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; and Seattle, Washington, 1954-1985. Ed. D. dissertation, Brigham Young University, 1986.
African American Leadership Institute. The 10th Annual Expanding the Visions Conference : Especially for African-American Males Grades 5 through 12. Denver: African American Leadership Institute, 2000.
Anderson, Robert. From Slavery to Affluence: Memoirs of Robert Anderson, Ex-Slave. Steamboat Springs: Northwest Graphics, 1927.
Armitage, Susan. “‘The Mountains Were Free and We Loved Them’: Dr. Ruth Flowers of Boulder, Colorado.” In African American Women Confront the West: 1600-2000, edited by Quintard Taylor and Shirley Ann Wilson Moore. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2003: 165-177.
Ashford, Lucille. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1978.
Atkins, James A, 1888-1968. Manuscript collection, MSS. 21. Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
——. The Age of Jim Crow. New York: Vantage Press, 1964.
1 ——. Human Relations in Colorado: A Historical Record. Denver: Colorado Department of Education, 1968.
Baker, Roger. Clara: An Ex-Slave in Gold Rush Colorado. Central City: Black Hawk Publishing, 2003.
Ball, Wilbur. Black Pioneers of the Prairie. Eaton: W.P. Ball, 1988.
Bardwell, George E. Characteristics of Negro Residences in the Park Hill Area of Denver, Colorado, 1966. Denver: Commission on Community Relations, 1966.
Barefield, Ollie Solomon. Negro Pioneers in Colorado. Greeley: Colorado State College, 1966.
Batey, Ann. A Study of Black Organizations of Pueblo, Colorado. Pueblo: Pueblo Regional Planning Commission, 1975.
Beckwourth, James Pierson. The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth as Told to Thomas D. Bonner. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1972. Reprint of 1856 edition.
Berwanger, Eugene H. The Frontier against Slavery: Western Anti-Negro Prejudice and the Slavery Extension Controversy. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1967.
——. “William J. Harding: Colorado Spokesman for Racial Justice, 1863-1873.” Colorado Magazine Vol. 52, No. 1 (Winter 1975): 52-65.
Billington, Monroe Lee. New Mexico’s Buffalo Soldiers, 1866-1900. Niwot: University of Colorado Press, 1991.
Billington, Monroe Lee, and Roger D. Hardaway, eds. African Americans on the Western Frontier. Niwot: University Press of Colorado, 1998.
Black American West Foundation. Westward Soul! Historic Centennial-Bicentennial Edition. Denver: Black American West Foundation, 1976.
Black American West Museum. Recording of the Dedication of the Museum. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1988.
Black Organizations: A Directory. Denver: Western Images Publications, Inc., 1991.
Bond, Anne Wainstein. “Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Garland.” Colorado Heritage (Spring 1996): 28-29.
2 Bracken, Lillie M. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Branch, Hettye Wallace. The Story of “80 John”: A Biography of One of the Most Respected Negro Ranchmen in the Old West. New York: Greenwich Books, 1960.
Brooks, James F. “Introduction.” In Confounding the Color Line: The Indian-Black Experience in North America, edited by James F. Brooks. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2002: 2-18.
Brother Jeff's Annual Business and Community Guide. 2002.
Brown-White, Carnieca. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Bruyn, Kathleen. “Aunt” Clara Brown: Story of a Black Pioneer. Boulder: Pruett, 1970.
Buffalo Soldiers West: Black Soldiers in the Frontier Army. Videorecording. Ft. Collins: Old Army Press, 1996.
Bundles, A’Lelia. On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madame C. J. Walker. New York: Scribner, 2001.
Burnap, Willard A. What Happened During One Man’s Lifetime, 1840-1920: A Review of Some Great, Near Great, and Little Events. Fergus Falls, MN: 1923.
Byrd, James W. J. Mason Brewer: Negro Folklorist. Austin: Steck-Vaughn, 1967.
Carey, John E., Sr. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Carhart, Thomas Merritt, III. African American West Pointers During the Nineteenth Century. Ph.D. Dissertation, Princeton University, 1998.
Clark, Carl E. Pieces from My Mind: The Compelling True Story of a Black Man in a White Man’s Navy During WWII. Berkeley: Creative Arts Book Company, 2001.
Class, Donna Kirtley, Maria Beavers Davis, Dolores D. Graves, Jeanne Ann Lefils, Donsella Minton, Leslie Oxman. Contributions by Blacks to Social Welfare History in the Early West. Group Master’s Thesis, University of Denver, 1974.
Coker, William and Winifred. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Collyer, Robert. “Lincoln Home and Aunt Jennie Madison.” Pueblo Lore Vol. 14, No. 11 (November 1989): 1-8.
3 The Color of Colorado Springs. Colorado Historical Society holdings. Serial.
Colorado Black Lifestyle Magazine. Colorado Historical Society holdings. Serial.
Colorado Historical Society. “Black Images” Exhibition flier. “Museology” file, Ephemera Collection. 1974.
Colorado Historical Society. “Ethnic Groups–Black.” Ephemera Collection.
Colorado State Advisory Committee. Colorado: 1961 Report to the Commission on Civil Rights from the State Advisory Committee.
Colorado Statesman. Newspaper.
Craig, Rolan. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1994.
Crosby, Alexander L. In These Ten Cities: Charlottesville, Sledge, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, Springfield, Chicago, Detroit, Waterbury, [and] New York: Discrimination in Housing. Edited by Hortense W. Gabel and Maxwell S. Stewart. New York: New York State Committee on Discrimination in Housing, Public Affairs Committee, 1951.
Davis, Lenwood G. Blacks in the American West: A Working Bibliography. Monticello, IL: Council of Planning Librarians, 1974.
De León, Arnoldo. Racial Frontiers: Africans, Chinese, and Mexicans in Western America, 1848–1890. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2002.
The Denver Blade. Newspaper, 1961-1969.
Denver Chronicle: A Progressive Newspaper for Progressive People. Denver: Denver Chronicle Inc., Vol. 1, No. 32 (December 5, 1932).
Denver Commission on Community Relations. A Guide to Black Businesses, Professions and Organizations in Denver. Denver: The Commission on Community Relations, 1974.
Denver Star. Newspaper, 1912-1963.
Denver Unity Council. Manuscript Collection, MSS. 1654, 1946-1951. Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
De Priest, Audrey. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1981.
4 Dickson, Lynda Faye. The Early Club Movement among Black Women in Denver, 1890- 1925. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1982.
Dickson, Lynda F. “Lifting as We Climb: African American Women’s Clubs in Denver, 1880-1925.” Essays in Colorado History No. 13 (1992): 69-98. This article also was reprinted in Writing the Range: Race, Class, and Culture in the Women’s West. Edited by Elizabeth Jameson and Susan Armitage, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997: 372-392.
Dramer, Kim. Native Americans and Black Americans. Philadelphia : Chelsea House Publishers, 1997.
Duncan, Fannie Mae. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Durham, Philip, and Everett L. Jones. The Negro Cowboy. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1966.
——. The Adventures of the Negro Cowboys. New York, Bantam, 1969.
——. The Negro Cowboy. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1965.
Earl George Birthday Committee. “90 Years of Struggle: A Tribute to Earl George,” Seattle? 1984.
East Denver Directory of Business and Citizenry. Denver: East Denver Directory, 1948- 1949.
Escoolite Drill Team, 1958-1994. Manuscript collection, MSS. 1758. Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
Felton, Harold W. Edward Rose: Negro Trail Blazer. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1967.
——. Jim Beckwourth, Negro Mountain Man. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1966.
Fletcher, Marvin. The Black Soldier and Officer in the United States Army, 1891-1917. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1974.
Ford, Guy and Inga. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1980.
Ford, Justina L. Ford. Manuscript collection, MSS. 1306. Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
5 Gaskin, James Clyde. A Survey of the Occupational Opportunities of Negroes in Denver. Master’s Thesis, University of Denver, 1940.
Gaston, John Coy. The Denver, Colorado Area Black Professional/Businesswoman's Perception of Her Communication with the Black Male. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1979.
Glenn, Cecil Evans. A Study of the Self-concept of Black University Students at the University of Colorado at Denver. Thesis., University of Colorado at Boulder, 1976.
Goldstein, Marcia T. Breaking Down Barriers: Black and White Women's Visions of Integration: The Young Women's Christian Association of Denver and the Phyllis Wheatley Branch, 1915-1964. Master’s Thesis, University of Colorado at Denver, 1995.
——. “Breaking Down Barriers: The Denver YWCA and the Phyllis Wheatley Branch, 1940-1949.” University of Colorado at Denver: Historical Studies Journal. Vol. 12, No. 1 (1995): 35-69.
Grant, Billie Arlene, Ernestine Smith, and Gladys Smith, Growing up Black in Denver. Denver, 1998.
Green, Thomas L. “Junius R. Lewis and the Golden Chest Mining Company.” Colorado Magazine Vol. 50, No. 1 (Winter 1973): 24-40.
Gwaltney, William W. “The Making of Buffalo Soldiers West.” Colorado Heritage (Spring 1996): 45-48.
Gwaltney, William W. and Thomas Welle. “By Force of Arms: The Buffalo Soldiers of Colorado.” Colorado Heritage (Spring 1996): 30–34.
Hansen, Moya. “Entitled to Full and Equal Enjoyment; Leisure and Entertainment in the Denver Black Community, 1900-1930.” University of Colorado at Denver Historical Studies Journal Vol. 1, No. 1 (1993): 47-75.
——. “Pebbles on the Shore: Economic Opportunity in Denver’s Five Points Neighborhood, 1920-1950.” Colorado History Vol. 5. (2001): 95-127.
——. “‘Try Being a Black Woman!’: Jobs in Denver.” In African American Women Confront the West: 1600-2000, edited by Quintard Taylor and Shirley Ann Wilson Moore. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2003: 206-227.
Harris, Theodore, ed. Negro Frontiersman: The Western Memoirs of Henry O. Flipper, First Negro Graduate of West Point. El Paso: Texas Western College Press, 1963.
6 Harvey, James Rose. Negroes in Colorado. Master’s Thesis, University of Denver, 1941.
——. “Negroes in Colorado.” Colorado Magazine Vol. 26, No. 3 (1949): 165-176.
High Street Parish Community Center. High Avenue to Pride: Black Achievement in Colorado. Denver: High Street Parish Community Center, 1977.
Holley, John Stokes. The Invisible People of the Pikes Peak Region: An Afro-American Chronicle. Colorado Springs: Friends of the Pikes Peak Library/Friends of the Pioneer Museum, 1990
Jack and Jill of America, Inc., South Suburban Denver Chapter. Annual Kwanzaa Celebration. Littleton: Goodson Recreation Center, 1991.
Jackson, Steve. “The Other Side of the Tracks,” Westword August 2, 1995. Available at www.westword.com/issues/1995-08-02/feature.html/print.html.
Johnson, Byron. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Johnson, Christine, T. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Junne, George H. Blacks in the American West and Beyond—America, Canada, and Mexico: A Selectively Annotated Bibliography. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2000.
Katz, William Loren. The Black West. 3d ed. rev. Seattle: Open Hand, 1987.
King, William M. “Black Children, White Law: Black Efforts to Secure Public Education in Central City, Colorado 1864-1869.” Essays and Monographs in Colorado History. (1984): 55-80.
——. Going to Meet a Man: Denver's Last Legal Public Execution, 27 July 1886. Niwot: University Press of Colorado, 1990.
Langellier, John P. Men A-marching: The African American Soldier in the West, 1866- 1896. Springfield: Steven Wright, 1995.
Love, Nat. The Life and Adventures of Nat Love, Better Known in the Cattle Country as “Deadwood Dick,” by Himself. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1995. Reprinted from the 1907 edition.
Lowry, Beverly. Her Dream of Dreams: The Rise and Triumph of Madam C.J. Walker. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.
7 Lyles, Lionel Dean. “An Historical-Urban Geographical Analysis of Black Neighborhood Development in Denver, 1860-1970.” Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1977.
Macedonia Baptist Church. Macedonia Baptist Church: Seventy-fifth Anniversary, 1917- 1992. Denver: Macedonia Baptist Church, 1992
Mauck, Laura M. Five Points Neighborhood of Denver. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2001.
Mayer, Vincent, Jr. The Black on New Spain's Northern Frontier: San Jose de Parral, 1631 to 1641. Durango: Fort Lewis State College, Center of Southwest Studies, 1974.
McChristian, Douglas C. “‘Dress on the Colors Boys’: Black Noncommissioned Officers in the Regular Army, 1866-1898.” Colorado Heritage (Spring 1996): 3-44.
McDonald, Alice Craig. “ ‘Dixon Heights’: A Black Community.” Pueblo Lore (May 2000): 7-9.
McGue, D.B. “John Taylor – Slave-Born Colorado Pioneer,” Colorado Magazine 18 (September 1941): 161-168.
McLean, Polly E. editor. A Legacy of Missing Pieces: The Voices of Black Women of Boulder County. Boulder: Center for Studies of Ethnicity and Race in America, 2002.
McNair, Doug, and Wallace Yvonne McNair. Colorado Black Leadership Profiles. Denver: Western Images Publications, 1989.
Minority Business and Professional Directory. Denver: MPBD Inc.: 1984-85, 1986.
Morrison, George. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Mothershead, Harmon. “Negro Rights in Colorado Territory, 1859–1867.” Colorado Magazine Vol. 60, No. 3 (1963): 212-236.
National Association of Colored Women: Manuscript Collection, MSS. 1704. 1968- 1983. Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
Negro Historical Association of Colorado Springs, Black Settlers of the Pikes Peak Region, 1850-1899, n.d.
8 Norris, Melvin Edward, Jr. Dearfield, Colorado: The Evolution of a Rural Black Settlement: An Historical Geography of Black Colonization on the Great Plains. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Colorado, 1980.
Owens, Sister M. Lilliana. “Julia Greeley, ‘Colored Angel of Charity.’” Colorado Magazine Vol. 20, No. 5 (September 1943): 176-178.
Parkhill, Forbes. Mister Barney Ford: A Portrait in Bistre. Denver: Sage Books, 1963.
Picher, Margaret. Dearfield, Colorado: A Story from the Black West. M.A. Thesis, University of Denver, 1976.
Picher, Margaret Passoth. “Charles Rothwell: Homesteader, Cowboy, and Pullman Porter.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (March 19, 1978): 14-20.
Pigford, Clementine Washington. Beautiful, Beautiful, Zion: The Majesty of God's Power and Grace, First Chronicles-Chapter 20, Verse 11. Denver: Zion Baptist Church, 2003.
——. They Came to Colorado . . . with the Dust of Slavery on Their Backs: Information about Zion Baptist Church, its Members and Societal Affiliations. Denver: Zion Baptist Church, 2000.
——. Thy Will be Done: The Prayer Band Ministry of Zion Baptist Church. Denver: Zion Baptist Church, 2004.
Porter, Kenneth Wiggins. The Negro on the American Frontier. New York: Arno Press, 1971.
Purdue, Fray Marcos and Paul Stewart, eds. Westward Soul! Denver: Black American West Foundation, 1976.
Ravage, John W. Black Pioneers: Images of the Black Experience on the North American Frontier. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1997.
Rawls, Isetta Crawford. The Negro in Early Colorado. Typescript. 1968, Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
Reese, Joan. “Two Enemies to Fight: Blacks Battle for Equality in Two World Wars.” Colorado Heritage No. 1 (1990): 2-17.
——. “Two Gentlemen of Note: George Morrison, Paul Whiteman, and Their Jazz.” Colorado Heritage, No. 2 (1986): 2-13.
9 Reid, Ira De Augustine. The Negro Population of Denver, Colorado: A Survey of Its Economic and Social Status. Denver: Lincoln Press, 1929.
Rhym, Shelley. Through My Eyes: The Denver Negro Community, March 1934-January 1968. Denver: Core City Ministries, 1968.
Rivers, Fannie Mae. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1997.
Robinson, Marian Morrison. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1993.
Sanford, Jay. “African American Baseballists and the Denver Post Tournament.” Colorado Heritage (Spring 1995): 20-34.
Savage, W. Sherman. Blacks in the West. Westport: Greenwood Books, 1976.
Schlissel, Lillian. Black Frontiers: A History of African America Heroes in the Old West. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1995.
School of the Church of the Brethren. Constitution and By-laws of the Negro Orphanage, Old Folks' Home and Mission Training. Denver: School of the Church of the Brethren, 1905.
Schrum, Keith. “Of Myth and Men: The Trail of the Black Cowboy.” Colorado Heritage (Autumn, 1998): 2-17.
Simmons, Alvertis. Hold Your Position! Denver's Version of the Million Man March. Denver: Simmons & Associates, 2001.
Smith, Jessie Carney, ed. “Justina L. Ford,” Notable Black American Women, Book II. New York: Gale Research, 1996: 229-231.
Smith, Glenn Ray. The Black Studies Program at the University of Colorado, 1968- 1973: Development, Change and Assessments. Diss., University of Colorado, 1974.
Soul Street "74". Denver: Street Academy, 1974.
Spann, Dorothy Bass (as told to Inez Hunt). Black Pioneers: A History of a Pioneer Family in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs: Little London Press, 1978.
Stewart, Paul, and Yvonne Ponce Wallace. Black Cowboys. Denver: Black American West Museum and Heritage Center, 1986.
Stewart, Paul. Westward Soul! Denver: Black American West Foundation, 1976.
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Stiff, Cary. “Barney Ford: From Slavery to Riches.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (August 3, 1969): 20–25.
——. “The Day that Lynch Law Prevailed.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (August 10, 1969): 28-33.
——. “The Dream of Dearfield.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (November 2, 1969): 47- 51.
——. “John Taylor, Friend of the Indians.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (October 12, 1969): 34-36.
——. “The Movie that Rocked Denver.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (September 7, 1969): 32-36.
——. “Nash Walker’s Answer to Jim Crow.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (October 26, 1969): 34-37.
——. “The Rise of Colorado’s Klan.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (September 21, 1969): 16-22.
——. “Rube Waller to the Rescue.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (July 20, 1969): 14- 17.
-----. “Sgt. Johnson, hero of Milk Creek.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (August 24, 1969): 18-23.
——. “When the Klan Ruled Colorado.” Denver Post Empire Magazine (September 28, 1969): 28-33.
Talmadge, Marian and Iris Gilmore. Barney Ford, Black Baron. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1973.
Tate, Penfield. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1974.
Taylor, Arie. Oral History Interview. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1974.
Taylor, Mary Jean. “Leadership Responses to Desegregation in the Denver Public Schools, a Historical Study: 1959-1977.” Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Denver, 1990.
Taylor, Quintard. In Search of the Racial Frontier: African Americans in the American West, 1528-1990. New York: Norton, 1998.
11 ——. “Comrades of Color: Buffalo Soldiers in the West, 1866-1917.” Colorado Heritage (Spring 1996): 3-27.
Taylor, Quintard and Shirley Ann Wilson Moore, eds. African American Women Confront the West, 1600-2000. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2003.
Thogmorton, James Pleasant. The Urban League of Denver: A Study in Techniques of Accommodation. Denver: University of Denver, M.A. Thesis, 1951.
Tucker, Deborah L. To Make a Mayor. New York: University Press of America, 1995.
Tucker, Phillip Thomas. Cathy Williams: From Slave to Female Buffalo Soldier. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 2002.
The Untold West: The Black West. Videorecording. Atlanta: TBS Productions, Inc., 1993.
Waddell, Karen. “Dearfield…A Dream Deferred.” Colorado Heritage 2 (1988): 2- 12.
Ward, Nancy E. Manuscript Collection, MSS. 1703. 1942-1988. Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
Warlick, Dottie. “John Taylor, Early Pioneer.” In Historic Durango: People of the San Juans, La Plata County Historical Society, 8 (May 12, 2002): 6.
Wayne, George H. “Negro Migration and Colonization in Colorado–1870-1920.” Journal of the West Vol. XV, No. 1 (January 1976): 102-120.
Wells, Elmer E. “Pueblo Blacks shared role of pioneers.” Pueblo Star Journal and Sunday Chieftain, August 13, 1978: 7A.
We were only asking for our rights. Videorecording. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1994.
Westward Soul Chronicle: The Official Newsletter of the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center. Denver: Black American West Museum.
Wilson, Elinor. James Beckwourth: Black Mountain Man and War Chief of the Crows. Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, 1972.
12 Whitaker, Matthew Corey. Western Resistance: Lincoln and Eleanor Ragsdale and the Transformation of the Black Freedom Struggle in the American West. Ph.D. Dissertation, Michigan State University, 2001.
White, Cecilia. Manuscript collection, MSS. 2183. Denver: Colorado Historical Society.
White, John. Sleeping Car Restrictions Removed. Denver: n.p., 1991. Available at Denver Public Library.
Writers’ Program. Negro Pioneers: Interviews. Denver: Colorado Historical Society, 1940.
Zion Baptist Church. Baptism, Christening and New Members' Records of Zion Baptist Church: Years 1970s, 1980s and Early 1990s. Denver: Zion Baptist Church, 2000.
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