Colorado State Government Colorado State Archives

Records and information at the Colorado State Archives are valuable resources for the researcher. Our enthusiastic and talented staff can assist you in recommending sources for researching your particular topic of interest. We do have search, handling, and copy fees. Please contact us in order to find out the charges for your request.. The following alphabetical list of topics and resources are frequently researched at the Colorado State Archives. Contact the Colorado State Archives, we look forward to assisting you!

Colorado Agriculture Records

Public records documenting the history of land use and the animal and plant industries are available at the State Archives. Early stock brand records are useful for identification of ranchers and county of residence.

Colorado Business Incorporation Records

Businesses in Colorado filed incorporation certificates, annual reports, trademarks, and dissolution papers. These are especially abundant in the areas of agriculture, metal mining, extraction, construction, water resources, transportation, manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing and service. These records, spanning the years 1861-1975, identify the nature of the business, county of operations, assets, and names of officers and directors. Also included are the incorporation records of cities and towns. For additional information visit the Business Incorporation Records Page.

Colorado Constitutional History Resources

The residents of early Colorado worked eighteen years to achieve statehood. Four different constitutions were drafted with the last being accepted in 1876. Copies of the constitutions are available at the State Archives. A copy of the 1876 Constitution may be viewed in pdf format on this website. Also available are records of the early Legislative Assemblies, a copy of the Enabling Act for the Admission of Colorado as a state, the Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention convened on December 20, 1875, and the Proclamation declaring Colorado a state on August 1, 1876. Records of constitutional amendments are also available. For additional information visit the Legislative Research Page.

Colorado Election Records

The 1861 poll books, showing the name of the male voter, provide an informal census for a rapidly changing period in Colorado's history. Other election records include abstracts of votes for most counties and records on such constitutional amendments as women's suffrage.

Colorado Governors Records

The official public records of each of Colorado's governors are available for research. These records generally include correspondence, administrative papers, reports, speeches and photographs. The private papers of Colorado governors may be found at the Colorado State Historical Society. For additional information visit the Governors Collection Page.

Colorado Judicial Records

Records pertaining to criminal cases and such civil matters as naturalization, water rights, divorce, and probate are housed at the State Archives. For additional information visit the Colorado State Archives Court Case Research Page. Information about naturalization and citizenship can be found on the Colorado State Archives Naturalization Records Page.

Colorado Land Records

Most of the land records for the state of Colorado may be found in respective County Clerk and Recorder's offices; however, scattered territorial and state records are at the State Archives. Records from the Colorado State Land Board include some early land patents and state land leases.

Colorado Legislative Records

This record group contains Territorial and State Session Laws, Statutes, House and Senate Bills, Resolutions and Memorials, Photographs, and House and Senate Journals. From 1973 to the present, audio tapes of legislative hearings are also available along with the minutes (called "Summaries") of the committee meetings. For additional information visit the Legislative Research Page.

Colorado Military Records

Service Records for the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, and WWII are available for those who served in the Colorado Territory's Militia and later, the Colorado National Guard. Civilian and administrative records relating to all wars, domestic incidents and deceased veterans may also be referenced. Access to records showing cause of death are restricted. For additional information visit the Colorado State Archives Military Records Page.

Colorado Mining Records

Early mining district laws, minutes, lode records, and miners court records are available for Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties, 1859-1864. Later mining records for various counties include lode and deed records, transfer records, affidavits of labor, and claim location certificates. Records of state agencies include early assays, mining accounts, mining maps and laws, and mining histories.

Colorado Notaries Public

Expired notarial bonds and oaths are on file at the State Archives. Researchers must contact the Colorado Secretary of State's Office (303)894-2251, prior to contacting the State Archives. Active notarial bonds and oaths are also at the Secretary of State's Office, 1560 Broadway Suite 200, Denver CO 80202.

Colorado Prison and Reformatory Records

Historical records of persons sentenced to the State Reformatory in Buena Vista and the State Penitentiary in Canon City are available at the State Archives. These include the inmate information record and usually, the mug shot. Biennial Reports of these insitutions give insight into the circumstance and conditions of the inmates. For additional information visit the Colorado State Archives Penitentiary and Reformatory Records Page.

Colorado Radon Exposure Records

Historical records of the Colorado Bureau of Mines concerning inspection of Colorado uranium mines and exposure of miners to radon are available at the State Archives. The records span the years 1961 to the mid 1970's. Man exposure cards, radon daughter sampling forms, radon inspection reports and historical mine reports are typically used to document an individual's exposure levels. The records are restricted to the miner or a legal representative.

Colorado School Records

Pupil census records, teacher registers, district boundary records, district minutes, and school house photographs are available from many counties. For additional information visit the Colorado State Archives Public School Records Page. The Archives also holds some records from the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. A project describing some of the earlier records may be viewed at http://www.holsclaw.net/CSBPupils/csdbproj.htm. Use your "back" feature to return to this site.

Colorado Teachers Records

Teachers experience and certificate records, curriculum, instruction, and school district reorganization records are also available.

Colorado Vital Statistics Records

The State Archives holds statewide marriage and divorce indexes which span the years 1900-1939 and 1975-current. Specific county indexes must be consulted for entries between the years 1940-1974. Some county indexes are held by the State Archives, but most remain in the county of origin. The Archives also holds many original marriage certificates and divorce papers from several counties. For additional information visit the Colorado State Archives Marriage Records Page

Colorado Water History Records

Historical records from several state agencies documenting water issues are at the State Archives. These include court case records from the District Courts, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. Biennial Reports and other publications from the office of the State Engineer provide background information on the formation of the Water Districts. Floodplain studies are available for engineers and others interested in flood control projects.

Colorado Civilian Conservation Corps Records

Historical records of the CCC include enrollment records, project listings and many other documents. Many photographs are also available. For additional information visit the CCC Collection Page.