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The Territorial Governors Collection at the Colorado State Archives

Within the Colorado Governors collections are approximately 10 cubic feet of material and 7 rolls of microfilm relating to the Territorial Governors of Colorado from 1861-1876. The record series in the collection include: the Executive Record; correspondence; extraditions and requisitions; Territorial Secretary papers; speeches and messages; reports; photographs; and reference material. While relatively few records exist for these governors, the Executive Record and the records of the Secretary provide excellent documentation of their terms. These documents record the official acts of the Territorial Governor as well as the Secretary, who was closely associated with the Governor and often acted for him in his absence. The records also include important correspondence with federal and other territorial officers. The organization of the Territory, the campaign for statehood, and law and order in the Territory are important subject areas covered in the above records. There is also considerable documentation concerning Colorado Volunteer military engagements during the Civil War and with the Indians who lived in the region. Most subjects are also documented in other records especially in a compilation of photocopied documents pertaining to the legal events leading up to statehood. These include minutes concerning the Jefferson Territory (1839), correspondence regarding the need for a territorial government (1859), accounts of the Constitutional Convention Proceedings (1864-1865), and the proclamation by President Ulysses S. Grant declaring the admission of the State of Colorado into the Union (1876). Speeches and messages to the legislature also document these important events.

Reports by various territorial officers are also an important part of the collection. The Territorial Treasurer, Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Adjutant General and other officers created periodic or annual reports which they sent to the Governor. Annual Reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs also exist from 1854-1871. The Penitentiary, established in 1868, is documented through reports and minutes of the Board of Managers of the Penitentiary (1874). Extraditions and requisitions, as well as pardons, may be found in the Executive Record and in separate volumes. Finally, photographs exist of each Territorial Governor, although this collection is very small.

May contain executive orders; proclamations; appointments; legislative messages; pardons; extraditions and requests; and honorary citations (1861-1876).

Journals, official correspondence, and administrative material in microfilm format (1861-1875).

Incoming and outgoing. Letterpress books exist for John Evans (1863-1865), Samuel H. Elbert (1873-1874) and John Routt (1875-1879).

Reports to the Governor from territorial officers (1866-1879), Commissioner of Indian Affairs reports (1854-1871) and report of the Penitentiary concerning its fiscal situation, number of convicts, status of convicts, inventory, and statistics on prison population (1874).

Documentation concerning the surrendering of alleged criminals to a different jurisdiction for trial. May include name of criminal, crime committed, date and where authorities believe they were located, and pardons.

Addresses and messages given by the Governor to the Territorial Legislative Assembly (1861-1879).

At least one photograph exists for each of the Territorial Governors. An additional photograph may exist of their painted portraits.

Included is a draft of a masters thesis never completed by Frank Coley concerning the Sand Creek Massacre (c.1950s), "The Silver Mines of Colorado," by Orvando J. Hallister (1867), "Colorado: Official Information", pamphlet by the Board of Immigration (1872), and a compilation of photocopied records documenting the advent of statehood (1839-1876).

In order to obtain access to the Territorial Governor papers please contact the Colorado State Archives. We will be happy to provide you with additional information concerning this collection or others, and the fees that are associated with doing research here.