Miscellaneous Records

Bacon & Patrick Accounting Journals, 1870-1874

Series 216 (2 Volumes)

Two accounting journals for Bacon & Patrick, a dry goods and grocery store on Washington Avenue in Golden, Colorado. G.W. Bacon and S.G. Patrick were the proprietors. The Day Book, dated 1873-1874, lists each business day's transactions for later transfer to a ledger. The Cash Book, dated 1870-1874 contains all cash receipts and payments recorded in chronological order.

Citizen Petitions, 1868-1961 (Bulk 1868-1939)

Series 234 (2 Boxes)

Small collection of petitions appealing to the Board of County Commissioners with respect to particular causes. Petitions were filed with the Clerk and Recorder and contain the names and addresses (or city of residence) of concerned citizens. Early petitions include establishing or changing voting precincts and declaring certain areas "Anti-Saloon Territory" while later petitions encourage or protest the granting of liquor licenses as well as other important issues. 

Collection does not include road petitions, property tax abatement petitions or legal pleadings. 

See Finding Aid (PDF) for complete inventory. Towns enclosed in parentheses in the container list indicate the area where most of the signers of that petition live.

Clark & Merrill Accounting Ledger, 1878-1882

Series 215 (1 Volume)

Ledger book of accounts for Clark & Merrill (Charles T. Clark and Charles Merrill), possibly a lumber mill in Morrison. Transactions dated 1878 to 1882. No further information available.

Golden, Colorado, Annual Report 1949-50

Series 221 (One envelope)

Booklet containing a report of the administrative activities of the City of Golden for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1950.

"County Line" Employee Newsletter, 1976-2005

Series 165 (2 Boxes)

Jefferson County employee newsletter created in 1976 for the purpose of enhancing employee communications within the County. Published monthly by the Personnel Department and later by the Administrative Services Division and then the Public Information Office. Issued bi-monthly starting in 2000. 

The first unnamed issue was published August 20, 1976 advertising a contest to name the newsletter. A $25 U.S. Savings Bond was given to the employee who submitted the winning name. Thereafter published as "The Jefferson County Line" until August 1990 when it was shortened to "County Line."  The last issue of record appears to be the July / August 2005 issue.

Drawing Room Plays (Parlor Dramas), 1870s-1898

Series 213 (3 Booklets)

Three Victorian-era drawing room plays also called parlor dramas. These plays, developed during the Victorian period in the UK, were designed for entertaining guests in the drawing room of one's home and were also suitable for society, church and school entertainments. They include instructions for simple costumes, props, and stage directions. Published in 1877  by T.S. Denison. "Initiating a Granger: A Farce" takes place in a student's room in an agricultural college where two freshmen are to be initiated into a grange organized by the students. "The Mischievous Nigger: A Negro Farce" was published in 1898. "My Turn Next: A Farce" written by T.J. Williams before 1874, illustrates the difficulties an apothecary encounters through marrying in haste.

Please note: While we are aware that the creator's use of the word in the title of the second play will be considered offensive by today's standards, it is not a generally accepted practice of Archives to censor language used in previous eras. Please keep its historical context in mind.

Festival of the West, Inc. Records, 1975-2001

Series 186 (11 Boxes)

Files documenting the annual Festival of the West celebration. The Festival of the West began as a project of the Jefferson County Historical Commission for the Centennial-Bicentennial celebration of July 3-4, 1976. It was ranked among the top 20 national bicentennial events. The event was so popular that the Board of County Commissioners asked the Historical Commission to continue it and it grew into one of the biggest 4th of July festivals in the Denver metropolitan area. 

Held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, the Festival of the West featured all local entertainers and included amusements for the kids, band concerts, gunfighters, museum tours, equestrian demonstrations by the Westernaires Riding Group and professional fireworks displays. The Festival ended after the 2001 event. 

Select Finding Aid (PDF) for complete inventory.

Arvada Hackberry Tree Collection, 1937

Series 231 (One envelope)

This collection contains documents and photographs gathered from various sources by the archives regarding the tree on Hackberry Hill that was ultimately cut down due to the straightening of Wadsworth Blvd. north of Arvada in 1937. 

There are letters written to the Board of County Commissioners by citizens protesting destruction of the tree as well as resolutions and other correspondence by the Peace Pipe Chapter of the DAR; the Colorado State Forestry Association; the Woman's Club of Arvada; and the Denver Chapter of the DAR. 

The collection also includes an article entitled "The Lone Hackberry" by A.V. "Rips" Mayfield that was published in the Arvada Enterprise newspaper about the tree; a letter from the USDA about the feasibility of moving the stump after the tree was cut down; and 14 black and white photos of the stump taken from all sides by Louis G. Davis, County Extension Agent.

Incorporation Records, 1862-1969

Series 168 (16 Boxes, 2 Volumes)

This collection contains filings regarding incorporation of companies seeking to do business within Jefferson County. The majority of these are articles of incorporation, amendments to articles of incorporation, notice of paid stock, annual financial reports and updates on company status. These records show who the officers and directors of a company were and their places of residence, the type of business, where it operated and other information. 

The collection includes incorporation records for various types of companies and organizations including ditch companies, railroads, wagon road companies, churches, banks, insurance companies, water companies, cemetery associations, fraternal organizations, granges and many others.  Also included are municipal incorporation records for Golden, Edgewater, Arvada, Lakeside, Morrison, and Mountain View.

Index to Corporations Filed and Index to Corporations, Co-Partnerships, Trade Names.  

Select Finding Aid link to view the complete inventory.

Jefferson County IT Services Department Scrapbooks & Memorabilia, 1967-1995

Series 160  (1 Box)

Two scrapbook albums containing copies of news clippings, commission minutes, correspondence and various types of reports documenting the history of the Jefferson County Data Processing Department (created in 1968) and its first computer system (purchased in 1969). Also includes full run (four issues) of "MIS...cellaneous," a newsletter produced by the Management Information Systems Department in 1994-1995.

Stock Certificate Book for the Jefferson County Abstract, Real Estate & Investment Company, 1891-1939

Series 217 (1 Volume)

Book containing stock certificates for shares in the Jefferson County Abstract, Real Estate & Investment Company of Golden, Colorado. This company was incorporated in 1891 by Al Townsend, A.D. Jameson and George Townsend. The book contains intricately designed certificates and receipts showing number of shares owned, date, certificate number, corporate seal and signatures, and is dated from 1891 to 1939. Donated to the Archives in 2007 by the Golden Landmarks Association. 

Related records: Series 168, Incorporation Records.

Sanitary Sewer Rules and Regulations, Lakewood Sanitation District, 1944

Series 214 (1 Booklet)

Booklet containing the rules and regulations adopted by the Lakewood Sanitation District, Lakewood, Colorado. The sanitation district was approved by the District Court July 16, 1941. Its first Board of Directors were Paul V. Pattridge, Carl G. Morse, J. Robert Creighton, William E. Nason and Charles E. Spencer.

Memorial Address on the Life and Character of William McKinley, by Hon. John Hay. Delivered before the two Houses of Congress February 27, 1902

Series 193  (1 Volume)

Memorial address on the life and character of William McKinley, President of the United States, by Honorable John Hay. Delivered before the two Houses of Congress February 27, 1902. Appendix: Proceedings in the House of Representatives, February 27, 1902. Publisher: Washington, Government Printing Office, 1903.

Murphy Mine Day Book No. 2, 1880-1881

Series 218 (1 Volume)

Accounting book for the Murphy Coal Company of Golden, Colorado. Formed in 1872, the company operated a coal mine on Ralston Creek. The Day Book lists each day's transactions for later transfer to a ledger and runs from January 31, 1880 to February 1, 1881.

Related records: Series 168, Incorporation Records.

Special District Service Plans, 1978-2012

Series 191 (28 Boxes)

Approved service plans of special districts in Jefferson County. A special district is a political subdivision of the state established to provide a public service (such as water, sanitation or fire protection) within a specific geographic area. 

Because Colorado law limits the types of services that county governments can provide, special districts are created to fill the gaps in the services counties provide and those its residents desire. The majority of districts draw their boundaries in unincorporated county land, but residents of a municipality may be included in one or more districts.

When a special district is created, they are required to submit a service plan that outlines the services they will provide. The service plan also provides a financial plan for the procurement of land and facilities that may be necessary to provide the services. Service plans must be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. After board approval and a successful election creating the district, the service plan, along with a certified court order organizing the district is filed with the county Clerk and Recorder and the state’s Division of Local Government. 

(Description from https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dola/special-districts-0 accessed 11/10/2015.)

Terrain Database - Air Photo Analysis: Martin Marietta ALV Test Site, 1985-1986

Series 169 (1 Box)

Report created by the U.S. Army Engineer Topographic Laboratories in support of their task producing a high-resolution, high-accuracy, experimental digital terrain data base to be used with an inertial navigation system for an Autonomous Land Vehicle (ALV). 

Report provides a pictorial and descriptive introduction to the terrain characteristics of the ALV test site at the Martin Marietta facility in Jefferson County. Photography consists of 35mm color slides and black and white photographs taken to provide stereoscopic views as well as monoscopic views of the terrain and specific features. Jefferson County’s Mapping Department provided the aerial photographs used for the project. 

View the Finding Aid (PDF) for complete inventory.

Territorial Legislative Bills, 1868

Series 226 (One envelope)

Two legislative bills enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of Colorado Territory. Both bills were approved by Frank Hall, Acting Governor, January 10, 1868.

A Bill for an act entitled "an act to encourage the destruction of wolves" allowed for payment of a premium of one dollar for every wolf killed. 

A Bill for "an act to provide for the collection of the Territorial Revenue in certain counties and for other purposes" allowed for the appointment of an assessor and collector to assess and collect revenue in those counties who had failed to contribute their proportionate share for fiscal year 1867 or made no provision for the collection of such revenue for fiscal year 1868.

Tiny Town Film, circa 1931

Series 197 (16 mm film and two copies on DVD)

Home movie film of the J.W. Bancker family from Summit, New Jersey, visiting Tiny Town and surrounding area about 1931. Mr. Bancker was the Mayor of Summit from 1936 to 1940 and also a VP with Western Electric. The film shows scenes of cars driving on a dirt canyon road along a rushing creek, possibly Turkey Creek Canyon, then the family at Tiny Town, then looking out from Lookout Mountain. Film has been digitized.

Unprocessed Miscellaneous Records, 1860-2014

Unprocessed archival collections have not been nicely re-foldered, re-boxed, or labeled, may not be arranged in any discernible order, and do not have finding aids written for them. They are, however, available to researchers unless in rare instances access restrictions have been placed upon them or redaction of sensitive information is required.

Please contact Archivist for details regarding specific record series.

Information on this page may change frequently. Titles of actual records may differ slightly and date ranges may be approximate. Advance notice is required to view records.

Records:

• Administration and Courts Facility Grand Opening Ceremony (Files and Photos), 1993
• Architectural Advisory Committee: Files and Minutes for Justice Center Design Competition, 1978-1980
• Chattel Mortgage Index Books, 1886-1928
• Coal Creek Canyon News (Scrapbook Pages), 1962-1963
• Coal Creek Women's Club Scrapbooks, 1952-1983
• Colorado 3.2 Beer Act (Booklet), 1954
• Colorado Liquor Code (Booklet), 1954
• Denver in Early Days: Celebrating the 60th Anniversary Founding of Colorado National Bank, 1922
• Directions ’76 Newsletter, 1976
• Directory and Information about Jefferson County (Brochure), circa 1987 to circa 1993
• Employee Appreciation Events and Softball League Ephemera, 1991-1998
• Employee Training Course: Creating and Sustaining an Ethical Business Environment, 2006
• Estray Notices and Sale Recording Book, Record Book O, 1869-1903
• Flags: Colorado Centennial, JCHC '76 Brand, U.S. Bicentennial, 1976; Jeffco 2017; Colorado 2012
• Framed Certificate: "Jefferson County: A Bicentennial Community", 1976
• Human Services Bldg. Groundbreaking Ceremony (Photos, VHS), 1988
• Jefferson County Historical Commission: Jefferson County Designated Centennial Sites (Brochure), undated
• Jefferson County Historical Commission: Museums and Selected Historic Sites (Brochure), 1990
• Jefferson County Historical Commission: Photo Albums/Scrapbooks (Festival of the West), 1974-1978
• License Plates for County Vehicles, 1975
• Linda Allen with JHC/76 Logo Branding Iron (Photos, Biographical Info, JCHC Brand Info, Tie Tacks), 1976-2011
• Miscellaneous Filed/Recorded Documents:
  • Affidavits, 1891-1924
  • Affidavits of Labor and Improvements / Notice in Lieu of Annual Labor (Mining Claims), 1887-1948
  • Agreements, 1863-1946
  • Application for Replacement License Plates, 1924
  • Army Certificate of Disability, 1867
  •  Assignment of Wages, 1910-1916
  • Bills of Sale, 1862-1926
  • Bonds, 1863-1954
  • Burial Permit, 1946
  • Butcher Bonds (for License to Slaughter), 1877-1926
  • Certificates of Ownership (Motor Vehicle, Cemetery Plot, miscellaneous), 1900 & 1926
  • Chattel Mortgages and Release of Chattel Mortgages, 1863-1928
  • Church of the Brethren, Indenture and Apprenticeship, 1912
  • Contracts, Receipts, Lien Note, 1885-1936
  • Declarations (Occupation, Possession and Enjoyment, Location of Land, School Lands, etc.), 1862-1889
  • Deeds (Warranty, Quit-Claim, Deeds of Trust, Release Deed of Trust, etc.), 1860-1946
  • Fireman’s Certificate of Service (A.G. Smith), 1885
  • Homestead Claims, 1929 & 1937
  • Honorable Discharge, 1918
  • Indenture (R.C. Tharrington to George W. Clayton College), 1914
  •  Land Agreements, 1866 & 1902
  •  Land Claims, 1860-1862
  • Leases, 1863-1939
  • List of Lots Owned by RW Clark & Co., Golden City, undated
  • Location Certificates (Mining), 1867-1936
  • Mechanics Liens, 1871-1911
  • Mineral Claim, 1921
  • Mining Claims, Deeds, Leases, 1860-1903
  • Mortgage, Mortgage Deeds, Release of Mortgage, 1863-1925
  • Motor Vehicle Registration Certificates and Receipts, 1951
  • Power of Attorney, Letter of Attorney, 1862-1925
  • Pre-emptions, 1864-1874
  • Proclamation: Change of County Lines, Jefferson and Park Counties, 1909
  • Public Trustee’s Certificates of Purchase, Redemption, and Sale, 1896-1931
  • Receipts, 1866-1910
  • Release / Revocation of Agreements, 1880 & 1886
  • Rights-of-Way (Ditches, Railways, Wagon Companies, etc.), 1867-1938
  • Shares to Lots in Golden (Golden City Association), 1864
  • Statements (Use of Ditch Water), 1886-1888
  • Tax Sale Certificates, 1879-1901
  • Timber Notice, 1867
  • Title Bonds (for Real Estate), 1868-1903
  • Transfers of Title Documents, 1920-1926
  • Treasurer’s Deeds, 1880-1908
  • Union Pacific Railroad Co. Land Department Agreement, 1904
  • WAH Loveland Dry Goods Account Statement, 1868
  • Water Claims, 1864
  • Will and Decree of Final Settlement (John D. Colver), 1877 &d 1937
  • Wills and Other Documents on Estate Matters, 1872-1920
• Motor Vehicle Laws (Publication), 1937
• Mt. Morrison Asphalt, Oil and Gas: Record of Wells Drilled, 1916
• Newsletters:
  • Interagency Council, 1978
  • Jefferson County Public Library, 1984
• Newspaper Articles: 2013 Floods
• Proceedings of Governor’s Conference on Metropolitan and Urban Problems, Denver, Colorado, January 17-18, 1958
• Public Utilities Commission (Applications for Permits, Decision on Arvada Electric Co., etc.), 1927-1937
• Railroad Papers (ROW, Franchise, Resolutions, Bonds, Petitions, etc.), 1888-1908
• Report of Secretary of Board of Immigration (Agricultural, Mining and Manufacturing Advantages of Jefferson County), 1874
• Reprint of State of Colorado Act Establishing the Public Trustee System (HB 48, 1894), 1994
• Screen Saver: Jefferson County Springtime, 2003
• Sesquicentennial Celebration and Time Capsule Collection, 2011-2012
• Sheriff CD: 10 Past Council Members, undated
• Social Services Facility Open House Guest Books, 1973
• Specifications for Covering to Water Works Reservoir, 1879
• Stereoscope, undated
• Subdivision Regulations, 1946
• Tax Tokens, undated
• Time Capsule / Capstone Ceremony, Administration and Courts Building. October 4, 1993 (Photographs, List of Contents, Letters, Colorado Masonic Directory, etc.), 1993
• Vertical Sketchmaster (Device for transferring an image from one medium to another, e.g. maps) with manuals and documentation, undated
• Videos:
  • Human Services Adoption Videos, 2009
  • JCHC State Honor Award, 2014
  • JCPL Promotional Video: Sound Wall Research at Lakewood Library, 2010
  • Jim Moore: Jeffco's Human Resources Director, 2004
  • KLTV8 Disaster PSAs: Preparedness Pete: Flood and Wildfire, 2004
  • Take Your Child to Work Day Citizen Activity, April 23, 2009
  • Treasurer's Annual Report, 2006
• West Rail Line Grand Opening, 2013
• Working Denver: An Economic Analysis, Denver Planning Office, 1953
• WPA (Correspondence, Contribution Certificate, Project Reports), 1936-1939

Woody Woodpecker "Solid Ivory" Cartoon, 1947

Series 200 (One 8mm Film reel, 3:07, not yet digitized)

8mm silent, black & white film, #494 "Solid Ivory" Woody Woodpecker cartoon (Walter Lantz) by Castle Films, 1947. Plot summary: Woody is shooting pool at a farm house when one of his pool balls rolls into a nearby henhouse. He takes the ball back but must battle with the hen who thinks the woodpecker is taking one of her eggs. Woody makes several attempts to get the ball back from the protective poultry finally disguising himself as a macho continental rooster whom the hen falls for causing Woody to retrieve his ball. But it doesn't last long. The hen gets wise prompting Woody to trip spilling all the hen's eggs all over himself and getting conked with his own pool ball! (Plot summary written by Matt Yorston, from www.imdb.com, accessed 5/3/2017.) Digital version of film found on YouTube (uploaded by jjarse2 in 2011) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2kZRCJu-SY&t=38s