William “Buffalo Bill” Cody: Showman of the Wild West
When: 1846 – 1917 Where: Born in Iowa, traveled the western United States, and died in…
Colorado Histories
Susan Anderson, Mountain Doctor
When: 1870 – 1960 Where: Born in Indiana, and later moved to Cripple Creek, Denver, Greeley,…
Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales: Boxer, Writer, Activist
When: 1928-2005 Where: Denver and Brighton Why Important: Gonzales was a boxer, writer, and Chicano activist. Biography…
Robert Speer, Denver’s “City Beautiful” Mayor
When: 1856 – 1918 Where: Denver, Colorado Why Important: Mayor who worked to beautify Denver Biography Born…
Ralph Carr: Defender of Japanese Americans
When: 1887 – 1950 Where: Denver, Colorado and Southern Colorado Why Important: Governor who supported the rights…
Patricia Schroeder: Colorado’s First Congresswoman
When: 1940-Present Where: Portland, OR, Denver, CO Why Important: Colorado’s first woman Congressperson Biography Patricia Nell Scott…
Minnie J. Reynolds Scalabrino: Activist
When: 1865 – 1936 Where: Born in New York, moved to Denver Why Important: Minnie was a…
Luther Kountze: Banker
When: 1842-1918 Where: Denver, CO Why Important: Kountze founded the Colorado National Bank. He also helped rebuild…
Kate Ferretti: Millinery Entrepreneur
When: 1891-1987 Where: Denver, CO Why Important: Ferretti was a female entrepreneur in the early twentieth century….
John Valentine: FTD Founder
When: early-1900s Where: Denver, CO Why Important: John Valentine founded the Florists’ Telegraph Delivery Association (FTD) in…
John Kernan Mullen: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
When: 1847-1929 Where: Denver, CO Why Important: J. K. Mullen was one of Colorado’s most successful entrepreneurs…
John Francis Campion: Founder of Colorado Museum of Natural History
When: 1849-1916 Where: Leadville, Campion, Denver Why Important: Campion founded the Colorado Museum of Natural History, which…
James Pierson Beckwourth: African American Mountain Man, Fur Trader, Explorer
When: 1805-1866 Where: St, Louis, MO, the Rocky Mountains, and Denver, CO Why Important: Beckwourth was an…
Hermann H. Heiser: Saddlery Manufacturer
When: 1836-1904 Where: Black Hawk and Denver, CO Why Important: Heiser was an important businessperson and entrepreneur…
Hattie McDaniel: Actress
When: 1895 – 1952 Where: Denver Why Important: First African American woman to win an Academy Award…
Elizabeth Piper Ensley: Activist
When: 1848 – 1919 Where: Born in the Caribbean, moved to Boston, then Washington, D.C., and…
Daniel Cheesman Oakes: Early Settler and Businessperson
When: 1825-1887 Where: Denver, CO Why Important: D. C. Oakes was an early settler and smart businessperson….
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Where: California; Ignacio and Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C. Why Important: U.S. Senator, Jewelry Designer, Rancher Biography When…
Adolph Coors: Businessman
When: 1847-1929 Where: Golden, CO Why Important: Adolph Coors founded the very successful Coors Brewing Company. His…
All Bios, Alphabetically
Additional biographies are available at the State Publications Library blog.