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Explore Colorado’s past through the archives, artifacts, and photographs of the History Colorado Collection.

The Stephen H. Hart Research Center provides access to the History Colorado Collection as well as research and reproduction services. The Research Center is open via appointment Wednesday through Saturday from 10am-3pm. Please visit the Research Center page for more information. Research Center staff are happy to help with virtual assistance at cosearch@state.co.us or by telephone 303-866-2305. 

Between 2002 and 2007 History Colorado (HC) staff collaborated with Colorado’s Italian American community to document that community’s story in the state—a story previously underrepresented in the HC collection. A key to this successful collaboration was the development of the HC Colorado Italian American Preservation Association (CIAPA). The mission of this volunteer organization founded in 2002 includes developing, supporting, and coordinating projects that preserve, promote, and celebrate Italian American culture and heritage. The organization has carried out its mission by meeting with people from Colorado’s Italian American community, recording their stories and creating an archive of research materials (the CIAPA archive) that include oral histories, documents, photographs, moving images, sound recordings, and artifacts. These materials served as the foundation for the development of the 2007 exhibit The Italians of Denver and the 2008 publication of the book Italy in Colorado: Family Histories from Denver and Beyond. History Colorado’s partnership with the Italian American community continues today; CIAPA members are helping to process the CIAPA archive for public access. A select number of items from the CIAPA research archive are presented here.

Found 444 record(s)
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Item SelectionAvailable ActionsImageObject NameTitlesort by Title ascendingObject IDsort by Object ID ascending
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RosaryFeliciana Pierro Figliolino's Salt Rosary ; Italian Salt Rosary, made circa 18802004.35.1
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Prayer bookKey Of Heaven2004.39.1
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Prayer bookNovene Ala SS. Vergine Del Rosario of Pompei2004.39.2
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abstractAbstract of Title for Joseph and Adeline Nicoletti, 19572004.47.1
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abstractAbstract The Title Guaranty Company2004.47.2
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abstractAbstract of Title2004.47.3
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LithographLithograph: Vera Effigie Di S. Rocco2004.51.1
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programGolden Jubilee Program2004.52.1
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card, EasterI am the Resurrection and the Life2004.52.2
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PhotographMike Severino and Ted Polito2004.52.3
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PhotographMarlene Spano2004.52.4
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PhotographMarlene Spano2004.52.5
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bookletSacred Heart Catholic Church2004.52.6
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BookI Piccoli Meridionali2004.56.1
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BookI Piccoli Meridionali2004.56.2
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PhotographUsaly Club Christmas Party at Mount Carmel Hall Denver, 19362004.56.3
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doilyBattenburg Lace Doily2004.56.4
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doilyRectangular Tan Doily Set2004.56.5.A
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doilyRectangular Tan Doily Set2004.56.5.B
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doilyRectangular Tan Doily Set2004.56.5.C
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Physical Description: Beginning of rosary is the heavy metal cross wound with red thread-yarn. Incorporated into the cross are branches of metal with dyed salt beads, some held in place with holes in end, others encased in blue yearn-string. Top of cross is a rectangular piece of ribbon. Three beads (places for three more that are missing). A yellow flower attached with wire behind it is a small piece of red ribbon. The five decades of the rosary with larger salt beads between each decade, a small dark red bead on each side of this larger one. Beads are held in place with red string around them, tied with blue thread between each bead., The rosary belonged to Feliciana Pierro Figliolino (see PCCLI0227) and came to America with Feliciana in a trunk in 1883. Born in San Fele, a town and comune in the province of Potenza in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, Feliciana's mother died when she was a young girl. After her father remarried, his new wife was not fond of Feliciana and as a result was sent to the US to live with her brother. See attached for more information. See also MSS2595 Rosalyn Hirsch (granddaughter of Feliciana Pierro Figliolino) file for more information.

The salt rosary was an important part of the trunk, as it tied to Feliciana's catholic faith and her Sothern Italian pagan roots. Salt was used as an anti-"evil eye" (malocchio) remedy and as protection from the evil eye, often put on the table or floor and thrown over ones shoulder. Today, salt is still used by the catholic church as a sacramental element against evil, linking the present faith with the Italian superstition. Many people
A Manual of Prayers has 242 pages, printed in Switzerland by Michael Augustinue, November, 1897. Inside fly leaves have hand printed text, then a picture of Virgin Mary with baby Jesus standing on a table holding a cross. Interleafing tissue over the picture. Title page follows, printing information. Page One, two and three are "Contents". Page four and five schedule of Moveable Feasts for 1907 to 1928. Edges of book are gilt.
Novena is printed in Italian. Eighty pages in prayer book dealing with the Novena to The SS. Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei. Two fly leafs, first printed page is title page. Back of title page an oval frame picture of Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus.. Circle of stars surround the two. Madonna sits on a throne with a man on either side of her. Frame has a banner under it with flowers scattered at bottom and top. Mary dressed in flowing robe, left hand reaches down to man on that side. Right arm holds the Baby, Jesus has a crown floating above His head. Man on this side reaches up towards the Baby.
Abstract: Lots 17-28 (+29) Bk 1 Hagus. Legal papers for land acquired by abstract companies. Cover sheet "They traded influence ...for TOWNSITES" describing first town site called Montana City. Pages are typed on legal size paper, first page begins with Feb. 5, 1870 with the Kansas Pacific RailwayCo. Others are The Union Pacific Railroad Company, Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Co., The Platte Land Company, Quick Claim Deeds, Hagus Addition to Denver which seem to be along Colfax Avenue in Jefferson County. Last being to Joseph and Adeline Nicoletti in 1957., See also MSS2595 Juliet Nicoletti Jiracek files and 2004.47.2 and .3
Abstract: Lots 30 (+29/31) part Bk 1 Hagus. Legal papers for land acquired by abstract companies. Cover sheet are calendars for years 1776 to 2000 with directions on how to use this page. Pages are typed on legal size paper, first page begins with a letter to Mr. R.J.Walker, 1891 from Norris & Howard, Attorney at Law. The Kansas Pacific Railway Co., Union Pacific Railroad Company, The Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Co., The Northern Irrigation Company. Some eleven pages are hand written with names of people on these pages. The Platte Land Company. There are Trust Deeds and Mortgages. Estate of Mary Hargus. Condemnation under the law relation to Eminent Domain for widening certain streets in Denver. Promissory Note by Malcolm R. Harrison and Mary Louise Harrison for money borrowed from Midland Federal Savings and Loan to purchase a home. Last entry is for Joseph and Adeline Nicoletti to pay a certain sum of money to Ida Williams .
Abstract: Lost 9, 10, 11 and 12 Block 191 Clement's Addition to the City of Denver. Legal papers for land. Cover sheet is titled "They traded influence ...for TOWNSITES" about the earliest Denver sites called Montana City. Some pages are hand written. Abstract is about blocks 9-11 in the Celment addition begining in the year 1870. Pages go through the change of people from Alfred Clement to James Hall. Land was sold in 1876 for city taxes that year. In 1909 lots 9-12 were added to the City of Denver. Finally D. K. Wolfe Jr. sold to Joseph and Adeline Nicoletti June 29,1944. Other records follow from 1944 to final paper in 1966.
The lithograph is of St. Rocco with cupids and a dog at his feet. He is in the center of two borders. The outer border consists of three lines which come in from the edge of the paper about an inch all the way around. The second border comes in a inch from the first border, it has straight lines on the side and in the corners a design. The St. Rocco is standing on a stool. He is dressed in robes and is wearing a burning heart necklace. He carries a staff with a cross at the top and a book with a cross on the cover. At the bottom of the second border on the right there is a signature: "MAROOT 95". Right below the stole St. Rocco stands on is ""VERA EFFIGIE DI S. ROCCO" and "PARDONO DELLA PESTA" and "Aug 16". All of the lithograph is done in brown ink.
Program has 24 pages, printed both sides. Cover depicts "The Church Unit of Welby Parish", including the School, Rectory and Church. Printed on back of cover are wish and congratulations from the general contractor- Elder Cconstruction Co.. A letter from Father Julius Porcellini, O.S.M., pastor at the time of construction. Prints of Pope John The XXIII; Archbishop of Denver - Urban J. Vehr; Auxiliary Bishop of Denver-David Maloney; Rev. Alphonse M. Monta, Prior General of the Servants of Mary; Rev. Victor M. Leonard, Servite Provincial; Rev. Monsignor Joseph Bosetti, Founder of Assumption Church; Father Angelicus M. Barsi, O.S.M. Other prints include: "The Welby New Church; photo taken between 1912 and 1915 of the first church; New addition of the Rectoryof the Community with four servite priests on steps; New front of Welby School; Inside of Welby Church, the Altar; The Conventl; Inside and outside view of the Auditorium-Gymnasium of Assumption Parish. Back cover is a crown with
Front depicts Jesus Christ in white robe, outstretched hands, bare feet. Background left are two wooden corsses, right is the tomb. Kneeling at His feet are two people, left in blue robe, white scarf on head, on right in red robe, black scarf on head. Inside left is the church name, list of Holy Week Services for 1962. On right side is the Easter Program beginning on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. to Easter Vigil Mass, other masses onSunday, and the program for High Mass on Easter Sunday. Back bottom right is the number of program and the printer on right.
Narrow white border around color photograph. Taken in Western Hills Elementary gym, set up for Father-Son dinner. Foreground depicts three men sitting around a round table, trays on table, one man is eating, on his right another man is visiting, back of head of third person man/boy eating. Background are multiple tables with dads and boys eating.
Narrow white border around photograph. Foreground are students in a classroom, one girl raises her hand. Middleground depicts the teacher, Marlene Spano, left arm around her waist, right arm bent with hand at neck, head bowed. Bulletin board in background left depicts President Lyndon B. Johnson, the American flag with Mrs. Johnson on right. Right side of board has title "Human Traits / What / Left side is picture of a girl. Right side a teaching aid hangs by cord from side of board.
Black and white phtograph has a narrow white border. Taken at Western Hills Elementary in a classroom.
Foreground are backs of students, one with raised hand. Middleground is side view of teacher, left arm bend around her waist, right hand , finger at corner of mouth, behind her is bulletin board, left side is President of United States, the American Flag, president's wife. Right side title "Human Traits / What Am I with back of persons head. Hanging from this side of board is an instructional aide. Bottom on table a bouquet of flowers.
Ten pages in booklet, this includes front and back covers. Front depicts the photograph of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Denver's oldest church. Address and phone number printed at bottom of cover. Featured inside is the history of the architecture, with three photographs. Page five depicts the Rev. John B. Guida the first pastor, also listed are other priests that served the church from 1879-1993. Page six is a wrought iron fence donated by Mr. and Mrs. Tabor, also on the page are other historic parishoners that attended. Page seven is a photograph of the Sisters fo Charity that taught in the school which is pictured below, giving the history of the teachers. Last two pages, 8 and 9, is a list of the Sisters that taught in the school from 1882-1972. Page ten a picture of Jesus with the "Our Father" in English and Italian. Donations are requested with who to make checsk payable to and where to send them.
Front and back boards are covered with mottled paper. Spine is dark red leather extending one half inch on front and back. Front inside right fly sheet is missing. Book is printed in Italian, for third grade school children. There are 192 pages. Index on pages 187-192. many illustrations. The book is divided into sections, the next being "Grammar in Action for the third male and feminine elementary class" it has 55 pages, Index being on page 56. Third and last section is math and geometry, 64 pages, index on 65 and 66. First section has many illustrations, second section has none, third section on math and geometry has drawings of shapes and symobls used in geometry.
Front and back boards are covered with mottled paper. Spine is dark red leather extending one half inch on front and back. Front inside right fly sheet is missing. Book is printed in Italian, for second grade school children. There are 159 pages, many have illustrations. Fourth edition printed in 1912 in Bari, Italy.
Foreground is hardwood floor. In bottom, right corner is the inscription: Morganti Denver, in black ink. The the background is a large group of men, women and children, men in suits, white shirts, ties, ladies in dresses, children in dresses or long trousers. Santa sits to the right. A decorated Christmas tree in the back center. Back wall has four doors, three are labeled Gents, Fire Escape, and Ladies. Also on the back wall are framed pictures and certificates ,large clock. The people are as follows: Row 1(1st Row) left to right: Annette Lombardi, Mrs. Joe Lilly, Ida (Blank), Mary Longo, Marie Longo; right to left: Marion Cerrone, unknown, Gloria Cerrone. Row 2, left to right: Joe Lilly, Dan Longo, Mike Cerrone, Anthony Zarlengo, Marion Iacino, unknown, Thomas Lombardi; right to left: 3 people, Ange Cerrone, Columbia Smart, unknown, Henretta Tate, Helen Coloroso, Mildred LaConte, Adeline Longo, Annette LeDonne Petreco, unknown, Rose LeDonne Pastore. Back row, right to left:
Doily has geometric shapes. If bisected, the two sides would be identical.
Small, tan, rectangular doily has small roset flowers and circles repeating. There are three flowers down and seven flowers across. In between the three flowers are large circles, they are six across and two down. Two smaller circles attach the flowers together.
Large, tan, rectangular doily has small roset flowers and circles repeating. There are four flowers down and eight flowers across. In between the four flowers are large circles, they are seven across and three down. Two smaller circles attach the flowers together. Matches 2004.56.5.A
Large, tan, rectangular doily has small roset flowers and circles repeating. There are four flowers down and eight flowers across. In between the four flowers are large circles, they are seven across and three down. Two smaller circles attach the flowers together.
Argus v4.4.0.47 - History Colorado. LucideaCore ARGUS.net