Verner Reed (1863-1919) came to Colorado in 1893 and became one of the State’s wealthiest citizens through mining, real estate and other business ventures. In the early part of the 20th century, he conducted extensive studies of indigenous peoples of North America, especially Ute tribes and some Pueblos. He lectured, published and collected. His wife donated a collection of American Indian objects, including Ute objects, to History Colorado in 1928.