22 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



The most notable collection of materials for the history of Cfolorado 

 is to be found in the private library of the president of the State Histori- 

 cal and Natural History Society, Mr. Edward B. Morgan, of Den- 

 ver. This collection is the result of a prolonged search for books and 

 pamphlets written about Colorado, in Colorado or by Coloradoans. 

 Its bound volumes go above five hundred, while its pamphlets run into 

 the thousands. The labors of Mr. Morgan are being supplemented 

 today by those of Mr. W. C. Ferrill, curator of the same society. The 

 files of newspapers and the bundles of photographs gathered by him 

 and guarded in the yaults of the Capitol form a nucleus for a great 

 historical library at some future day. 



This much has been done toward the writing of the history of Colo- 

 rado: the general outline has been sketched, a few minor points have 

 been cleared up in careful monographs, and the gathering of source 

 material is progressing as rapidly as public and private means will 

 allow. But this is only the beginning of the work that calls today for 

 more laborers than the state has ever provided. In whatever field the 

 local historian may choose to work, he can find the ground practically 

 unbroken and the opportunity complete. It makes no difference 

 whether he choose to investigate workings of the institutions of the state 

 and the general activities of its government, or the development of local 

 county or municipal institutions, or the larger problems of transporta- 

 tion, irrigation or politics that connect the state with its neighbor com- 

 monwealths and the United States. In every direction he may advance 

 with the assurance that his contribution to history will be limited only 

 by his industry and ability. The historical opportunity of Colorado 

 lies in this field. 



The central government of Colorado tempts the historical worker 

 because of its rapid extension, highly concentrated in point of time. 

 A period of forty-five years covers the whole of Colorado history, and 

 and in this period there has developed, out of the barren frontier that 

 had been the Great American Desert, a modern commonwealth with 

 its various political, economic and social activities. Growth that has 

 occupied a century in older states has occurred here in a generation, 

 while in many directions the growth has been almost unique. A high- 



