Larimer County Newspapers

Carol Stetser- Research Coordinator

for

Larimer County Genealogical Society

Newspapers are an important, often underutilized, source of genealogical information. The newspapers from Larimer County are no exception and are filled with fascinating information about local people and places. Unfortunately, few of these newspapers have been indexed, and it is usually necessary to have at least an approximate date in order to find specific articles. Just browsing local newspapers can be rewarding, however; newspapers are a window on life in a different era.

Since Larimer County is relatively large, there never has been a countywide newspaper. Instead, the various communities published (and still continue to do so) separate newspapers. Researchers should look for obituaries, marriage records, birth announcements, etc. in the community in which an ancestor lived. Until fairly recently, much of Larimer County was rural. If an ancestor lived outside of one of the major towns, it’s important to determine which town was closest and thus which newspaper might have articles of interest.

Estes Park

The Estes Park Public Library has hard copy and/or microfilm of the 1908 Mountaineer, the Estes Park Trail from 1912-1914, Trail Talk for 1920, the Estes Park Trail
from 1921-1971, the Mountain Gazette from 1968-1971, the Estes Park Trail
Gazette from 1971-present, and the Estes Park News from 2001-present.
They have an index complete through 1994. Partial indexing of all
articles after that is also available. The Library maintains a fairly complete obituary index, which is almost current. The Estes Park News has not been indexed.
In addition, the Library has a complete run of the Allenspark Wind, a monthly newspaper,
from 1974 to the present.

Researchers may contact the Library at reference@estes.lib.co.us . In addition, they may contact Sybil Barnes, Local History/Reference Librarian directly at either of the e-ddresses below.

Sybil Barnes
Local History/Reference
Estes Park Public Library
335 E. Elkhorn Ave.

Estes Park, Colorado 80517
970-586-8116
sybibar@estes.lib.co.us
or
sybibar@yahoo.com

Berthoud

The Berthoud Public Library has microfilm of the Berthoud Recorder and the earlier Berthoud Bulletin from 1892 through 1997.

Berthoud Public Library

236 Welch Avenue

Berthoud, Colorado 80513

970-532-2757

Julia Magee is a volunteer who will do look-ups in the Berthoud newspapers (970-532-3673).

Fort Collins

The Fort Collins Public Library has microfilm of Fort Collins newspapers for 1874 and 1878 to the present. In addition, the Library has microfilm of the Wellington Sun and the Triangle Review. The Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper card index from 1980-1987 and microfiche index for 1977-79 are in the microfilm area. The Triangle Review card index for 1973-1979 and other local newspapers card indexes for 1874-1909 and 1975-1979 are in the Local History Archive. The Wellington Sun index is in book form.

Fort Collins Public Library

201 Peterson

Fort Collins, Colorado 80524

970-221-6380

Researchers should also check online at the Fort Collins Local History Archive (http://history.fcgov.com/ ) for some early newspaper indexes.

Another useful online resource for newspapers in Colorado is the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection at www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org . This site includes digitized newspapers from throughout Colorado and includes four newspapers from Fort Collins: Weekly Courier, Fort Collins Courier, Fort Collins Express and Fort Collins Standard. This website includes newspapers from as early as 1874 and as late as 1923; it is completely searchable.

For recent Fort Collins news, the Fort Collins Coloradoan is available from 1999 until the present at www.coloradoan.com . This website is searchable, and articles may be downloaded for a fee. Obituaries are included, although all obituaries for a particular date may show up as one article.

Finally, researchers should be sure to check the online obituaries for Fort Collins posted elsewhere on this website.

Loveland

The Loveland Public Library has microfilm of several Loveland newspapers including: Loveland Leader from 1892 to 1893, Loveland Register from 1894 to 1906, Loveland Reporter from 1891 to 1921, Loveland Herald from 1908 to 1921. The Loveland Herald became the Daily Herald in 1914. Finally, the Library has the Loveland Reporter Herald from 1923 until the present.

To aid researchers, the Loveland Public Library maintains a card file index for newspaper obituaries, birth and marriage announcements. Researchers may telephone the Library at 970-962-2402 to request copies of newspaper articles.

Loveland Public Library

300 N Adams

Loveland, Colorado 80537

970-962-2665

Stephen H. Hart Library

The Stephen H. Hart Library at the Colorado History Museum in Denver maintains microfilm of most of the newspapers listed above, as well as microfilm of many other Colorado newspapers. Further information can be found at http://www.coloradohistory.org/chs_Library .

Stephen H. Hart Library

1300 Broadway

Denver, Colorado 80203

303-866-3682