A Colorado History

by Carl Ubbelohde, Maxine Benson, Duane A. Smith

For forty years, A Colorado History has provided a comprehensive and accessible panoramic history of the Centennial State. From the arrival of the Paleo-Indians to contemporary times, this enlarged edition leads readers on an extraordinary exploration of a remarkable place.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

510 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Historian. U. S. Army, 1943 to 1945. Carl William Ubbelohde, Jr., was Henry Eldridge Bourne Professor of History Emeritus at Case Western Reserve University. Formerly taught at the University of Colorado at Boulder, from 1954 to 1966. MS, 1950, University of Wisconsin at Madison; Thesis: Reform of the Pennsylvania Penal Code and Prisons, 1776-1800; PhD, 1954: Thesis: Vice Admiralty Courts of British North America. Publications included: "The Vice-Admiralty Courts of Royal North Carolina, 1729-1759," North Carolina Historical Review (October, 1954); Centennial Colorado: Its Exciting Story (co-author, 1959); Vice-Admiralty Courts and the American Revolution (1960)-published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture at Williamsburg, Virginia by the University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill; Colorado: A Student's Guide to Locialized History (1965); Colorado History (co-author, 1965, 1972, 1995); Clio's Servant: The State Historical Socity of Wisconsin, 1846-1954 (co-author, 1967); American Colonies and the British Empire, 1607-1763 (1968, 1975); Values of the American Heritage: Challenges, Case Studies, and Teaching Strategies (co-author, 1976); and, Colorado Reader (co-editor, 1982). Professor Ubbelohde received the Carl F. Wittke Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching in 1973. The History Associates at Case established an endowment fund in Professor Ubbelohde's honor, which supports an annual Ubbelohde lecture by a visiting scholar. Named the Outstanding Teacher in the College of Arts and Sciences (at the University of Colorado at Boulder) During the 1961-62 Year. Recieved the Genevieve Gorst Harfurth Award from the University of Wisconsin in 1955 for his thesis on the Vice-Admiralty Courts of British North America from 1763 to 1776.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It starts out so well with a wonderful narrative beginning in prehistoric times. Around the 19th century, it hurries along through a great deal of economic and political trivia: if you're a native, you know this is not the real history of Colorado. The facts may be right, but the story and focus are all wrong. It is extremely Denver-centric, and cannot resist having a political axe to grind as it moves into the 20th-21st centuries. It also hurries extremely fast through that period.

For a tenth edition, undertaken by multiple authors building on the original scholar's work, I'm disappointed. Denver may be the capital, but not the centre of the universe. There are some fascinating names and associated stories who either barely get a mention or don't get mentioned at all in favour of politicians. This is a history, not a series of folk legends, obviously, but at the same time it lacks that key Colorado ingredient: anything at all about the people.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting facts about Colorado, but way too focused on politics.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It has been estimated that the mining frontier required a population at least five times more numerous than the number actually working the minds. Thus, the variety of small business establishments that characterized any American town of the mid-nineteenth century was soon duplicated in the supply towns at he base of the mountains and, to a lesser extent, in the mining camps themselves. Blacksmiths, bakers and saloon keepers, butchers, hotel and boardinghouse proprietors, druggists, livery stable owners and dance hall managers, bankers, barbers, and retailers of general merchandise, jewelers, gunsmiths, and brewers—and scores of other merchants opened their shops on either side of the wide, dirt main streets of the towns” (86).

[David Haddon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a 1976 edition left over from a Colorado history course in college. Lots of good overview on early settler years and economic drivers. I would have preferred more depth on the economics but still an okay overview.

Way too much of names and dates that could have been covered in some tables or appendices. All that is wrong with badly written history books that turn kids off in high school.

[Caleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history of Colorado. I read it 20 years ago when I first was living in the state and reading an updated version now that this has been my home for a while was interesting. I had a lot more context which was helpful. That being said, the history post-World War II feels rushed and sporadic, probably betraying the fact that it's being written through updates versus holistically as it was in the past.

[Jon Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did learn quite a bit about the history of this incredible place. But it was not an exciting page turner. I would say that it provides a good "jumping off place" and overview.

[SalvatoreBe Balls · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info, interesting for newcomers to the state

[Patrick White · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I move to a new state I like to learn about it's history. A Colorado History was an excellent resource to accomplish that goal. You will discover a well researched and detailed description of Colorado from the introduction of Europeans to the modern population of Colorado. Topics cover all walks of Colorado life from politics to railroads to legendary figures like Kit Carson.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good narrative history - informative and easy to read. It has been updated several times since originally published in 1965, so the last few chapters seem to be kind of tacked on awkwardly to the end. But now I know quite a bit more about my new state.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and written in a way to keep you engaged.

[Jefferson Coombs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good Colorado History book. It gives an overview of events from the early exploration all the way up to the turn of the last century.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise, yet extremely detailed view of the Colorado's history. The formation of the region, territory, and the state were well researched and the stories were fascinating.