Boulder County Latino History
Boulder County Latino History
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  • Coal Mining, 1900-1940

Coal Mining, 1900-1940

These materials explore the working lives of Latino coal miners in Boulder County, including the dangers they faced, and where their families lived.

Full Text PDF: Chapter 3: The Contributions of Hispanic Workers, 1900-1940

Black Diamond Mine, Lafayette, 1942

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Blast: The 1936 Monarch Mine Explosion

February 22, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Canuto Martinez’s pay statements, Monarch Mine, 1932 and 1934

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Eagle Mine, Lafayette and Weld County, 1950

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Eracism: Exploring the roots of Boulder County’s Latino Population

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Houses at the camp for miners, Industrial Mine, Louisville, 1905

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Los Inmigrantes, Clip #2

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Men in the interior of the Vulcan Mine, Lafayette, 1910?

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Miners and exterior buildings, State Mine, Lafayette, 1927

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Simpson Mine, Lafayette-Erie, 1900?

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Standard Mine, Lafayette, 1935

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Transcript of interview, Thomas Lopez, 1986, p.2

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Transcript of interview, Thomas Lopez, 1986, p.3

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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“Sixteen Tons,” a coal miner’s song

February 11, 2016 / Mary Ellen Graziani /

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Historian Comments

The coal mines in Boulder County formed part of the Northern Colorado Coal Field,whose mines were developed in the first decades of the 20th century as the Southern Colorado Coal Field (around Trinidad and Walsenburg) gradually closed down. These northern mines produced Lignite, a soft, brown, “dirty” coal used for railroad locomotives, stationary steam engines, and other purposes. Many of the miners in this region came originally from Mexico or New Mexico, often having worked in the Southern Field first and then moving north. They worked alongside immigrants from Italy and eastern Europe, often developing strong bonds with their fellows. Boys as well as adult men worked in the mines. Mining was dangerous work due to injuries and explosions like the one at the Monarch Mine in 1936, but it was relatively well paid. Soft coal was mined only in the winter, to lessen the risk of explosions. Miners hoped to find work with sugar beets or other employment during warmer weather. They and their families commonly lived at “camps” at the mine, and they bought all their food and supplies at the store run by the company. Tennessee Ernie Ford’s song, “Sixteen Tons,” is about the lives of coal miners and their dependence on the company store, in that case based on Appalachia.

Teaching Boulder County Latino History is an extension of the Boulder County Latino History Project. This site provides resources for those interested in teaching Boulder County Latino History. The teaching resources are grounded in the books written by CU Boulder’s Distinguished Professor Marjorie McIntosh.

There are three central components to this site. The Lesson Database provides lessons for K-12 teachers. Each lesson uses primary sources and is grounded in the books by Prof. McIntosh. Beyond the curated lessons teachers are encouraged to explore the Primary Source Sets and access the full text of Prof. McIntosh’s books. The book outlines link lesson plans and primary sources to each chapter. Teachers and students are welcome to download all or parts of the books to support their learning.

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