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Regional History Research Guide

Regional History & Genealogy offers access to a broad range of materials for exploring the history of the Pikes Peak region. Whether you are looking for quick background information or diving into in-depth original research, our staff can help connect you with resources about major regional topics. As a community archive, we also specialize in supporting patrons pursuing original research. Keep in mind that research can take time—you may consult many sources, some more useful than others, as your work takes shape. We are here to help at every stage.

Catalog & Reference Collection

Many Regional History & Genealogy resources—such as books on local history, maps, government documents, and other primary and secondary materials—can be found through PPLD’s catalog After entering a search term, use the filters under “Library” to select Carnegie - Special Collections to limit results to our department’s collection.

Resources include:

  • Books – Titles covering regional history, biography, industry, culture, and more.
  • Maps – Historical and topographical maps of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and surrounding areas.
  • Government Documents – Official publications such as City Council budgets, meeting minutes, and planning reports, many of which are not available on city websites due to their age.
  • Other Materials – Yearbooks, directories, souvenir booklets, and rare or locally published works.

Items may appear under a range of locations, such as “Shelf” (available for self-service), or “Vault,” “Manuscripts and Archives,” and other staff-only access areas. If an item is not directly accessible, just let us know—we are happy to retrieve it for you.

Keep in mind that while some manuscripts and archival materials appear in the catalog—and may include a link to their finding aid — you will want to use our archival portal (see below) for in-depth research. If you are not finding what you are looking for with a simple catalog search, the portal offers more complete access to our archival materials.

Please note: Items in our department do not check out and must be viewed in person during open hours. In some cases, additional copies of a book may be available in PPLD’s general collection and can be checked out or placed on hold like any other Library material.

Newspapers

Newspapers are one of the most valuable tools for researching local history. They offer daily accounts of events considered newsworthy at the time, as well as a window into how those events were understood by the people who lived through them.

Several databases provide access to regional newspapers, each with different coverage in terms of date ranges, publications, and search features:

  • Pikes Peak NewsFinder (in Digital Collections) – This is an index to local newspaper articles that Regional History & Genealogy has maintained for decades. It includes listings from nearly every newspaper ever published in the Pikes Peak region. NewsFinder is fully searchable within Digital Collections, but you can just search the index. Articles not yet scanned will display the Regional History & Genealogy logo—click on the item and then the envelope icon to request a digital copy. This resource is free and accessible online from anywhere.
  • NewspaperArchive – This database allows full-text searching across newspapers. For regional research, it is important to note that The Gazette is the only local paper included. Be sure to limit your search to Colorado or Colorado Springs. While useful for uncovering articles not indexed in NewsFinder, results can be inconsistent, and there is a gap in Gazette coverage during the 1940s and 1950s. Access the database with your library card.
  • Other Historic Newspaper Databases – Additional resources include Colorado Historic Newspapers, a searchable collection of digitized newspapers from across the state, and 19th Century U.S. Newspapers, a database focused on American newspapers from the 1800s, which can be useful to provide broader historical context.

Photos & Archives

Digital Collections

PPLD’s Digital Collections is the most accessible way to explore many of the materials held by Regional History & Genealogy. It features digitized photographs, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps, oral histories, films, and the Pikes Peak NewsFinder, an index to local newspapers (covered in more detail in the newspaper section). You can filter your search by material type, time period, and other descriptive fields to help narrow results. The Digital Collections does not represent everything in our archive—digitization is an ongoing process, and we prioritize key collections.

Learn more about how to search and navigate Digital Collections. (link coming soon)

Manuscripts / Archives

Regional History & Genealogy holds hundreds of archival collections, including original materials from local individuals, families, businesses, organizations, and civic institutions. These collections often include letters, diaries, business records, meeting minutes, reports, photographs, and unpublished manuscripts—materials that offer a deeper look into everyday life, community development, and political and social movements across the Pikes Peak region.

These records can be explored in-depth through our archival portal, which provides searchable guides and inventories for each collection. Use the search and filter tools to locate materials and select “Print/Download Finding Aid” to generate a searchable PDF for easier navigation.

We are one of several archives in the region—some individuals or groups may have materials housed elsewhere.

Learn more about how to search our manuscripts /archives. (link coming soon)

Genealogy for Historical Research

While often associated with family history, genealogy resources can also be invaluable for researching the lives of individuals and communities in the Pikes Peak region. The same tools featured on our Genealogy Research Guide page can help establish when and where someone lived, whether they owned property or a business, or how they may have been connected to larger historical events.

Census records, city directories, land ownership maps, and cemetery indexes are just a few of the resources available to help place individuals in time and context. These tools are especially useful when studying lesser-known residents or tracing the development of neighborhoods and institutions.

Whether you are researching your own ancestors or investigating figures tied to a broader historical project, our genealogy resources can help fill in the details.

Need help? We are here for you.

Researching regional history can be complex, but you do not have to do it alone. Staff at Regional History & Genealogy are available to assist you with any part of the research process—from navigating our collections to locating specific materials or understanding archival records.

You can visit or contact us at: 
Regional History & Genealogy 
Pikes Peak Library District – Penrose Library 
20 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 
Phone: (719) 531-6333, x 7252 
Email: RegionalHistoryGenealogy@ppld.org 
 

Hours: 
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
Sunday & Monday: Closed 
 

Please Note: 
To help preserve our collections, food, drinks, pens, and bags are not allowed in the research area. Lockers are available in the Regional History & Genealogy department for you to store personal items during your visit.