Harriet Robinson Butcher Papers

Harriett Elizabeth Robinson Butcher was born in Denver, Colo. on October 29, 1923 to parents James and Agnes Hogan Robinson. In 1925, her mother died from ptomaine poisoning. Harriet and her brother James Robinson Jr. went to live with relatives in St. Paul Minn. and Cheyenne, Wyo. James Robinson Sr. worked for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Harriet returned to Denver after the death of her aunt and attended Denver Public Schools including Whittier Elementary School, Manual High School and Emily Griffith Opportunity School. While working at the Welton Street Café, she met Charles Wesley Butcher. Charles and Harriet were married on March 2, 1947 and had three children: Charles Jr., Earl and Angela. Harriet was a tap dancer and instructor. She founded the Park Hill Tappers and was active in the Denver and Five Points community. She appeared in several documentaries about tap and Jazz and once appeared with Sammy Davis Jr. at the Roxy Theater. She was awarded the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture. She worked for the American National Bank as a safe deposit clerk, for the City and County of Denver as an accounting clerk in the Department of Social Services and in advertising. She died on March 26, 2017.