GEORGE D. BEGOLE PAPERS
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
Ranging from 1879 to 1972, personal and mayoral papers comprise this collection. The papers include memos, correspondence, certificates and some financial papers. The photographs are of Denver projects and aerial views of Denver and surrounds during Begole's mayoral administration.
This series consists of financial papers and correspondence primarily for the Improvement and Parks Department as well as the transcript for Begole's recall hearing at the Election Commission.
Begole's Bible, a family tree, newspaper clippings and obituaries comprise the bulk of this collection. Also included are photocopies of family photographs and a black-and-white portrait photograph of Begole.
This series contains a resolution from the City Council in appreciation of Begole and a bound tribute from the City and County of Denver officials and employees.
This series contains a resolution from the City Council in appreciation of Begole and a bound tribute from the City and County of Denver officials and employees.
The series is comprised of loose black and white photographic prints and copy negatives depicting Denver projects, mostly identified. These photographs were formerly an album and the original album cases are included.
Dates
- 1879-1982
ACCESS:
The collection is open for research.
OWNERSHIP:
Literary and copyrights - as appropriate - have been assigned to the Denver Public Library.
PUBLICATION RIGHTS:
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
George Davis Begole (son of Davis W. and Lydia Standeford Begole) was born May 28, 1877, in Kirkville, Missouri. George Begole attended Denver public schools, graduating from East Denver High School. He married Ethel Waldo in 1927. They had four children, Mary and Carol (both of whom died in infancy), Lydia and Archie Begole. Begole also had a stepson, Ralph E. Waldo.
Begole served as Purchasing Agent of Denver Public Schools from 1910 to 1915. He was appointed secretary to Denver's Manager of Safety and Excise in 1916 and served as City Accountant in 1919. Begole was elected Auditor of the City and County of Denver three times, in 1921, 1925 and 1929. In 1931, he was elected Mayor of Denver over the then-mayor, Benjamin Stapleton.
Begole served as Mayor from 1931 to 1935, but declined to run for another term. As Mayor, he cut taxes twice and reduced municipal expenditures to a minimum. His opponent, Stapleton, forced a recall petition accusing Begole of incompetence. Because of questionable signatures, the Election Commission declined to pursue the recall. The new Denver City and County Building was completed during Begole's term. He was the first mayor to have an office there.
After leaving political office, Begole formed a private investment business, Waldo-Begole, Inc. He belonged to many organizations including the Knights Templar, the Boy Scouts, Rotary International and the Denver Athletic Club. Begole died in 1956.
Extent
3 boxes (1.25 linear feet)
1 oversize folio
1 photo box
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
PROVENANCE:
Harriet C. Begole donated some of the collection in 1976. Other materials were acquired from the City and County of Denver in April 2007.
Physical Description
1
SIZE:
Number of Boxes: 3 (1.25 lf)
Oversize: 1 OVFolio
Photo Boxes: 1
LOCATION:
WH31
PROCESSED AND ENCODED BY:
Ann Brown
June 2008
REVISED BY:
Becky Geller
August 2012
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Begole, George D. (George Davis), 1877-1956 -- Archive.
- Clippings (information artifacts). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Correspondence. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Denver (Colo.) -- Politics and government -- History. Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Ephemera. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Mayors -- Colorado -- Denver -- Biography. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Resolutions (administrative records). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Transcripts. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- GEORGE D. BEGOLE PAPERS
- Date
- 2008
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository
