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FRANK BINGENHEIMER PAPERS

 Collection
Identifier: WH952

Scope and Contents

This collection contains Frank Bingenheimer’s papers and photographs, both professional and personal, including a few personal items belonging to his sister Margaret. Some of the papers pertain to his work at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado; the majority reference his travels throughout North America and research on various local and world topics. The bulk of the collection is comprised of photographs and color slides taken by Bingenheimer.

SERIES 1 PROFESSIONAL PAPERS 1946-1983 BOX 1

This series consists of items Frank Bingenheimer collected while working for the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado. It is arranged chronologically by subject. Subjects include: hotel administrative correspondence, staff, famous guests at the Brown Palace Hotel, and general hotel building information and history. Materials include: news clippings, magazine articles, personnel forms, incident reports, advertisements, special events, guest programs and rosters.

SERIES 2 PERSONAL PAPERS 1873-1984 BOX 1-3

This series includes Frank Bingenheimer's personal papers, research, and travel documentation with a few items from his sister Margaret. Topics he researched include: religion, archaeology, travel destinations, as well as current events of the 1960s and 1970s. Many of the items, including road maps, books, and Touraides, contain extensive annotations. The series is organized alphabetically.

SERIES 3 AUDIO VISUAL 1980 BOX 3

This series is comprised solely of four Talking Books for the Blind 8-1/3 RPM records from the Choice Magazine Listening Company. These records were created as an early form of audio books for the visually and physically handicapped. Each is an unabridged magazine article. Topics include: self-help, politics of Cambodia, surgical procedures, and editorials.

SERIES 4 PHOTOGRAPHS 1945-1984 PHOTO BOX 1-4

This series is comprised of images taken by Frank Bingenheimer during his travels and research. The bulk of this series consists of slides with some photographic prints. The photographs are mostly of the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, various Denver and Colorado locations, as well as Bingenheimer's travels.

Slides cover a wide array of topics, including Denver and Colorado’s historic buildings, ghost towns, abandoned mills, landscapes, wildlife, mountain ranges, and vacations in North America. Each slide is marked with the place, subject, date, time, and in some cases the direction or geographic coordinates of where the image was taken. The slides are arranged by date and then geographic location. Some locations were photographed multiple times on different dates. There has been an attempt to replicate these patterns in the arrangement of the slides. Almost all are devoid of people.

SERIES 5 OVERSIZE 1948-1966 OV FOLIO 1

All items in this series relate to Bingenheimer's geological research, specifically, Colorado Mountains and ranges. Hand-sketched panoramas of various Colorado locations provide elevations of specific mountains and the date. In most instances, this detailed information was replicated on corresponding photographic slides found in Series 4.

Dates

  • 1873-1984
  • Majority of material found within 1945-1984

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Copyright

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 / Historical

Frank S. Bingenheimer was born February 12, 1897, in Mandan, North Dakota to Fred and Rachel Bingenheimer. During his early life, he worked as a dairy farmer and agricultural loan agent in North Dakota. He moved to Denver and started work at the Brown Palace Hotel in 1942. His older sister, Margaret Bingenheimer, moved to Denver after the death of their mother, Rachel, in 1941. During his time in Denver, Bingenheimer traveled extensively throughout the United States photographing different locations. Bingenheimer worked at the Brown Palace Hotel as an assistant manager until his retirement in 1974. In his later life, Bingenheimer lost his sight, which limited his travel. Margaret died in Denver, Colorado, on October 31, 1982. Frank died at University Hospital in Denver, Colorado, on November 8, 1984. Upon his death, he willed his body to the University of Colorado for medical research. His and his sister's remains were returned to Mandan, North Dakota for burial. Neither of them married.

Extent

3 Boxes

4 photo boxes

1 oversize folder

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, the estate of Frank S. Bingeheimer, 1987.

SELECTION OF RELATED MATERIAL

The Western History/Genealogy Department has additional collections with material related to the Brown Palace Hotel:

Boettcher Foundation records: WH1788

PROCESSED BY:

Sally McDonald

January 2013

PROJECT MANAGER:

Abby Hoverstock

Date
January 2013
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository

Contact:
10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver CO 80204 United States