DONALD W. KOCH PAPERS

Donald Warner Koch’s papers range from his student days at Brandeis University in Massachusetts from 1960-1964 to the technical work he performed up until his death in the year 2000. After leaving the Colorado Land Use Commission in 1981, in self-employment, he sent proposals for technical projects throughout Colorado. The correspondence for each project is included from proposal to finished product.

Koch’s first major technical project was creating a shopping survey for the town of Thornton, Colorado. Later, he obtained contracts for land use studies in Huerfano and Lake Counties in Colorado. The latter two projects resulted in published works that he continually updated. Year after year, he continued to design land use plans and zoning regulations for Huerfano and Lake Counties. Developers who planned to build in Lake County, for example, had to send site plans to Koch and Associates for review and recommendations. This work continued until the last year of his life. The papers of these projects are included in the collection from the beginning to the end.

At the same time that Koch produced the major technical works of his professional career, he wrote nonfiction books and articles on topics of his own interest. As an author, Koch published three books. His first, Chilton’s Guide to Motorcycles and Motorcycling, was published in 1974. In 1980, the first edition of The Colorado Pass Book was published. Two further editions of this work were published in 1987 and in 2000. In 1982, he published An Endless Vista, a Colorado recreational book. The original research, notes, correspondence, rough drafts, and final product of each book are included in the collection.

Also included in the collection are research, rough drafts, and final copies of Koch’s articles about motorcycles, firearms, and other topics of interest to him. These articles were published in the Wall Street Journal, the Colorado Municipal League’s newsletters, The Rocky Mountain News, the National Council of State Legislatures’ newsletters, among other regional and national periodicals. An avid fan of films, Donald Koch wrote numerous movie reviews for newspapers and magazines. He saved a copy of each review and these papers are in the collection.

The collection contains papers for numerous projects and articles that were never published. Koch saved copies of even the most unsuccessful works and kept the papers that recorded the steps of his writing process, from research to rough draft to final copy. He also saved correspondence with businesses, including banks, governmental agencies, and local companies.

The development of an author and researcher is documented in this collection, from idea to research, from rough draft to publication. The detailed works of Koch may also provide a springboard for future research by others on Colorado topics such as a book or article on Colorado church buildings.

This series consists of major published technical projects and books arranged chronologically at the start of each project. The first book, Chilton’s Guide to Motorcycles and Motorcycling, begun in 1972, is followed by Koch’s first major technical project, Thornton Area Shopper Survey, begun in 1982. Two recreational Colorado books, The Colorado Pass Book and An Endless Vista, are followed by the major land use studies for Huerfano County and Lake County. The Huerfano County project extended from 1983 to 1999, and the Lake County project extended from 1986 to 1999. All of Donald Koch’s projects included preliminary research, correspondence, and analyses, as well as numerous drafts of each work. Some of the projects and books were published in several editions. All drafts, updates and photographs are included.

This series consists of one-time technical projects such as Environmental Review Record and Environmental Assessments: The Town of Calhan, Colorado, Water System Improvements, completed in 1986, and a study for Southdown Corporation on the impact of annexation to the town of Lyons, Colorado in 1993-1994. It also includes articles such as Tire Care: A Practical Primer published in the April 1970 issue of Cycle World. Many book and film reviews appeared in newspapers and magazines. Notes, research, correspondence, and rough drafts of each project are included.

This series consists of unpublished articles, research, and project proposals arranged chronologically by the date of the earliest project. Business correspondence includes letters to banks, newspapers, local businesses, and so forth. Koch also corresponded with other professionals with similar interests. This series is arranged chronologically by the date of the first letter.

This series comprises oversize materials relating to Koch’s major projects and published books. Most of the oversize documents are by-products of the major land use projects. Included are drawings and site plans

This series comprises a brick from the Leadville Tabor Hotel that was loosened by the July 11, 1989 storm.

This series comprises an audiocassette of a presentation relating to a major project, two computer disks of personal correspondence, and a brick given to Koch by the City of Leadville. It was a brick from the Leadville Tabor Hotel that was loosened by the July 11, 1989 storm.

Photographs comprise this series. Some folders contain photographs used by Koch in his books. The bulk of the photographs consist of images of Colorado and mountain scenery with some photographs identified as near various Colorado mountain passes. A portion of the series includes photographs of Koch and his friends.

Mounted photograph for display fill the oversize box. The bulk of the images portray Colorado mountain scenery.