KOUNTZE FAMILY AND COLORADO NATIONAL BANK RECORDS

The Kountze Family and Colorado National Bank Collection contains material on the numerous businesses owned and operated by the family and the bank. The Kountze brothers Augustus, Herman, Luther and Charles managed numerous businesses in several states. Companies they owned, managed or invested were located in Colorado, Texas, Nebraska and New York. In addition to the businesses, the Kountze brothers owned property primarily in these states but also held real estate in other areas. The Kountze brothers operated mines, ranches, real estate firms, financial institutions, stock and investment firms, railroads, oil companies in addition to numerous small investments in businesses and real estate. Papers from all of these ventures are included in the collection.

The collection spans 1852 to 1989. Material provides information on the formation, daily operations, management, ownership, consolidation and demise of the businesses. The bulk of the collection contains documents from the Colorado National Bank and the companies operated or financed with assets from the bank. Material includes: business correspondence, financial ledgers and statements, deeds, certificates, reports, newspaper clippings, articles, and personal papers. The Kountze brothers shared the management and operation of these numerous businesses. They operated under the motto “all for one, and one for all.” Due to this business philosophy, the complexity of the collection is significant. Many businesses operated under the various companies owned by the brothers or were held jointly. In addition, Charles Kountze owned and managed numerous businesses independent of the bank. To provide insight on the number of businesses operated by the Kountze brothers, a list of primary businesses and the companies is included.

The series includes the bank’s business papers, which consist of ledgers, correspondence, annual reports, statements of condition, articles, documents from construction of the buildings and financial accounts. The account records consist of business and personal accounts and escrows. In addition to the papers that document the bank’s operations, the series contains material from the numerous companies owned or controlled by the bank. The bank opened as the Kountze Brothers Bank, Denver in 1863. In 1866, the Kountze brothers received the second national bank charter in Colorado. They renamed the institution The Colorado National Bank. It operated numerous mining companies, an oil company and owned extensive real estate throughout Colorado and the West.

Two businesses that operated under the bank include the Northern Coal and Coke Company and the North Texas Oil Company (box 8 and 9). Charles Kountze participated in the reorganization of the Northern Coal and Coke Company in 1894. In 1900, this company was incorporated and acquired most of the Northern Fuel Company property. In 1911, the bank, under the guidance of Charles Kountze sold the Northern Coal and Coke Company to the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company. Colorado National Bank and Charles Kountze had numerous investments in mining operations. It’s often difficult to ascertain the specific ownership of the mines. The numerous mining operations and lodes were consolidated under Brewer Mining Company (box 9-15) after Charles’ death in 1911

The Kountze Brothers, Colorado series contains papers relating to the company’s real estate investments and two of its operations. The two organizations it controlled are the Union Real Estate and the Livestock Investment Company (FF 46-48). Material in the series includes payroll books, deeds, agreements, correspondence and financial records. The Kountze Brothers, Colorado operated concurrently with the Colorado National Bank. The brothers founded the company for their real estate holdings in Colorado. The holdings of the Kountze Brothers Colorado were consolidated under the Kountze Investment Company in 1911.

The series is broken down into three sections, Charles Kountze' business operations, personal and estate. Charles owned, controlled and operated numerous companies. These businesses consisted primarily of mining, real estate, ranches, railroad and farms. Charles’s commercial dealings were intricate. Establishing which companies fell solely under him, or the Colorado National Bank or the Kountze Brothers is difficult to ascertain. The vast operations held by Charles created multifaceted estate records. The family created the Kountze Investment Company to oversee all of these businesses and investments. Several of the companies Charles owned or invested include the Davidson Coal and Iron Mining Company, Davidson Ditch Company, Kountze and Reynolds Real Estate and the Madison Orchard Company (box 18). The Madison Orchard Company consisted of 760 acres located northwest of Denver at West 52nd Ave. and Sheridan Blvd.

The series contains material on their real estate investments and companies. This company owned land primarily in Colorado, Texas, Nebraska and Chicago, Illinois. Several companies operated under Kountze Brothers Omaha. The businesses include: East Texas Land Improvement Company, Texas Land and Cattle Company, South Texas Land Company, Sabine Land and Improvement Company and United Real Estate and Trust Company Material comprises meeting minutes, deeds, correspondence, agreements, financial records, reports, maps and stock certificates.

The operations of the Kountze Brothers in New York dealt primarily with real estate and oil investments in Texas. The companies include the East Texas Oil Company, East Texas Land Company, East Texas Pine Land Certificates and the Humble Oil and Refining Company. Material includes meeting minutes, deeds, correspondence, agreements, financial records, reports, stock certificates and bond offerings.

The Kountze Investment Company developed from the estate of Charles Kountze. This organization primarily oversaw the mining interests and real estate located in Colorado. Albion Realty and Securities Company and Atlas Realty and Securities Co (box 25-27). also operated under this organization. These companies primarily owned coal properties in Boulder County along with farmland. Other businesses operated under the Kountze Investment Company include Black Diamond Fuel Company, Farmers Highline Canal and Reservoir Company and Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company. Material includes correspondence, reports, agreements, deeds, financial records, meeting minutes and stock certificates.

The series contains Harold Kountze’s business and personal papers. He owned stock in several companies and oversaw the investments for several family members. His papers include correspondence, financial record books, agreements and memos. Harold’s service papers from his stint in the U.S. Naval Reserves during WWI are included. The series also contains the papers from the construction of his house, located at 935 Washington St., Denver, Colorado.

The family material includes several folders containing the papers from Augustus Kountze’s estate. Also included are papers from the estates of Adeline, Mary and Clara Kountze and Florence Kountze Best.

The series consists of hand stamps used at the Colorado National Bank during the 1907 panic, a leather pouch and a large, metal box.

The series contains numerous photographs that document Colorado National Bank's history through depictions of construction projects, staff receptions and parties, employee awards and executive portraits. Additional photographs record activities and events surrounding the bank's one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary celebration and exhibit in 1987. Limited photographs of Harold Kountze complete the series.

The oversize items consist primarily of financial ledgers from the Colorado National Bank and the companies operated under the bank or one of the Kountze brothers companies. In addition, oversize photographs from the exhibit on the bank are included.