ROBERT W. SPEER PAPERS

Collection

Identifier: WH434

Staff Only

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Robert W. Speer Collection contains correspondence, reports, proposals and budgets while Speer served as Mayor of Denver. Also included are essays written by students for the Robert W. Speer Club competitions. The bulk of material spans the years 1895-1940 with a few family papers from 1852. Papers from his term as Mayor document Speer's appointments, the Civic Center Bond issue, purchasing the City Auditorium organ, bills and resolutions disapproved by the Mayor, legal issues concerning the expansion of the Denver Union Water Company and Denver's finances.

SERIES 1 MAYORAL PAPERS 1895-1913 BOX 1

Papers in this series consist of correspondence, financial reports and ledgers, ordinances, proposals and memos regarding the Denver Union Water Company, purchase of an organ for the Civic Center Auditorium, Civic Center Bond issue and general business. The Mayor's Budget, Contingent Fund ledger, Calls of Bond Notices and appointments are included. Papers from the offices of the City and County of Denver comprise a list of real estate owned, report on corporate valuations and legal descriptions of assessable railroad properties.

SERIES 2 ROBERT W. SPEER ORGANIZATIONS 1918, 1931-1940 BOX 1

The Robert W. Speer Memorial Association and the Robert W. Speer Club make up the series. The Memorial Association's papers include the Board of Trustees by-laws, articles of incorporation and minutes from their first meeting. The Club's papers consist of an invitation to the 76th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Speer and student entries for their essay contests.

SERIES 3 SPEER FAMILY 1852, 1902, n.d. BOX 1

The series comprises of memorabilia, newspaper clippings, the family record, and one photograph. The newspaper clippings consist of obituaries on Mrs. Julia Lease Speer, wife of George Speer. The family record contains the parentage of George Speer and Julia Lease Speer. The photograph is an undated portrait of Robert W. Speer.

Dates

1895-1940

ACCESS:

The collection is open for research.

OWNERSHIP:

The Robert W. Speer Papers are the physical property of 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

Robert W. Speer was born in Mount Union, Pennsylvania on Dec. 1, 1855. He attended Dickinson Academy in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. His first job was as a ticket agent at Shirleysburg. Later, the Adams Express Company and the Pennsylvania Railroad employed him. Due to tuberculosis, Speer moved to Colorado in 1878. He regained his health while living on a ranch outside of Denver. His first position in Denver was at the Daniels and Fisher Store as a carpet salesman. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1882 to marry Kate A. Thrush. After their return to Denver, Speer moved into the real estate business.

On April 10, 1884, he was elected City Clerk, a position he held until 1885, at which time President Cleveland selected him as the Postmaster of Denver. He served as Postmaster for four years. Speer left this position in 1888 to return to real estate. In 1891, John L. Routt appointed Speer to the Denver Fire and Police Board. In 1897, Governor Alva Adams appointed him Denver Police Commissioner. In 1901, Governor Charles S. Thomas appointed him Denver Fire Commissioner. On June 1, 1901, Governor James B. Orman made him President of the Denver Board of Public Works.

On June 1, 1904, Speer was elected the 27th Mayor of Denver. Under Speer's leadership, numerous beautification projects took place including: extension of the park systems, development of boulevards that created Speer Boulevard and Marion Street Parkway, construction of Cheesman Park Memorial, creation of the bathing beach system and the formation of the modern system of playgrounds. In 1905, Speer conceived the idea of giving away saplings to citizens, free with the request that they be planted along the street. The first year, 4,992 trees were distributed. By 1912, 1,800 saplings were distributed. Speer served two terms, losing the election in 1912.

In 1916, Speer was re-elected. This last term is considered his strongest by historians, Edgar Carl McMechen and Charles A. Johnson. One of his notable achievements was the construction of the Municipal Auditorium, designed to meet the social and civic needs of the people by providing entertainment, most of it free. Another one of his significant achievements was the development of the Civic Center, which includes the Pioneer Monument, Voorhies Memorial Entrance, the Greek Theater and the Public Library. The unfinished columns of the Colonnade of Civic Benefactors are emblematic of his abrupt passing. Speer died on May 14, 1918.