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BENJAMIN STAPLETON PAPERS

 Collection
Identifier: WH383

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Benjamin Stapleton Papers contain material on his work as a postmaster and as the Mayor of Denver. The majority of the papers were created during his five terms as Mayor. Stapleton's mayoral papers comprise reports, telegrams, newspapers clippings, campaign pamphlets and handouts, and scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings. The newspaper articles in the scrapbooks document Stapleton's terms as mayor and his improvements to the city with an emphasis on the water project.

Stapleton's obituary, a funeral memory book and several tributes to him are included. His personal material is limited to a few letters and certificates. Two of the certificates document his service with the First Regiment, Company 1, Colorado Volunteers Infantry, during the Spanish-American War.

SERIES 1 BUSINESS PAPERS 1899-1942 BOX 1-2

The series contains papers from Stapleton's service with the First Regiment U.S.V. Infantry, job as Postmaster and his work as Denver's Mayor. The bulk of Stapleton's business papers derive from his post as Mayor. Newspaper clippings, telegrams, invitations and reports comprise the Mayoral material. Five scrapbooks are included with the papers. Four scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings documenting Stapleton's term as Mayor and featuring the Manager of Revenue, Frank E. Wilson. One scrapbook covers Speer's term as Mayor and his work on developing the city and county parks with George E. Cranmer.

SERIES 2 PERSONAL 1922-1964 BOX 2-3

Correspondence and tributes comprise the bulk of the series. One tribute written by George E. Cranmer (FF10) describes in extensive detail, the projects accomplished while Stapleton served as Mayor. Stapleton’s obituary, funeral memory book and certificates are included.

SERIES 3 FINANCIAL PAPERS 1923-1937 BOX 4

Financial documents including budgets, contracts and indemnity bonds comprise this series.

SERIES 4 OVERSIZE CERTIFICATES 1898-1914 OVFF1

Oversize material comprises certificates from Stapleton's service during the Spanish-American War, certificate of election for Justice of the Peace, law license and an embassy grant for his wife, Mabel Freeland Stapleton.

Dates

  • 1898-1964

ACCESS:

The collection is open for research.

OWNERSHIP:

Literary rights and copyrights 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

Benjamin Stapleton was born Nov. 12, 1869, in Paintsville, Kentucky. He graduated from National Normal University in Lebanon, Ohio. Stapleton moved to Denver in the early 1890s. In 1899, he was admitted to the Colorado Bar. Stapleton volunteered as one of the first Coloradans to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War. He served as first sergeant with the First Colorado Regiment in the Philippine Islands.

After the war, he returned to Denver to practice law and become involved in politics. He served as one of the founders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1904, Stapleton became police magistrate. He held the post until 1915, when President Woodrow Wilson appointed him postmaster. During his appointment, he oversaw the completion of the Denver Post Office building. Stapleton married Mabel Freeland on June 21, 1917. They had two children, Ben F. Stapleton, Jr. and Lois Jane Stapleton. In 1921, Stapleton resigned as postmaster to go into private business.

In 1923, Stapleton defeated Dewey C. Bailey in Denver's mayoral election. He was re-elected in 1927, but lost in the 1931 election to George D. Begole. In 1932, Stapleton won the election for the post of state auditor but decided in 1935 to campaign for mayor once again. Stapleton won Denver's mayoral election in 1935, 1939 and 1943. Stapleton lost the election in 1947 to James Quigg Newton.

Projects begun under Stapleton’s leadership include Denver's water system and the Valley Highway project. Furthermore he presided over civic projects such as a new airport and the Red Rocks Theatre. Stapleton died on May 23, 1950 at his home in Denver.

Extent

4 Boxes (3.5 linear feet)

1 oversize folders

Language of Materials

English

PROVENANCE:

Benjamin F. Stapleton, Jr. donated his father's papers to The Denver Public Library in 1972. Material was transferred from Mayor Nicholson's Papers in 2004.

SELECTION OF RELATED MATERIAL

Cranmer, George E. (oral history) Discusses Mayor Stapleton and the Moffat Tunnel project

C MSS OH59 Visit of Denver Civic leaders to Buckley Field (includes Stapleton)

C Photo Album 267A

SEPARATED MATERIAL

Photographs were transferred to the Western History Photograph Collection.

SIZE:

Number of Boxes: 4 (1.75 lf.)

Oversize: 1 FF

LOCATION:

WH383

DATE COMPLETED:

January 2002

Revised 2009

PROCESSED BY:

Ellen Zazzarino

REVISED AND ENCODED BY:

Cynthia Rand

Ann Brown

PROJECT MANAGER:

Ellen Zazzarino

Title
BENJAMIN STAPLETON PAPERS
Date
Revised 2009
Language of description
Undetermined
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