#2011 Zoom Only:  Through the Lens: The Story of Three Photographers of the Cripple Creek Mining Dis

Wednesday, May 29, 10:00am - 12:00pm

#2011 Zoom Only:  Through the Lens: The Story of Three Photographers of the Cripple Creek Mining District

Instructor: Steven Wade Veatch 

The Cripple Creek Mining District, in Colorado, was a significant gold mining area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gold mining continues there today. Several photographers documented life in the district during this time. Three photographers made important and valuable visual records of the mining operations, daily life, and landscapes of the region during the late 1890s and early 1900s.

William J. Gillen (birth date and death date unknown) was an American photographer known for his work in the early days of the Cripple Creek Mining District. His photographs offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who inhabited the mining district. His work includes portraits, street scenes, and events, providing a broader perspective on the area beyond mining activities.

Edgar A. Yelton (1866-1946) was a photographer whose notable works captured the mining activities, social scenes, and landscapes of the Cripple Creek mining district. His work provides a visual narrative of the challenges and triumphs of the mining district.

Julia Skolas (1863-1934) was a pioneering woman photographer and postcard publisher known for her work in the early 20th century. She operated a studio in Colorado Springs and then in Cripple Creek during the mining boom. Her collections included images of miners at work, mining equipment, and the rugged terrain of the area. Her work also contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the human experience in the mining district.

These three photographers played a crucial role in documenting the history and culture of the Cripple Creek Mining District, leaving behind a visual legacy that helps us understand the challenges and triumphs of this important period in Colorado’s history. Join Steven Veatch for a program that explores their rich legacy of photographs of the gold camp. 

Steven Veatch: MS in Earth Science from Emporia State University in Kansas.  Steven Wade Veatch was born in Denver and grew up in the Pikes Peak region.  His family came to Cripple Creek in the 1890s from England and worked in the district’s mines.  The other side of the family established a ranch in the wilderness near Boulder in 1865.  They later moved to the Caribou mining camp where Steven’s great-grandfather attended Caribou’s first school session in 1872.

Steven is a geoscientist and was an Adjunct Professor of Earth Science at Emporia State University in Kansas.  He is an award-winning writer of over one hundred articles about science, nature, and history and is known for his articles, books, and presentations on local history.  He is a member of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society and a 2015 National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame inductee.  

$25 PILLAR Members / $40 Nonmembers