The Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection was constructed by the Colorado State Library and has historical newspapers scanned, searchable, and available for PDF download for most counties of Colorado. This database is available on their website:

Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection: www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org

The first newspapers in Lake County appeared in 1878. By 1885, Leadville had five newspapers. Several combined into one newspaper, The Herald Democrat, which still publishes weekly. Only two newspapers continued into the 1900s and a new one, the Twin Lakes Miner, arrived in 1902. These newspapers are invaluable resources for a wide variety of information.

• National Digital Newspaper Program, www.loc.gov/ndnp
• Newspaper archives from other states, as needed (varies to specific surnames)

• 1860 United States census
• 1870 United States census
• 1880 United States census (Lake County, Colorado, Leadville)
• 1885 United States census
• 1890 (burned in a fire – not available)
• 1900 United States census (Lake County, Colorado, Leadville)
• 1910 United States census (Lake County, Colorado, Leadville)
• 1920 United States census
• 1930 United States census (Lake County, Colorado, Leadville)
• 1940 United States census

• Colorado Marriage & Divorce Verification, https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/verification-marriage-civil-union-dissolution-divorce
• Colorado Court Records, http://www.courtreference.com/Colorado-Courts.htm
• Lake County public records, http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/CO_Lake.htm
• Colorado public records, http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Colorado-Cities-Towns-L.htm
• Public Records Directory, http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/

The county courthouse and city hall both have archives of physical records useful for research. These physical records can include trial records, marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, business records, organization records, etc. In most cases, these records are not available electronically and are only available manually. A fee may be charged for copies.

• Lake County Clerk and Recorder (Courthouse)
• City of Leadville (City Hall)

• Family Search, www.familysearch.org
• Geni (A MyHeritage company), www.geni.com
• Family Tree Now, www.familytreenow.com
• WikiTree, www.wikitree.com
• US GenWeb Project, www.usgenweb.org
• Colorado Gen Web, www.cogenweb.com
• Ellis Island records, www.libertyellisfoundation.org [Look under the Ellis Island tab for options]
• 50 Free Genealogy Sites: www.familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-resources/50-free-genealogy-sites

• Allen Breck. The Centennial History of the Jews of Colorado, 1859-1959. Denver: The Hirschfeld Press, 1960.
• Uchill, Ida Libert. Pioneers, Peddlers, and Tsadikim. Denver: Sage Books, 1957.
• Goodstein, Phil. Exploring Jewish Colorado. Denver: Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, U of Denver, 1992.
• Abrams, Jeanne E. Images of America: Jewish Denver 1859-1940. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2007.
• Abrams, Jeanne E. Jewish Women Pioneering The Frontier Trail: A History in the American West. New York, New York: New York University Press, 2006.
• Abrams, J. Blazing the tuberculosis trail: the religio-ethnic role of four sanatoria in early Denver. Denver, Colorado: Colorado Historical Society Monograph Series, 1991.
• Abrams, J., & Fitzharris, M. A place to heal: The history of National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Boulder, Colorado: Johnson Publishing, 1997.
• Abrams, J. Dr. Charles David. Spivak: A Jewish immigrant and the American tuberculosis movement. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 2009.
• Abrams, J. A pioneer legacy: Highlights of Colorado's Jewish past. In Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society & Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives, A Colorado Jewish Family Album, 1859 - 1992, (pp.5-20), Denver : Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society and the Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives, Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver, 1992.
• Rischin, Moses and John Livingston, editors. Jews of the American West. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1991.
• Carvalho, Solomon Nunes. Incidents of travel and adventure in the far West; with Col. Frémont's last expedition across the Rocky Mountains: including three months' residence in Utah, and a perilous trip across the great American desert to the Pacific. New York: Derby & Jackson, 1857.
• Rochlin, Harriet and Fred. Pioneer Jews: A New Life in the Far West. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984.
• Kahn, Ava F., Editor. Jewish Life in the American West. Seattle: U of Washington Press, 2002.
• Radin, Edwin. Jews Who Helped Settle the Wild West. Proving Press: Hanover, Ohio, 2020.
• Wishner, Maynard I. Jews Among the Indians.
• Gretchen Scanlon. A History of Leadville Theater: Opera Houses, Variety Acts and Burlesque Shows. Charleston: The History Press, 2012.
• Blair, Edward. Leadville: Colorado's Magic City.
• Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society. A Colorado Jewish Family Album: 1859-1992. Denver: U of Denver, 1992.
• Also refer to other books in the museum library.

Leadville city directories started in 1879 and continued through to 1918. No directories were made for years 1893 nor 1896.
https://lakecountypubliclibrary.org/localhistory/citydirectories

• Corbett, TB, Hoye, WC and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, Hoye and Co’s First Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1880”. Democrat Printing Company; Leadville, CO: USA. 1880.
• Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Second Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1881”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1881.
• Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Third Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1882”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1882.
• Corbett, TB and Balanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1883”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1883.
• Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Sixth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1885”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1885.
• Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Seventh Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1886”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1886.
• Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Eighth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City Of Leadville For 1887. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1887.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. “Ballenger & Richard’s Ninth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1888”. Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1888.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. “Ballenger & Richard’s Tenth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1889”. Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1889.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Eleventh Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1890. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1890.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twelfth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1891. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1891.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. “Ballenger & Richard’s Thirteenth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1892”. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1892.
• No directory made for Leadville in 1893.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Fifteenth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1894”. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1894.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Sixteenth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1895. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1895.
• No directory made for Leadville in 1896.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Eigteenth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1897. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1897.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Nineteenth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1898. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1898.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twentieth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1899. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1899.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-First Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1900. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1900.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Second Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1901. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1901.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Third Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1902. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. Leadville, CO; USA. 1902.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1903. Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers. Leadville, CO; USA. 1903.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1904. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1904.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Sixth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1905. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1905.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Seventh Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1906. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1906.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Eighth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1907. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1907.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Twenty-Ninth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1908. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1908.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirtieth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1909. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1909.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-First Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1910. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1910.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Second Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1911. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1911.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Third Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1912. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1912.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1913. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1913.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1914. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1914.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Sixth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1915. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1915.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Seventh Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1916. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1916.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Eighth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1917. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1917.
• Ballenger, JH and Richards. Ballenger & Richard’s Thirty-Ninth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1918. Leadville, CO: Ballenger and Richards Publishers.1918.
• After 1918, Leadville changed over to phone books. Not everyone had a phone, so phone book records are not as extensive as the city directories were.

While Leadville had telephones as early as the 1880s, telephone books like those of the 20th century did not appear until much later. Once the city directories stopped, the telephone directories basically replaced them. However, not every business or residence had a telephone and therefore were not part of the phone books. Physical telephone books are available at the Lake County Public Library.