As part of Women’s History Month, we would like to share 11 videos made by the museum that tell stories far and wide of women who have helped make Fort Collins such a unique place.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS FORT COLLINS STORIES STARTS WITH HAITTIE MCDANIEL, the first African American woman to win an Academy Award, for her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With The Wind. She lived in Fort Collins from 1901 until 1903.
FORT COLLINS NATIVE ISABELLE KNOPF worked at Heart Mountain Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. As a single mother, she had various jobs before having a long career with the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
POLLY BRINKHOFF was an artist and long-time resident of Skin Gulch off Poudre Canyon. She led quite an amazing life and has contributed to Colorado lore.
Click here to download the printable Polly Brinkhoff Charm.
Other videos in this series feature the life and stories of:
- Elizabeth Case – Fort Collins volunteer extraordinaire and major contributor to Fort Collins history.
- Virginia Corbett – a passionate advocate for college women for over 30 years.
- Elizabeth “Libbie” Coy Lawrence – the first woman to graduate from a higher education institute in Colorado.
- Sarah Ellis Eddy – a teacher, book store owner, and much more.
- Betty Herrmann – who left a legacy at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery through her work and donations.
- Carmen Johnson – a noted Larimer County Home Demonstration agent for the Extension Service.
- Elfreda Stebbins – the city’s first librarian.
- Hope Sykes – author of the 1935 book Second Hoeing, an important agricultural book.
