First Draft: Exploring the History of Western Colorado and Eastern Utah

New Collection by Historian Robert Silbernagel of stories on the history of western Colorado and eastern Utah.

Western Colorado and eastern Utah were lands of abundant opportunity in the 19th and early 20th century. Most who came to take advantage of those opportunities were honest, hard-working people: farmers and ranchers, railroaders and community builders, or people seeking religious or political freedom. Some found opportunities outside the law, train robbers and hoaxers. FIRST DRAFT contains stories about all these sorts of people, as well as the Natives who lived in the area before white settlers, and remained as settlers crowded them into small corners of their once vast territory. Through these stories of individuals and communities, Silbernagel offers glimpses of the region's history and development.

Literary Nonfiction. History.

Robert Silbernagel has been writing about history in newspapers, magazines and books since 1975. He retired as the editorial page editor of The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colorado, and currently writes a history column for the newspaper. He is an avid horseman and enjoys outdoor activities in the West, as well as reading and writing about history.