BIO

PROJECTS
Present–since 2009: Public speaker on cold cases, unidentified remains, and long-term missing persons
Present–since 1998: History columnist for the Boulder Daily Camera (See Articles page)
Present–since 1996: Historical researcher specializing in cold cases, unidentified remains, and long-term missing persons
Present–since 1984: Public speaker on Boulder County history
Present–since 1980: Author (See Books page)
Present–since 1977: Researcher and writer for individuals, businesses, and local governments (See Research and Other, below)
2023: Interviewee on Hulu program “Web of Death, Episode 2, Boulder Jane Doe"
2021-2022: Co-founder of Friends of Caribou Cemetery (see cariboucemetery.com)
2011-2020: Volunteer in the Detectives Section/Missing Persons department of the Boulder Police Department
2011-2020: NamUs instructor, as part of “Cold Case Investigations" classes, Colorado Bureau of Investigation
2009-2011:: Consultant on the Sid Wells case, Boulder Police Department
2005-2015: Mining representative for Boulder County's Historic Preservation Advisory Board
1996–1998: History columnist, Boulder Planet
1997: Boulder County history instructor (for teachers), Boulder Valley Schools
1986: Founded The Book Lode, a mail-order book business specializing in out-of-print books in the fields of mining and geology
1985-2017: Historian for the Hotel Boulderado, Boulder CO
1985–2001: Boulder County mining history instructor, Elderhostel
1984–1988: Historical features writer, Longmont Times-Call
1977–1980: Historical features writer, Boulder Daily Camera


PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Colorado Authors’ League
Daughters of the American Revolution
Mining History Association
Vidocq Society


AWARDS
2020: Recipient of the Rodman Paul Award from the Mining History Association for Outstanding Contributions to Mining History
2019: Recipient of the “Alber Lifetime Achievement Award” from the City of Boulder for volunteer work at the Boulder Police Department
2015: Recipient of the “Local History and Preservation Honor Award” from the Boulder Heritage Roundtable
2011: Recipient of the “Sheriff’s Teamwork Award of Excellence” for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee
2011: Recipient of the “Historic Preservation Award” from the City of Boulder Landmarks Board –– Columbia Cemetery
2011: Winner of the “Book-length General Non-fiction Award” from the Colorado Authors’ League for Only in Boulder: The County’s Colorful Characters
2010: Recipient of the Vidocq Society’s Medal of Honor for the Boulder Jane Doe case
2010: Finalist in the 2010 Colorado Book Awards for Someone’s Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe
2010: Recognition by the Boulder Heritage Roundtable Association for Someone’s Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe
2010: Recipient of the City of Boulder’s “Historic Preservation Award” for Boulder Transportation Department's “Broadway In Motion” project
2009: Recipient of Historic Boulder’s “Preservation in Action, Volunteers of the Year Award” for being a member of the Boulder Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee
2008: Recipient of the Sheriff’s Commendation Award, for being the “driving force” behind the resurrection of the 1954 Jane Doe homicide investigation
2003: Recipient of the Square Nail Award, presented by the Boulder Heritage Roundtable “to people dedicated to the cause of preserving Boulder County’s cultural heritage and history."
2000: Finalist in the Colorado Center for the Book awards for Separate Lives: The Story of Mary Rippon
2000: First place winner for nonfiction in the Colorado Independent Publishers’ Association awards for Separate Lives: The Story of Mary Rippon


BOOKS (See Books Page)
Separate Lives: Uncovering the Hidden Family of Victorian Professor Mary Rippon (to be released August 2024)
In Search of the Blonde Tigress: The Untold Story of Eleanor Jarman, May 2023
Someone’s Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe, UPDATED Edition, 2023
Merging in Michigan –– Taylor family history for William W. Reynolds, 2022
Cold Case Chronicles: Mysteries, Murders & the Missing, Lyons Press, 2021
Abroad & in America –– Wencel family history for William W. Reynolds, 2021
Reynolds Revisited –– Reynolds family history for William W. Reynolds, 2019
The Long Term Missing: Hope and Help for Families, Rowman & Littlefield, 2017
Co-author with R. H. Walton in Morewitz & Colls, Handbook of Missing Persons, Springer International, 2017 (Pettem/Walton chapter on “Investigation of Long-term Missing Persons as Cold Case Homicides: An American Perspective”)
Contributing author in R. H. Walton’s Practical Cold Case Homicides Procedural Manual, CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, 2014 (Pettem chapter on “Investigative Resources”)
Three water and flood-related books for the City of Boulder Utilities Department, 2014-2016
Cold Case Research: Resources for Unidentified, Missing, and Cold Homicide Cases, CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, 2013
Boulder: A Sense of Time and Place, Revisited, The History Press, 2010
Only in Boulder: The County’s Colorful Characters, The History Press, 2010
Someone’s Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe, Taylor Trade/Rowman & Littlefield, 2009 (see updated edition 2023)
Positively Pearl Street: A Chronicle of the Center of Boulder, Colorado, 1859 to Present, The Book Lode, LLC, 2007
Behind the Badge: 125 Years of the Boulder Colorado Police Department, The Book Lode LLC, 2003
Broomfield: Changes Through Time, The Book Lode, 2001
Boulder: A Sense of Time and Place, The Book Lode, 2000
Separate Lives: The Story of Mary Rippon, The Book Lode, 1999 (see updated edition, 2024)
Inn and Around Nederland: Accommodating the Traveler, Then and Now, Tourism and Recreation Program of Boulder County, 1998
Chautauqua Centennial: A Hundred Years of Programs, Chautauqua Association, 1998
Excursions From Peak to Peak, Then and Now, Tourism and Recreation Program of Boulder County, 1997
Boulder, Evolution of a City, University Press of Colorado, 1st edition, 1994; revised edition 2006
Guide to Historic Western Boulder County, Cordillera Press, 1989
Mountains and Passes: A Guide to the Colorado Rockies, Renaissance House, 1st edition, 1987
Colorado Mountains and Passes: Day Trips in the Rockies, Renaissance House, revised edition, 1991
Excursions From Peak to Peak, Beginning in Boulder, The Book Lode, 1987
Legend of A Landmark, A History of the Hotel Boulderado, The Book Lode, 1st edition, 1986 (Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, revised edition, 1997; centennial edition, 2009)
Following the Frontier, Ancestors of William Wencel Reynolds, William Reynolds, 1983
Red Rocks to Riches, Gold Mining in Boulder County, Then And Now, Stonehenge, 1980


RESEARCH PROJECTS AND ADDITIONAL PUBLISHED WORKS
Shining Mountain Waldorf School, history project, 2017
Boulder Area Realtors Association, 75-year history, 2015
Colorado Insurance Building Photo Project, Reynolds Companies, 2013
Articles and historical photos for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office 150th anniversary book, 2011
Historical photo project for the Twentieth Judicial District, Boulder, Colorado, 2011
Consultant on Boulder County Treasurers’ Office historical photo project, 2010
Consultant on Courthouse lobby historical photo project for the Boulder County Commissioners, 2010
Boulderado Centennial presentation for Hotel Boulderado, 2009
Neighborhood power point presentation for Boulder Realty Brokers, 2009
Consultant to the Boulder County Bar Association in the planning of its 100th anniversary, 2007
Cherokee Ranch properties, for Koelbel & Company, 2006
Captain Jack Superfund Site, Ward, for Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers, LLC, 2004
Consultant on historical photos for the parking garage at 9th and Canyon, for Downtown and University Hill Management Division/Parking Services, 2003
Revealing Our Roots, Women of the West Museum, 2002
Mines in Balarat CO, for Dave Williamson, attorney, 2002
Archived collection of photos by University professor John Schoolland, for Carnegie Branch Library for Local History, 2000
Boulder hydroelectric plant, for City of Boulder, 2000
Student activity slide show for University of Colorado Alumni Association, for CU Alumni Association, 2000
Boulder County Landmark application on Spurgeon/Ludlow farm, Longmont, for Steve Spurgeon, 1999
Mines in Eldora area, for Karl Anuta, attorney, 1999
John Jay mine, Jamestown, for Rodney Angove, 1999
Denver, Boulder & Western Railroad Depot, for Judge William Neighbors, 1999
Nederland Architectural Survey, Colorado Historical Society, 1999
Automobile Era in Boulder, Historic Context project, Boulder Planning Department, 1999
Use of Native Stone in Boulder Construction, co-authored with Ed Raines, Historic Context project, Boulder Planning Department, 1999
Consultant on historical photos for the parking garage at Pearl and 15th streets, Downtown and University Hill Management Division/Parking Services, 1998
National Register application for the Rollinsville and Middle Park Wagon Road / Denver, Northwest and Pacific Railway Hill Route Historic District, Colorado Historical Society, 1998
National Register application for the Gold Miner Hotel, Eldora, Colorado Historical Society, 1997
Gem Mine (Fremont County), for owner George Harris, 1997
Boulder County landmark application for the Ewing farmhouses, Lafayette, Boulder County Land Use Department, 1997
Boulder County landmark application for the Snowbound Mine Shaft house, co-authored with Ed Raines, Boulder County Land Use Department, 1997
Needles Eye Tunnel Snow Shed Restoration Study, for Tourism and Recreation Program of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, 1997
Boulder County landmark application for the Nederland Stone Garage, Nederland, Boulder County Land Use Department, 1997
Boulder County landmark application for Gold Miner Hotel, Eldora, Boulder County Land Use Department, 1997
Roads of the Mountains and Plains, Historic Context project, Boulder Planning Department, 1996
Tracking Down Boulder, Colorado’s Railroads, Historic Context project, Boulder Planning Department, 1996
Boulder Mountain Parks, for Native Cultural Services 1994
National Register application for the Hotel Boulderado, Colorado Historical Society, 1994
Caribou Mining District, for Hendricks Mining Company, 1993
General History of Boulder County in 1886, for Boulder County Parks & Recreation Department, 1991
Published, for Harrison Cobb, Prospecting Our Past: Gold, Silver & Tungsten Mills of Boulder County, 1988
Wallstreet Mining District, for Kraft Mining Company, 1986
History of the White Raven Mine (Ward, Colorado) from 1890-1970, for Gustavson & Associates, 1985
Mining properties for International Brenmac, Leadville Silver and Gold, Resources International, and Two Brothers Mining Company, 1983-1984
Research during the Cash Mine permitting process through construction of the Gold Hill Mill for the Gold Hill Mining Company, 1982-1987


OTHER SELECTED PUBLISHED WORKS THAT INCLUDE CALENDARS, IN-HOUSE PUBLICATIONS, INTERPRETIVE SIGNS AND VIDEO SCRIPTS
Interpretive sign, McKenzie Oil Well, 2020
Downtown Boulder interpretive sign (a look back to 1967), City of Boulder and Stantec, 2017
Boulder in the 1950s calendar, co-author, 2014
Hotel Boulderado calendar, 2015
Euclid Avenue transit stop interpretive signs, City of Boulder Transportation Department, 2013
Macky Auditorium: 100 Years Celebration (author of video script), Leonard Productions, 2010
North Broadway transit stop interpretive signs and plaques, City of Boulder Transportation Department, 2009 and 2010
Boulder’s Sesquicentennial (co-author of video script), Leonard Productions, 2008
First Congregational Church interpretive sign, First Congregational Church and Communication Arts, 2005
The Beat Goes On: The Shift in Medical Care from General Practitioner to Medical Specialist, Boulder Community Hospital Foundation, 2003
Downtown Boulder interpretive signs (12 panels on various historical topics for the Pearl Street Mall), City of Boulder and Communication Arts, 2003
State of the Heart 1902-2002: The First 100 Years of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Humane Society of Boulder Valley, 2002
The Years of 1951-2001 of the Boulder Planning Department, City of Boulder Planning Department, 2001
The Peaceful Valley Story, Fulfillment of a Dream, The Book Lode, 1994