Charley Peterson Research Fund
Operated by Eagle County Historical Society
WHAT IS IT
An anonymous donor has contributed $10,000 to the Eagle County Historical Society for establishment of the “Charley Peterson Research Fund.” The money is being held in a controlled fund and is limited to use for research and publication of Eagle County history. Grants from the fund will be awarded annually in April, the month of Charley’s death. (**Note: The 2024 grants will be awarded in mid-July, in order to accommodate the kick off event on April 8, 2024.)
The fund is named for Charley Peterson, a homesteader n the Colorado River (on property now known as Roundup River Ranch). A Swedish immigrant, Charley was a quiet bachelor who ranched and ran a ferry operation across the river. He lived in a small cabin, which has been rebuilt and still sits on the property.
Charley became locally famous when he was murdered in April 1916. His murderers were never found. The neighbors who found his bullet-riddled body discovered three plates of food in the cabin. The assumption is that Charley served his killers a meal before they turned on him. The ransacked cabin suggested that theft of Charley’s ferry money may have been the reason.
Our anonymous donor has always been intrigued by Charley Peterson’s sad story, prompting the establishment of the fund.
DETAILS
Applications: Applicants for funding will complete a simple application describing their local history project.
Who can apply: Members of the Eagle County Historical Society. If you are not currently a member, sign up when you submit your application. You can sign up online at: https://eaglecountyhistoricalsociety.com/product-category/memberships
For-profit businesses and entities are not eligible for the funding.
Committee: A committee 3-5 people, representing the Historical Society, the Eagle Valley Library District, and the general public will meet annually to review applications and determine what projects qualify for funding. The judgement of the committee prevails in determining if a project qualifies as research and publication of Eagle County history.
Deadlines: Funding is tied to deadlines mutually agreed upon by the applicant and the committee.
Funding amounts: Funding shall be issued in quantities ranging from $50 – $1,000 as determined by the committee.
Payout: Funding would occur only when the applicant has produced a tangible piece of history. No advance payments.
Requirements: Successful applicants will be expected to complete a simple report at the end of the project outlining how the funds were used and how they furthered the grantee’s research.
Tax information: Prior to handing out the grant a W-9 form must be completed for each award winner. The ECHS will issue a Form 1099 NEC to each grant award winner (used to report the nonemployee compensation to the IRS for each recipient).
Fundable projects: Possible options include, but are not limited to:
- Blog for the ECHS and/or EVLD websites
- Book (non-fiction)
- New publications
- Updating/revision of existing book
- Museum exhibit
- Podcast
- Video
- Vertical file (compiled for specific local history subject) for EVHS/EVLD archive.
- Television or radio program
- Manuscript for ECHS/EVLD archives
- Editing a book or manuscript?
- Recorded and transcribed interviews with local residents?
STIPULATIONS
Archive use: Funding recipients are encouraged to use the physical archives at the History Department at the Eagle Public Library as well as on-line sources. Check in with the current History Librarian. Other good sources of information include History Colorado and Denver Public Library.
Historic and current photos: Use of our local photo archives, current photographs, or related artwork is encouraged. Use fees will be waived for Charley Peterson Research Fund projects.
Document form: Manuscripts, books, etc. must be submitted in a Microsoft Word document that can be edited.
- Research text should be submitted in manuscript format.
- Final deliverable (book, PowerPoint, pamphlet, etc. subject to committee approval
Citing sources: Funded works must include a listing of sources — not as formal as footnotes in a master’s thesis, but detailed enough to allow fact checking (source, author, page number, website link, etc.).
Replenishing the fund: The ECHS will periodically dedicate proceeds from a fundraising event to replenishment of the Charley Peterson Research Fund. The donor suggests working cooperatively with Roundup River Ranch.