First NameLarryLast NameObermesikCollectionColorado's Oldest Records, Compiled by Larry ObermesikBiographical InformationLarry Obermesik is a passionate historian and retired IT Manager whose dedication to uncovering Colorado’s early stories has led to some notable discoveries. Initially focused on future technologies during his professional career, Larry shifted his attention post-retirement to unraveling the mysteries of Colorado’s past, sparked by his fascination with the Gold Rush era. His research journey began with a search for the legendary Jenks Journals, an historic collection of Gold Rush journals chronicling the experiences of Argonaut Daniel Jenks and his cousins, Loren and Judson Jenks, during the California and Colorado Gold Rushes. The journals offer vivid, firsthand accounts of frontier life and the pivotal role early settlers played in shaping the region. Recognizing their significance, Larry spent years transcribing and analyzing these writings, ultimately publishing them in 2021 as The Lost Gold Rush Journals of Daniel Jenks.
In addition to the Jenks Journals, with the assistance of the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder’s Office Larry has also uncovered a long-lost collection of pre-territorial settler records, kept between 1859-1861 by the El Paso Claim Club. Claim Clubs were Coloradans’ first form of self-governance, and helped maintain order on the lawless frontier. By digitizing the surviving Claim Club record books, he has helped preserve these invaluable documents for future generations and provided new insights into early Colorado governance. Larry's interests also include documenting the Cherokee Trail, which he calls Colorado’s Forgotten Highway. He’s hoping his ongoing collaboration with emigrant trail mapping experts will result in an interactive Cherokee Trail map, that modern audiences can use to explore and remember the trail. Larry’s research has inspired others to explore Colorado’s rich heritage and he remains committed to sharing his findings, ensuring that these important stories are not lost to time. Related MaterialThe Lost Gold Rush Journals: Daniel Jenks 1849-1865