Sherry Skye Stuart
Award-winning Author
"Couldn't put it down. I love the genuine, raw capturing
of the passion and struggles of these women.
Unfortunately, some of these struggles are still true
for women today." Dr. Kimberly Nearpass
Historical Presentations
Skye's presented a variety of unique, fun and informative historical programs over the years for groups such as Pueblo Community College-Fremont Campus, Colorado Prison Museum, Fremont County Historical Society, Custer County Historical Society, Old Colorado City Historical Society, Penrose Community Library, John C. Fremont Library, Florence Pioneer Museum, schools, Pueblo Heritage Commission, and to other groups, under her previous name - Sherry Johns.
All her presentations are in PowerPoint She also brings display boards and her books to sell.
The programs last about 60 - 75 minutes and have plenty of time for Q & A.
The presentations are perfect for small groups as well as groups of over one hundred people.
Please contact Skye if you would like to schedule a program or to use any of her programs as a fundraiser for your non-profit.
Forgotten Female Felons
I developed this program when I was asked to speak at the Colorado Museum of Prisons in Canon City, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Exhibit "BETWEEN FENCES."
As I read and scanned the original logbook pages in the archives of the museum, I became convinced that these women's stories needed to be told.
Each logbook page contains valuable information about each Female Felon; her crime, length of prison stay, family, notes with any infractions while in prison, and most importantly, a tiny photo of each woman, which brings them to life.
As I gently scanned the brittle pages I felt a spiritual connection to these often misunderstood women. I also experiences a few paranormal happenings along the way!
My program focuses on many of these women, whose ages varied from 16 - 56 and their crimes were just as varied.
Prison and inmate images used with permission from the
Museum of Colorado Prisons.
I made this wall hanging quilt to honor 25 of the women who were incarcerated in the early Territorial Prison in Canon City, Colorado. My intent was to include their photos on the quilt, from the log sheets I had scanned,
Well, that didn't happen as they let me know loud and clear that all they wanted on the quilt was their names and prison numbers. I tell the rest of the paranormal story in my program and in my new book.
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The quilt travels with me when I present this program and has hung in the Colorado Museum of Prisons.
Ladies of the Evening
Why do I talk about these "fallen women?" Because they deserve to have their dignity restored in some measure and because they are a largely overlooked part of our collective past
These women's stories have not yet all been told. Their stories are just as real and important as the cowboy stories, the soldier stories and the explorer stories - that's why I tell about the prostitutes.
I also talk about historical prostitution from the Bible, ancient civilizations, up to the Gold Rush and the settling of the American West
This program is for mature audiences.
The Colorful Tale of Buckskin Joe
The Colorful Tale of Buckskin Joe – Rebirth of a Western Town
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Step back into the Old West and rediscover one of Colorado's most beloved landmarks—Buckskin Joe Western Town, nestled near Cañon City and the Royal Gorge.
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This intriguing presentation by Sherry Skye Stuart traces Buckskin Joe's tale from its Gold Rush origins in Park County, to its transformation into one of Colorado's most successful attractions. Through photographs and stories, audiences will experience the town's authentic buildings, Hollywood connections, vivid characters, ghosts and legends, as well as never before seen photos of the final days before its buildings and their contents were sold and moved to a private location.
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The summer before Buckskin Joe closed on Labor Day 2010, author and historian Stuart received exclusive permission from the owner to document every nook and cranny of the town. Alongside photographer Richard Lane and artist Vern Roberts, she spent countless hours exploring its historic buildings, photographing artifacts and preserving the stories hidden within its walls.
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For half a century, Buckskin Joe stood as the quintessential western town, where dusty streets echoed with the sounds of blacksmith hammers, saloon music, spirited gunfights and rumbling stagecoaches pulled by Belgian draft horses.
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Built in the late 1950s by three Canon City businessmen, Buckskin Joe was created to preserve Colorado's frontier heritage while attracting Hollywood filmmakers and enthusiastic tourists. Visitors strolled its wooden boardwalks, sampled penny candy, and posed for old-time photographs.
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Named after the historic Gold Rush mining settlement of Buckskin Joe in Park County, the new western town created an authentic frontier setting that served as the backdrop for dozens of films and television productions, including True Grit, Cat Ballou, Conagher, The Sacketts and many more.
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Stuart’s unforgettable presentation is a tribute to Buckskin Joe and the spirit of the American West.
Women of the Mormon Battalion in Pueblo
For less than a year, 1846-47, the Mormon Battalion and the 'Mississippi Saints' built Mormontown on the banks of the Arkansas River, near present-day Pueblo, Colorado.
They made homes, planted gardens, held dances and preached the gospel.
While much has been written about the Mormon Battalion, little is known about the women who accompanied them. I researched these hardy women who signed on with the Army as laundresses and found their fortitude and courage astounding.
My program weaves a fascinating account of the women of the Mormon Battalion and also details the 1997 Mormon Battalion Sesquicentennial Celebration in Pueblo.
Pioneer Women of Beaver Creek
"Pioneer Women of Beaver Creek" is about women who lived and died in the Beaver Creek area east of Penrose, Colorado. Although I am
not related to any of them, I feel they are my "sisters" as I've learned about their lives and families.
I wrote this book in 2008, under my previous name. It's sold over a 1000 copies.
My program details the lives of 25 women
who lived and died on Beaver Creek, along with photos of these courageous women, their
families and their tombstones. It parallels my book of the same name. I also bring the "Pioneer Women of Beaver Creek"
Quilt that has hung in several exhibits.
Forgotten Women of Fremont County
Enjoy a historical glimpse of the female half of Fremont County, Colorado, from rowdy to respectful, winsome to wild, and suffragette to sinner. I've included numerous never-seen-before photos of local historical women in this program, from Canon City, Florence, the Coal towns, Penrose and more
I tell of their lives, families and accomplishments and what they contributed to Fremont County.
FORGOTTEN PLACES OF FREMONT COUNTY
Join me for a stroll through Historical Fremont County Colorado as we travel East to West and North to South, exploring ghost towns and mining towns, settlements and cemeteries, and the people and places that created one of the first counties in Colorado Territory and the State of Colorado.
Hundreds of photos, many never seen before!
