MaryJoy Martin 1955
1 book in the catalogue, published 2004.
MaryJoy Martin is a Colorado author and historian who describes herself as an independent scholar. Western Reflections Publishing lists one of her books, The Corpse on Boomerang Road, a history of labor conflict in Telluride.
About MaryJoy Martin
Martin's own website says she trained as an investigative journalist at Metropolitan State College in Denver and wrote for the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post. She is an independent historian with no academic affiliation and uses the designation SCA, for sine concilio academico, in place of a Ph.D. The site says she has worked as an independent researcher for law enforcement and for legal and government work.
It lists several other books, including Twilight Dwellers, Spirits, Spooks and Sprites of the San Juan, and Suicide Legends, Homicide Rumors: The Griffin Mystery. It also names a work in progress, a biography of Vincent St. John, and says she was the principal historical investigator for Ouray County in the Camp Bird access court case and a researcher for the Fort Peabody National Register nomination.
What the books share
The Corpse on Boomerang Road looks at the fight between the Telluride Miners' Union and the mine owners. Its subject headings are labor unions, miners and the Western Federation of Miners. Martin's website also describes a planned biography of the union leader Vincent St. John, so labor and mining history in the San Juan country is clearly a thread in her work. She has written ghost-story collections too, which we do not publish.
The subjects this author is catalogued under. Open Library record.
Next steps for readers of this author
Starting with labor history in Colorado
If this subject is new to you, read the union article first for the names and dates, then move to the Telluride article. That order gives you the national picture before the local one.
Checking one author's other work
Her own website lists other books on the San Juan Mountains. Look there for books beyond our catalogue, and ask your library whether it can borrow them.
Go deeper
Martin writes about labor and mining in the San Juan country, and her book here deals with Telluride. These resources give readers context on the union, the town and the county around it.
Western Federation of Miners overview
An encyclopedia article on the union formed in 1893 and on the strikes it took part in, from Cripple Creek in 1894 to the Colorado labor wars of 1903 and 1904.
Telluride history
A short history of Telluride from its founding as a mining center in 1878 to its later life as a ski and festival town.
Telluride Historical Museum website
The museum's site lists tours and events and says it is run in association with the Smithsonian Institution.
Good to know
How many books by MaryJoy Martin does Western Reflections list?
Does she hold a Ph.D.?
Writers like this one are how the list was built
We have published Colorado and Western writers since 1996, and every submission is still read by a person. Send yours, finished or half written.