Constellation Similarity Assertions

Joseph A. Thatcher was a founder and member of the initial Board of Trustees of the Colorado Museum of Natural History (CMNH), now the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. He served as Trustee and as its first Treasurer from 1900 until his death in 1918. Joseph Addison Thatcher was born in 1838 in Shelbyville, Kentucky. In 1849 his family moved to Independence, Missouri. Young Thatcher studied commercial law, banking and bookkeeping at Jones Commercial College in St. Louis, and his first job was clerking in his uncle's store. In 1860 he followed his urge to move to Colorado, crossing the Plains with an ox train loaded with mining supplies and merchandise. He settled in Central City as an independent merchant and in 1863 joined a local bank as cashier and manager. He married Frances Kintley of St. Louis in 1865. In 1870 Thatcher and a successful gold miner, Joseph Standley, purchased the bank and renamed it Thatcher, Standley and Company. The bank was converted to the First National Bank of Central City in 1874, with Mr. Thatcher as president. Thatcher and Standley also owned the very rich California Mine in Central City. The bank flourished, and in 1882 Thatcher resigned and traveled extensively in Europe. He moved to Denver in 1883. In 1884 Thatcher returned to business by organizing the Denver National Bank. He served as its first president and later became Chairman of the Board of Directors, serving in this capacity until his death. The bank and his mining interests were very successful and Thatcher became wealthy. He shared his wealth and talents with many Denver cultural institutions, including the newly formed CMNH. Thatcher was an initial cash donor and member of the Museum's founding group in 1898. At its incorporation December 6, 1900, he was a Trustee and was named its first Treasurer, duties he performed until he died in late 1918. During his tenure he was very active in Museum business and donated money to help fund activities and acquire numerous specimens.

Harry Crowe James was a patron of Denver arts and science who served as a Trustee and later also as Treasurer of the Colorado Museum of Natural History (CMNH), now the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. He and his sister, Mrs. Elsie James Lemen, donated funds for a wing of the museum opened in 1928 named for their father William H. James, a founder of the Museum. Harry James was born to a wealthy family in 1868 in Georgetown, Colorado. His father, William H. James, was a mine and smelter owner who was an incorporator of the CMNH and a member of its original Board of Trustees in 1900. Harry James attended the University of Michigan and returned to Denver to enter the business world. He had interests in banking, public utilities and mining in Colorado. In 1892 he married Carrie May Davidson of Denver and they had three children. James became a very popular citizen active in many civic enterprises. He was Trustee for the George W. Clayton Endowment to support Clayton College for Orphan Boys in east Denver. James was elected to the Museum's Board in 1910, and in 1918 he received the additional appointment as Treasurer. He served in these positions until his death in 1932. James was very active in Museum business and at numerous times provided significant personal funds to support Museum acquisitions and expeditions. An avid hunter, he donated many bird and large mammal specimens from hunting trips in Colorado and expeditions across North America. Many were mounted and displayed in the Museum's famous dioramas. In 1919 James and his sister, Mrs. Elsie James Lemen, pledged funds for a south wing of the Museum to be built in honor of their father, William H. James. James Hall was dedicated and opened in 1928.

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