Oral History Interview with Stirling Cooper, 1995 May, 2006, 1892-1995

Item

Identifier: AHS-C118

Staff Only

Abstract

Stirling "Buzz" Cooper discusses his family history in Aspen, Colorado and the small country store Cooper Book and Stationary Store located in downtown Aspen. He describes growing up in Aspen playing on and in old mine buildings. He talks about the old miners including his own father who mined a number of developed mines like Midnight Mine, why the miners got their nick names like Fish Herron (because he drank like one). He describes fequenting the old ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence and Independece Pass. After moving to Denver, he talks about coming back to Aspen for the summers to run their business as well as his mother's tourist business. He talks about his views of Aspen today and lack of interest in mining as well as what he feels as government short comings.

Dates

1995 May
Digitization: 2006
Coverage: 1892-1995

Digital Repository

Oral History Interview with Stirling Cooper

Conditions Governing Access

http://http://www.cdpheritage.org/about/copyright.htmlAny attempt to circumvent the access controls placed on this file is a violation of United States and international copyrights laws and is subject to criminal prosecution.Copyrights to this resource is held by the Aspen Historical Society and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be downloaded, reproduced, or distributed in any format without written permission of the Aspen Historical Society.

Biographical / Historical

Stirling "Buzz" Cooper was born near Aspen, Colorado - 3.5 miles up Independence Pass, in 1931 to Ted Cooper. He left Aspen with his family in 1946. He went to Denver University and graduated with a teacher training and Math major. In 1956 he moved back to Aspen thinking he would go into the family business of the Cooper Book and Stationary Store, decided Aspen was too snowy and cold for him and spent the next 29 years teaching in Denver. He currently splits his time between Glenwood Springs and Arizona.

Extent

1 Items ; 60 minutes

Additional Description

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Playback cassette tape: Sony HF 60

Computer Hardware: 3 (total) Intel Celeron 1.8GHz/224 MB RAM PC's (made by PowerSpec), each with a Firewall hard drive (2 made by MicroNet, 1 made by LaCie) and M-Audio Delta Audiophile (internal sound card); External Firewire Hard Drive; Analog Playback Equipment: Nakamichi Dragon, Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1; Analog/Digital Converter: Prism Dream ADA-8XR; Prism Sound Dream AD-2

Operating System: Windows XP; Capture and editing software: Steinberg Wavelab 4.0; Formatting software: Sony Soundforge; Other Devices: Switcher to allow monitoring of multiple transfers.

Basic Map: Nakamichi Dragon -> Analog RCA or XLR -> AD converter -> AES (XLR) -> M-Audio Card -> Software -> External Firewire Drive

General

Title supplied by the Archivist: Anna L. Scott. Interview conducted in May, 1995 in Aspen, Co. Accompanied by digital transcript.

Names discussed: Cooper Family, Fred S. Cooper, Theodore Cooper, Edward Cooper, Justin, Old Man Jones, Old Man Larsen, Old Man Smith, Old Man Parsons, Fish Herron, Moon Mullins, Stuart Mace, Willoughbys, Tagert, Leroy Waterman, Thomas Flynn, Richard (Dick) Nye, Valerie Lundh, Loushin, Yellin, Stephen Albouy.

Place Names: Independence Pass, New York State, Manitou Springs, Aspen Mountain, Smuggler, Aspen Mine District, Independence, Twin Lakes, Denver, Bleeker Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Mt. Hayden, Cooperpoint, Picnic Point, Rubey Park, West End, Eastern Europe, Boulder County, Crystal Valley, Pitkin County.

Business', Organizations, Buildings, and Mines: Cooper Book and Stationary, Keeley Institute, Isis Theather, Aspen Historical Society, Aspen Times, Espirit Store, Aspen Drug, Post Office, Aspen Drug Block, Smuggler, Denver Post, University of Denver, North High School, International Ski FIS, Highlands-Bavarian Lodge, Midnight Mine, Hanlon claim, Mountain Ranger Claim, Writ-Highland Tunnel, Harvest Festival, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, City Hall, Armory Hall, Eagle's club, St Mary's Catholic Church, Fire Department, Compromise Mine, Midnight Mine.