The Helen and Read Black Archive
a brief glimpse into their lives, ancestors and posterity
The Helen and Read Black Archive
a brief glimpse into their lives, ancestors and posterity
Read (left) to shake hands with President Eisenhower
Grand Junction
The archived documents and records in the Helen and Read Black Archive help tell a brief story of their lives, ancestors and posterity. Helen, born 5 December 1920, and Read, born 12 May 1918, married on 8 April 1940 in Salt Lake City and lived most of their married lives in Colorado and Utah.
Helen and Read were both raised in rural Utah during the years of the Great Depression. Read was a first-generation college-graduate who served as an officer in World War II after graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering. Helen graduated with honors from High School and went on to graduate college with a degree in education. Helen ta
Helen and Read were both raised in rural Utah during the years of the Great Depression. Read was a first-generation college-graduate who served as an officer in World War II after graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering. Helen graduated with honors from High School and went on to graduate college with a degree in education. Helen taught 2nd grade for over 20 years while Read worked the majority of his career for the Bureau of Reclamation.
After Read retired from the bureau, he and Helen lived in the Philippines for several years where Read worked as a hydro-engineering consultant. They served in their communities and their church, including full-time church service in the West Indies and Great Britain for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Read and Helen enjoyed the outdoors with their children - gardening, camping, hunting, boating and fishing. They were both avid golfers, each getting a hole-in-one. They are parents of seven children with a large posterity. Through the Helen and Read Black Archive, we help tell the story of the people, places and significant events surro
Read and Helen enjoyed the outdoors with their children - gardening, camping, hunting, boating and fishing. They were both avid golfers, each getting a hole-in-one. They are parents of seven children with a large posterity. Through the Helen and Read Black Archive, we help tell the story of the people, places and significant events surrounding their personal lives and their legacy by preserving select records and artifacts of historical interest.