On April 13, 1900, Paul Laurence Dunbar purchased several Western souvenirs from a curio shop in Denver. Following the advice of doctors, Paul was in Colorado seeking relief from tuberculosis.
The H. H. Tammen Curio Co.
Wholesale Dealers in Precious Stones, Agate Goods and Jewelry Novelties, Rocky Mountain Minerals and Indian Curios, Mounted Game Heads
Sold to Paul L. Dunbar
1 Coyote rug 6.50
1 Navajo blanket 11.50
1 Navajo blanket small 2.50
1 Pair Sioux moccasins 1.75
1 Apache bow and arrow 1.75
1 Pueblo pottery .75
1 Mexican rawhide .60
1 Mexican sombrero .60H. H. Tammen Curio Co. receipt, April 13, 1900. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
The curio shop was operated by H. H. Tammen, who was also publisher of The Denver Post. The Post carried news of Paul's activities in the city, and sought his services as a writer.
From a letter written September 12 to a friend in Toledo, Mr. Dunbar says that he stood the trip much better than he expected. The Denver Post has offered to pay Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar's expenses for a leisurely trip through Colorado for the privilege of printing the poet's impressions of the Silver state. When he wrote, he had not made up his mind whether to accept the offer or not.
"Paul Dunbar in Colorado." Unidentified newspaper clipping [Toledo, Ohio, September 1899]. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 4).
Mr. Tammen's legitimate occupation is that of a newspaper editor. He owns the Denver Post and the Kansas City Post. Mr. Tammen started in life as a curio dealer, from which he drifted into the newspaper business, and then graduated as a circus owner. Incidentally, he has several million dollars all laid away.
"Here's the Story of an Editor Who Became a Circus Man." May 27, 1910. The Seattle Star (Seattle, Washington). Page 1.
After leaving Colorado, Paul lived in Washington, D. C., New York City, Chicago and Dayton, but he kept his Western souvenirs with him. A newspaper article mentioned a Navajo rug at his home in Washington.
We sat in the poet's study, a large room on the second floor of his attractive home, near Le Droit park. Portieres curtained the doorways and Navajo rugs -- souvenirs of his western sojourn -- with here and there the mounted skin of some animal, stretched at full length before easy chair or settee, covered the floor.
"Dayton's Dunbar." Dayton Daily Journal (Dayton, Ohio). January 11, 1902. Page 9.
After Paul returned to Dayton in 1903, a visitor noted that an Indian blanket was on display in his home. Some of Paul's Western souvenirs are still on exhibit today at the Dunbar House.
The entire house was artistic in its appointments, and reflected everywhere the spirit of its master. The walls were lined with book-shelves. Dainty bits of bric-a-brac showed the poet to be a connoisseur in other fields than that of literature. A couch piled high with sofa pillows, afforded a cozy place for the poet to rest when tired of writing or of guests, and an Indian blanket rug in bright crimson gave the dignified room its needed bit of vivacious coloring.
The Life and Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar, by Lida Keck Wiggins. J. L. Nichols & Company (Naperville, Illinois). 1907. Pages 107 - 108.