Kathrine Thomson

Kathrine Thomson and Linda L. Tremblay Award of Excellence

Under Kathrine Thomson’s leadership as a Board member, our organization has grown exponentially in its programming and interpretation of the history of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, making it more accessible to a wider and diverse audience. As a member of the Steelworks Board for a decade, Kathrine has made a successful impact on our organization, one project of which to note is her work with a committee to designate the former CF&I Administration complex a National Historic Landmark through the National Parks Service. Other lasting impacts include oversight and involvement in fundraising efforts large and small, ensuring our financial stability and growth. She is a constant support to our staff providing introductions within the community, advice and guidance when necessary in our marketing efforts and planning and leads a group of teachers to develop curriculum used within our education programs. With her intense knowledge of Pueblo history, she brings contextual information to our exhibit planning not available through other sources.

During her time on the Board, the organization has successfully installed two traveling exhibit on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and eleven other temporary exhibits created by materials from our collection. Two books, Mining Towns of Southern Colorado and Colorado Fuel and Iron Company were published through Arcadia Publishing, and the Mine Rescue Car Number One was named as one of Colorado’s Most Significant Artifacts voted on by the People of Colorado. 

Teachers are arguably the most important members of our society. Kathrine, a long-time history teacher in District 60, year after year gives her students purpose, sets them up to become productive citizens of our world, and inspires in them to do well and succeed in life. With a classroom environment built on mutual respect between educator and student, she is able to acclimate students to college level courses with ease, due to her straightforward style about expectations and preparation. She uses local history to demonstrate global concepts, which in turn, allows her students to think critically about their own history and surroundings.

Several former students still communicate with her years after they graduate and establish their careers, proving her ability to make indelible impact on their lives. Through her work in the classroom and out, Kathrine is an excellent example that teachers serve to make a child ready for their future. 

For many years, Kathrine has been active in the community including sponsoring school clubs and extra-curricular school activities, supervising groups of students that work to preserve archival materials that document Pueblo’s past, and she recently served on the committee to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of woman’s suffrage.

Congratulations Kathrine on all you do for the community and thank you for all you do for the Steelworks Center of the West!