Roy Romer’s papers find a home at the university he helped create
Former Colorado governor donates decades of public service records to MSU Denver as part of new partnership supporting future policymakers.
More than 60 years after helping establish Metropolitan State University of Denver, former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer is ensuring that future generations of students can study the history he helped shape.
Romer will donate his gubernatorial papers to MSU Denver’s archives as part of a new partnership between the University and the newly renamed Romer Institute of Evidence-based Policy. The extensive collection chronicles Romer’s 12 years as governor. His career spans decades in public service — from his years in the Colorado Legislature and three terms as governor to his leadership of the Los Angeles Unified School District and national education reform efforts.
The donation gives students, faculty members and researchers direct access to original records documenting some of the most consequential public policy decisions in modern Colorado history. University leaders say the archive will strengthen undergraduate research opportunities while reinforcing MSU Denver’s identity as a hub for public service and civic leadership.
“We literally would not exist as a university if it were not for the determination and tenacity of Roy Romer,” said MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. “Roy Romer’s belief in expanding access to education helped make MSU Denver possible 60 years ago, and his commitment to public service and pragmatic leadership continues to reflect the values of our university today.”
A $2 million legacy gift from the Romer family will support the Romer Institute’s long-term mission and the integration of the Romer papers into MSU Denver’s archives.
For MSU Denver, the archival donation carries deep historical significance. As a young Colorado legislator in the early 1960s, Romer chaired the task force that recommended creating MSU Denver, then Metro State College, and later guided its appropriations bill through the Colorado Senate. His advocacy helped lay the foundation for what would become one of Colorado’s largest and most diverse public universities.
The collection is expected to attract scholars and support hands-on student research across disciplines including Political Science, History, Criminal Justice, Sociology and Anthropology, among others. Students involved with MSU Denver’s Institute for Public Service will be able to engage with the materials through coursework, research projects and experiential learning initiatives.
MSU Denver Provost Matthew Makley, Ph.D., said the partnership positions students to better understand the real-world challenges facing public leaders.
“This partnership will help prepare the next generation of Colorado leaders, public servants and policymakers to confront the increasingly complex challenges facing our state and nation — from water scarcity and rapid population growth to political polarization, public trust and economic inequality,” Makley said.
The Romer Institute and the University also plan to cohost public policy events on campus, including a speaker series and ballot measure forums, while exploring collaborative curriculum development and research opportunities.
Romer, who served as Colorado governor from 1987 to 1999, has long emphasized education as the foundation of public opportunity. His administration focused on economic development, environmental stewardship and bipartisan coalition-building, while his post-governorship work included leading one of the nation’s largest public school systems in Los Angeles.
“I still believe education is the key to the good life,” Romer said. “There are so many people who have not yet had that opportunity. That’s why I’ll be working on educational opportunity for the rest of my life.”
