Introducing the Ross-Phyllis Bigpond Branch Library
On March 7, the Barnum Community Committee met to discuss the highest-scored nomination and vote on a final recommendation. In a nearly unanimous vote of approval, the committee put forward the name Phyllis Bigpond. This recommendation advanced to the Denver Public Library Commission, who officially approved the new name on April 17. We are excited to announce that following its renovations, the branch will reopen with the new name of Ross-Phyllis Bigpond!
Phyllis J. Bigpond was a member of the Yuchi Tribe of Oklahoma who devoted her life to advancing the wellbeing of American Indian families and children through four decades of advocacy, leadership, and service. Her influential work impacted Native communities throughout Oklahoma, Arizona, and Colorado– leaving a lasting legacy of positive change.
Bigpond is the founder and Executive Director of the Denver Indian Family Resource Center (DIFRC). Under her leadership, the center developed culturally responsive services aligned with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), focusing on prevention, support, and advocacy for families involved in the child welfare system. The center's reach has been remarkable—providing case management services to more than 1,500 families and 2,400 children since its founding. You can read a full biography about Miss Bigpond here.
Have questions about the renaming process? Please feel free to reach out to community@denverlibrary.org.
Name Recommendation Survey
A community survey was open in Winter 2024. All of the name recommendations will be researched and vetted through DPL’s Special Collections & Archives Team. The Community Committee convened in March 2025 to discuss and vote on name submissions. The final branch name will be presented to the Library Commission for approval at its Commission Meeting in June 2025. Please check back for updates!
If you have any questions regarding the naming process or community engagement strategy, please reach out to DPL’s Community Engagement Manager, Victoria Nava-Watson, at vnavawatson@denverlibrary.org or 720-810-6619.
Naming After a Historical Figure
The Denver Public Library is renaming only the Barnum half of the branch. The Ross half will remain. Below are criteria to help guide your name recommendation. This criteria was created by a community committee representing diverse voices in the Barnum neighborhood.
- Person must be deceased.
- Special consideration for indigenous people, women, and other marginalized groups.
- Special consideration is given to individuals who have made a significant, positive contribution to the Barnum community.
- The person’s legacy should reflect shared community values in education, advancing literacy, youth development, and social justice.
- “Barnum” name will not be considered due to DPL’s research findings.
Name Recommendations to Consider
There have been many leaders in and around Barnum who have positively impacted the community. The Library has researched these names for the community to consider recommending:
- Delores Big Boy - Delores Big Boy, a Lakota woman known for her compassion and generosity, inspired The Delores Project, a shelter dedicated to providing dignity, comfort, and hospitality to those experiencing homelessness, carrying forward her legacy of care and community.
- Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Jones - Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Jones, the first African-American woman to graduate from the University of Colorado, overcame systemic racism and discrimination throughout her life, leaving a lasting legacy as an educator and a trailblazer for future generations.
- Magdalena Gallegos - Magdalena Gallegos, a lifelong advocate for her Auraria community and a passionate historian, preserved the stories of Denver’s marginalized voices through her writings, activism, and dedication to social justice.
- Nell Thompson - Nell Thompson, a dedicated community leader and advocate, left a lasting legacy in Southwest Denver through her leadership in civic organizations, efforts to improve local amenities, and tireless commitment to enhancing the Barnum neighborhood.
- Phyllis Bigpond - Phyllis Bigpond, a renowned advocate and founding Executive Director of the Denver Indian Family Resource Center, dedicated her 40-year career to improving the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native families, leaving a lasting legacy in child welfare and community support.
- Sam Sandos - Sam Sandos, a decorated war veteran, trailblazing Denver City Council member, and lifelong advocate for Westside youth, dedicated his life to fostering community unity, advancing Hispanic representation, and establishing key institutions for education and healthcare.
Background
Between February-August 2023, Denver Public Library (DPL) launched a comprehensive community engagement effort to explore the renaming of the Ross-Barnum Branch Library. This exploration process was launched after research findings revealed that P.T. Barnum (the Barnum half of the branch name) had a troubled past that did not align with the Library’s values. Learn more about DPL’s research findings on P.T. Barnum here.
The exploration process revealed that 65% of community members who engaged in DPL’s renaming survey were in favor of renaming the branch. These findings and other data points were presented to DPL’s Library Commission on August 17, 2023. Based on this data and subsequent findings, the Commission unanimously approved an official renaming of the Ross-Barnum library branch. Learn more about the Barnum Renaming Exploration Process here.
Branch Renaming Process
DPL’s research did not reveal anything problematic about the Ross half of the branch name, which refers to Frederick Ross, a Denver real estate investor and former library commissioner (1906).
As part of the branch renaming process, a Community Committee was formed in partnership with Councilwoman Jamie Torres (District 3) and Library Commissioners Jennifer Wolf and Sean Montoya. The committee is composed of Barnum residents, community partners and leaders, and DPL employees. The Community Committee is guiding this process and created the criteria for renaming the branch based on the Denver Public Library’s mission, vision, and values and in alignment with the library’s approved recognition policy.