The Authors

Patricia K.A. Fletcher is a graduate of Aurora, Colorado High School. She has a BA in History and an MA in Geography from the University of Northern Colorado. She taught at several regional colleges; among them Douglas Regional College in British Columbia and Arizona Western College in Yuma, AZ. She coauthored with her husband several articles on the Spanish American War in the Pacific and three local history books on Colorado: Colorado's Cowtown -- Part of Denver's Forgotten Past 1981; The Historic Windsor Farm 1982; The [Official] History of Glendale, Colorado 1983.

In 1986 she sent her first letter of inquiry about the Cherokee Trail. The next thirteen years were spent researching and traveling over the trail, two of those identifying, locating, and documenting the significant sites and segments. She coauthored an article on the Cherokee Trail in the Overland Journal. Patricia is a member of Oregon California Trails Association (OCTA), NorthWest OCTA, Charter member of the Washington Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Association.  She is also a member of the Santa Fe Trail Association. As an ardent birder Pat is a past President of the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society.

Jack Earl Fletcher grew up on Cherry Creek and the Cherokee Trail east of Denver. After graduation from high school in Aurora, he graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins with a B.S. in Wildlife Management. He received his Masters in Biological Sciences and Doctorate in Botany and Science Education from the University of Northern Colorado. He taught at the University of Guam, University of No. Colorado, University of British Columbia and Eastern Washington University.

He has coauthored with his wife three books on Colorado regional history, and several articles on Micronesia. Jack is a member of Oregon California Trails Association (OCTA), NorthWest OCTA, Charter member of the Washington Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Association, and life member of Sons of the American Revolution.  He is also a member of the Santa Fe Trail Association. He is an ardent birder and bird bander.