The Matron of the Home – a role typically filled by the wife of the superintendent – was many things, from administrative assistant, to social worker, to supervisor of some Home staff. The title was changed around the 1960s to Administrative Assistant.
The first Matron at the Union Printers Home was Eva M. Miller Schuman (1862 – 1945), wife of Superintendent W.C. Schuman, who served in the role from 1892 – 1896. Unfortunately, due to poor historic documentation of women, we know very little else about her. She was born and raised in the midwest (Illinois and Indiana), and it was in Terre Haute, IN, where she married Mr. Schuman only a year before coming to Colorado Springs to work at the Home. Following their stint at the Home, the Schumans moved to Denver, where it seems they lived the rest of their lives.
Elena “Ellie” Hinkle was born and raised in Colorado Springs and has had a passion for its history since she was very young. After completing her MLIS in Archives Management at Simmons University (Boston, MA) in 2021, she moved back to Colorado Springs in hopes of finding work in a local history institution. Little did she know that her dream job was awaiting her – and a few months later, she became the Director of History & Archives at the Union Printers’ Home! Ellie managed much of the initial cleanout and preservation of the artifacts found in the buildings on the property, and is now working to preserve and make available to the public the rich and fascinating history of this incredible property and institution.