Mary Eleanor Fry Collection

Mary Eleanor Fry, better known as Eleanor Fry, was a career newspaper journalist who was a native of Spearville, Kansas. She spent the bulk of her life in Colorado where she worked for several newspapers. She became known as a historian who focused much of her attention on southeastern Colorado.

Eleanor Fry was born in Spearville, Kansas on 09-07-1921. Her parents were Horace L. and Agnes Swartley Fry. Horace Fry was the longtime editor and publisher of the local weekly newspaper. He became known on a statewide and regional basis among his industry peers. Eleanor grew up in the newspaper business, found it worthwhile, and remained a journalist for her entire life.

Eleanor Fry was the oldest of three daughters. Her sisters’ names were Kathryn and Helen Lou. Eleanor graduated from Spearville High School in 1939, from Dodge City Junior College in 1941, and from the University of Kansas in 1943. Her first jobs included newspapers in Kansas, New Mexico, and Wyoming. She returned to Spearville in the late 1940s to assist her father due to the decline of his health.

Fry became editor of the Salida Colorado Mountain Mail newspaper and maintained this position for about 6 years before moving to Denver to write for one of the papers there. In 1970 she moved to Pueblo, Colorado to work for the Chieftan, their daily newspaper. She remained with the Chieftan until 1982, when she retired. She had worked her way to the Colorado State Editor position, established many contacts, and became known as a reliable source of historical information about southeastern Colorado and the southern Rocky Mountains.

Over the course of her long career she researched and wrote over 250 feature articles. She served for 3 years as President of the Pueblo County Historical Society and founded the Pueblo Lore magazine, which focused on local and regional historical topics. She also found time to write a book dedicated to the centennial celebration of her hometown, Spearville, where her father had been the newspaper editor for 30 plus years.

Eleanor Fry died on 11-28-2015. She was survived by her youngest sister Helen Lou, several nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins. Her ashes were interred at the Pueblo Ascension Church Columbarium in Pueblo, Colorado.