The City of Greeley Museums’ staff announces the renaming of the Greeley History Museum’s main gallery to the Peggy Ford Waldo Gallery in honor of the late historian. Museum staff and Ford Waldo’s family participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a private reception held on April 12 to formally rededicate the gallery.
Peggy Waldo Ford
In the Peggy Ford Waldo Gallery, visitors explore the history of Greeley, including the formation of the Union Colony, the area’s agricultural heritage, water usage, and expansion over time. Ford Waldo spent countless hours researching and writing text for this exhibit and many others.
“Peggy’s thirst for knowledge and her devotion to her community were inspirational,” said Sarah Saxe, museums manager. “She certainly made a lasting influence on my life and career, and I’m sure that is true for everyone who attended the reception. We hope that by renaming the gallery, Peggy’s immense contributions to Greeley will be recognized and that her legacy will live on.”
Ford Waldo began her 41 years of service to the City of Greeley Museums in 1979, holding various positions throughout her tenure, including research and education coordinator, programming curator, and development curator. She generously shared her knowledge with genealogists, writers, historians, and students of all ages, compiling, organizing, and making accessible Greeley Museums’ extensive archival collection.
Ford Waldo regularly contributed to local publications and collaborated on works such as “The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra: A Century of Musical Magic,” “Weld County: 4,000 Square Miles of Grandeur, Greatness & Yesterdays,” and her last book, “Bears in the Backyard: The Story of Greeley’s University District.” Ford Waldo twice received the Josephine H. Miles Award for excellence in history, presented by History Colorado.