Jan MacKell Collins
School
Saddleback Community College, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
Expertise
Western History, Women's History With An Emphasis On The Prostitution Industry
- Jan has authored and co-authored seventeen books with University of New Mexico Press, Arcadia Publishing, The History Press and Globe Pequot Publishing. She has done numerous programs, television appearances, and radio interviews in Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico and Oregon. In 2015, she appeared on TruTV's "Adam Ruins Everything" as a "history expert" on the subject of historical prostitution.
- Jan has also written thousands of articles for True West Magazine, Backwoods Magazine, Colorado Central Magazine, The Frontier Gazette, Legends Magazine, The Colorado Gambler's history section, Backwoods Home Magazine, Grunge, and more.
- She also has experience in media, producing, researching and writing Voices of Cripple Creek, Phenix Rising: Historic Buildings of Cripple Creek, The Timeless Art of Gold Extraction, and an upcoming series for television.
Experience
Jan has enjoyed working in the history field for over thirty years. It has been her immense pleasure to bring madams and prostitutes of the past to the forefront as women who contributed heavily to the formation of the frontier west. She is a former Historic Preservation Commissioner for the City of Cripple Creek, Colorado, and former Director of the Cripple Creek District Museum and Old Homestead Parlor House Museum. Currently she is a member of the Historic Preservation committee for the City of Powers, Oregon and has maintained social media sites for Sharlot Hall Museum in Arizona and the Lowell Thomas Museum in Victor, Colorado. Jan also owned and operated the Cripple Creek Music Company, as an agent for both musicians and the public houses where they played. Jan enjoys working with independent researchers, museums, libraries, government entities, and other institutions to discover, interpret and share the history of the American West.
Education
At Saddleback Community College, Jan studied English and Journalism before moving to Colorado Springs, where she attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to study Mass Communications. She has also studied independently with professors within her field to hone her non-fiction and creative writing skills, as well as her expertise in history.
The unique content on Grunge is a result of skilled collaboration between writers and editors with a broad array of expertise in everything from history to classic Hollywood to true crime. Our goal is to provide accurate and diverse content bolstered by expert input.
Focused on accuracy and ethical coverage, the Grunge editorial team consistently fact-checks and reviews site content to provide readers with an informative, entertaining, and engaging experience. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
Stories By Jan MacKell Collins
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Lost treasures. Unsolved murders. Disappearances. These stories continue to intrigue lovers of the Old West. Despite today's technology, many still remain open.
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During the 1800s, gambling in the Wild West was quite different from today, with both rudimentary set-ups and luxury alike. Many games were similar to today's.
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There's a lot about Gilligan and his fellow castaways that you won't learn by just watching the show. Here's things you get wrong about Gilligan's Island.
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If ever there was a wild mountain man in the wilderness of the 1800's, it was James Pierson Beckwourth. Here is his wild untold truth.
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Tough. Determined. Adventurous. These are some of the words used to describe the mountain men. Here's what it was really like being a mountain man in the 1800s.
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The madams who ruled during the 1800s and early 1900s were more than just sex workers. They were actually businesswomen who contributed to their communities.
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The feud between Van Halen lead singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar has gone on forever. Here's a rundown of the Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth feud.
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Not every Mouseketeer retained their cherubic image after leaving The Mickey Mouse Club. Here are tragic details about the original Mickey Mouse Club cast.
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The mystique of the Orient Express has been tantalizing travelers since 1883. Read on for an enjoyable trip along the history of this magnificent train.
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Christmas traditions in America follow many of the same customs of well over a century ago. But what about celebrating the yuletide season in the old Wild West?
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In the Wild West, barbers were an important hub for news, trusted advice, and cleanliness. Here's why barbers were some of the most important people.
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Even though Allen Pinkerton formed the legendary Pinkerton's Detective Agency in 1850, unsolved robberies and murders remained a problem in the American West.
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As an American folk hero, Molly Brown has become larger than life. But she was a fascinating woman. This is the untold truth of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
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The story of Baby Doe Tabor isn't your typical rags-to-riches-to-rags Wild West story. This is the tragic and scandalous story of 'Baby Doe' Tabor.
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What are the origins of these Halloween urban legends? This is the history of Ouija boards, jack-o'-lanterns, and Halloween campus killers.
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The stars of Old Hollywood dealt with alcoholism, erratic behavior, and sometimes, a bad end. Here are tragic stories about Old Hollywood's legendary actresses.
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Living in the Wild West wasn't easy, but doctors did their best to save their patients. Here's what life was like for doctors in the Wild West.
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Stevie Nicks, legendary solo artist and member of the rock group Fleetwood Mac, has lived hard in her five-decade career.
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Tragically, feuds and shifting careers have led Simon & Garfunkel to reunite and break up many times over.
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With many aspiring stars passing away in Tinseltown over the last century, many Hollywood landmarks are now known to be haunted by their spirits.
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Mount Vernon is the former home and plantation of the first President of the United States George Washington, located in Virginia.
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The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 burned for three days. Legend says it began in a Mrs. O'Leary's barn when her cow kicked over a lamp.
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I Love Lucy is one of the most beloved TV shows in history, but the fame came at a cost for the actors. Here are some tragic details about the I Love Lucy cast.
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Sonny and Cher brought love, laughter, and light to people. But fans would also languish over Sonny and Cher as their public life included much tragedy.
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Like most famous bands, Kansas has seen a few ups and downs, and there's some interesting trivia about them. Here's what most fans don't know about Kansas.
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The 1960s was truly an era of change and new "inventions" to buy. Here are some things Americans in the 1960s couldn't live without.
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History buffs love museums. And if you believe in ghosts, museums find themselves housing some restless spirits. Here are some creepy tales of haunted museums.