Ouray County Clerk and Recorder Michelle Nauer looks through the marriage registry, which contains a handwritten record of all marriages in Ouray County since 1877. The records room at the courthouse also holds decades of deeds and real estate records, which Nauer has worked to digitize during her tenure. She sees her role of clerk also as an archivist, helping to preserve the countyâs history and ensure that future generations can access the information. Liz Teitz â Ouray County Plaindealer
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A time of change, reflection
Michelle Nauer flips carefully through an old book, gently turning the pages and scanning the lists of handwritten names.
She points out the delicate cursive of the late 1880s, almost like calligraphy, then the printed text of the most recent entries; skimming through pages, she finds pages of her own handwriting.
The book contains a record of every marriage in the county since 1877: the name of each party, the date and the officiant. Behind her, more books line the walls of the room, detailing de...