Stroud Family Colorado
From Out of Africa to the Trail of Tears and the Colorado Migration
The Stroud Family, circa 1929, Colorado Springs
This website chronicles the inspiring and historic achievements of the pioneering Stroud family — from African slavery through Native American heritage to Colorado settlement. Created by Frank Shines, great-grandson of K.D. and Lulu Stroud, it preserves the extraordinary story of a family that rose from bondage to shape American history.
The Stroud family journey spans continents and centuries: from the shores of West Africa, through the plantations of Texas, along the Trail of Tears, to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and beyond.
A Legacy Through the Centuries
Key moments in the Stroud family journey from bondage to triumph.
Ancestors endure slavery on Texas plantations
Trail of Tears intertwines African & Native American heritage
K.D. Stroud leads family migration to Colorado Springs
Dolphus Stroud becomes Olympic hopeful, earns Phi Beta Kappa
Nina Stroud Pellerin becomes first certified Black teacher in Colorado Springs
Jack Stroud engineers Apollo moon missions
Joseph Stroud, telecom tycoon & philanthropist, passes
Forthcoming: Slave House to White House by Frank Shines
Pioneers & Trailblazers
K.D. Stroud
Patriarch & Reverend
Born on a Texas plantation, K.D. Stroud rose from the bonds of slavery to become a respected reverend and community leader. He led his family on the great migration to Colorado Springs in 1910, establishing a legacy of faith, resilience, and service that would endure for generations.
Lulu Magee Stroud
Matriarch
The steadfast matriarch of the Stroud family, Lulu Magee Stroud was the cornerstone of strength and unity. Her Native American heritage wove a rich cultural tapestry into the family identity, and her nurturing spirit held the family together through decades of challenge and triumph.
Dolphus Stroud
1928 Olympic Hopeful & Scholar
A remarkable athlete and intellectual, Dolphus Stroud was a 1928 Olympic hopeful and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Colorado College. His dual excellence in athletics and academics broke barriers and inspired a community during an era of segregation.
Effie Stroud Frazier
First African/Native American Sachs Scholar
Effie Stroud Frazier made history as the first African- and Native-American Sachs Scholar at Colorado College, pioneering academic excellence and opening doors for generations of minority scholars who followed.
Jack Stroud
Apollo Missions Engineer
Jack Stroud contributed to one of humanity’s greatest achievements as an engineer on the Apollo space missions. His technical brilliance helped put astronauts on the moon, proving that the Stroud family’s reach extended from the cotton fields to the stars.
Nina Stroud Pellerin
First Certified Black Teacher in Colorado Springs (1954)
Nina Stroud Pellerin broke the color barrier in education, becoming the first certified Black teacher in Colorado Springs in 1954, the same year as the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Her dedication to teaching shaped countless young minds.
Family Projects
Running to Harvard Documentary
A documentary chronicling the remarkable athletic and academic journey of Dolphus Stroud, from Olympic aspirations to Phi Beta Kappa honors at Colorado College.
RACE the Opera
An operatic production by Dolphus Stroud that explores themes of race, identity, and triumph in America through the powerful medium of musical theater.
Stroud Leadership Academy
An educational initiative dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders, inspired by the Stroud family’s century-long tradition of excellence in education and service.
Stroud Scholars Program
A scholarship program honoring the academic legacy of Effie Stroud Frazier and other family scholars, providing educational opportunities to deserving students.
Family Publications
A Taste of Life
by Juanita Stroud Martin
A memoir capturing the flavors, traditions, and stories of the Stroud family through generations of recipes and remembrances.
Let In But Left Out
by Frank Shines
An exploration of the African-American experience of inclusion and exclusion in American society, written by Stroud family descendant Frank Shines.
Slave House to White House
by Frank Shines
Forthcoming in 2026, this book traces the Stroud family’s incredible journey from the slave quarters of Texas to the corridors of American power and achievement.
Share the Stroud Story
Connect with us to learn more about the Stroud family history and how you can be part of preserving this legacy.