Will C. Ferril, the Society’s first curator (and only employee at the time) spent much of his early years at the museum collecting. In 1898 he wrote a letter to Brigadier General Irving Hale and Colonel Henry B. McCoy, of the 1st Colorado U.S. Volunteers. Both were in the Philippines leading a war against Spanish "insurgents." Ferril informed them that he was granted permission by U.S. Secretary of War, R. A. Alger to ask army commanders in Manila to collect "war relics" for the Colorado Historical and Natural History Society. In his letter Alger also offers "to ship free of cost on some returning Government transport two tons of relics from Manila, P.I. to San Francisco." (The Society would pay for shipping from California to Denver at $40 per ton, first class.) Ferril explained that he wanted a "Manila Collection" to display in the rooms of the State Capitol, which would prominently feature the 1st Colorado U.S. Volunteers. He requested items such as "flags, guns, swords, bullets, shells, plates, knives, cups, hats, or clothing with bullet holes."

Although we do not have letters from Hale or McCoy, it is quite apparent from the collection records that Ferril’s letter was successful. Spanish-American War artifacts began flowing into the capitol in 1899. Donations range from 1,000 lb. naval projectiles to uniforms and betel nuts. In all, Ferril acquired several hundred new artifacts for his "Manila Collection" and enlarged the collections of the Colorado Historical Society.