Anne Evans was the sister of William Gray Evans and daughter of Colorado’s territorial governor, John Evans. She never married but became quite devoted to philanthropy and her family. She was the vice president and the director of the Evans Investment Company. The company managed the Evans’ family’s real estate, railroad and other assets.

Art was one of her passions, studying at the Willard School in Berlin and the Art Students League in New York City. She was one of the founding members of the Denver Artist’s Club and was instrumental in bringing many pieces of art to the now Denver Art Museum. She held a special interest in Native Americans, after her father’s involvement in the Sand Creek Massacre. Thus, she created the first separate collection of Native American Art in the Denver Art Museum. Mayor Robert Speer appointed Evans to the Denver Art Commission and the Denver Public Library Commission, where she organized the Western History Collection. She also co-founded the Central City Opera Association. Anne Evans was the perpetual force that brought and maintained Denver’s cultural affairs.