Contributing Writers

Indian Genealogical Research at New Mexico State Archives

The New Mexico State Archives contain valuable sources to conduct Indian family history research in New Mexico. There are many reasons why one would trace her or his Indian ancestry. One is to simply explore one’s ancestry, family history, and identity. Another reason may relate to belonging to a contemporary Native American community. Other reasons become more complicated because the histories of American Indian peoples of New Mexico have been profoundly influenced by Spanish colonialism, Mexican nationalism, and U.S. legal control.

Under the Spanish system, all people were part of a large caste system which stratified people into racial, political, and economic categories. The Mexican system attempted to abolish racial identity, at least on the surface, by not permitting officials to label people by race. Lastly, the U.S. system is based on federal recognition of a tribe and on blood-quantum, by which tribal membership is determined by percentage of Indian ancestry of parents. For these reasons the study of Indian genealogy and identity is highly subjective. The outcome is influenced and determined by the official construction and application of race, one’s personal racial and cultural identity, family and oral tradition, by whom and when boundaries were drawn, requirements for federal recognition, and tribal membership requirements. Each tribe has its own enrollment criteria, and, based on the tribes determination, one can approach the federal government to receive a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), which may entitle a person to receive federal benefits. In general, the more generations one is removed from a recognized tribal member and disconnected from tribal culture and society the less likely one is to qualify for tribal membership.

Many Hispanic people in New Mexico, as in the rest of the Latin American world, have some degree of Indian ancestry. This is a result of hundreds of years of mixing which was a process called mestizaje. This is particularly visible in the 1700s and early 1800s where people were identified as being Mestizo(½ Indian and ½ Spanish), Coyote and Lobo ( ¾ Indian and ¼ Spanish or some other admixture), or Genizaro (full Indian acculturated into Hispanic society) and Mulato (½ Spanish and ½ African.). Below is an extraction of a page from an Albuquerque baptismal registry that illustrates this identification. The cast system was also subjective. Many times the person’s tribe was not listed or the document trail ends due to social status and illegitimacy where a person is listed just as “indio” and no parent’s names nor surnames given.

Many New Mexican Hispanics have family oral tradition that one or the other grandparent was Indian. After doing genealogical research many have found this to be true but often the ancestor listed as Mestizo or Indian was further back in time than anticipated. And to the surprise of others who claim a pure Spanish ancestry, Indian ancestors are sometimes discovered. In most cases the connection to an Indian ancestor took place several generations ago, therefore, the researcher may not be able to claim Indian “tribal” membership. For a study on Spanish/Indian genealogy see article “Some Hispanic Families Trace to Indian Lineage,” Sisneros, Samuel, La Herencia del Norte, Winter, 2003.

To trace Indian ancestry one must research both contemporary and historical sources including federal, state, tribal and church documents.

Investigating New Mexican Indian Ancestry
The following are suggested steps for researching Indian ancestry within New Mexican cultural groups such as Pueblo, Navajo, Apache, Hispanic, and mixed Indian/non-Indian heritage:

1. Interview the elders in your family and find out names of grandparents and great grandparents. Pay close attention to dates when and where they were born, married and died. If possible visit the graveyards were your family was buried.

2. Chart the generations and keep track of siblings of ancestors. Historical documentation may be lost of a particular ancestor but not necessarily of an ancestor’s siblings.

3. It is important not to skip a generation but rather establish a clear documented link from one generation to the next going backward in time. It is also important to remember that we are the sum of all our ancestors both maternal and paternal. Tracing paternal ancestral does not give one the full picture.

4. If relatives are enrolled in a tribe or living within a reservation it may be possible to request to look at the tribal records. Access to most tribal records are restricted to tribal members.

5. Begin researching at an archive or genealogical research center such as the Special Collection Library (Abq.), National Hispanic Cultural Center (Abq.), local LDS Family History Center, and the State Records Center and Archives (Santa Fe).

Resources

1. Microfilm of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Census Rolls (1885-1940)
The Southwest Collection of the State library has 70 microfilm reels of BIA censuses taken of tribes in New Mexico. The data on the rolls vary to some extent, but the information usually given is names of the person (English and or Indian), roll number, age or date of birth, sex, and relationship to head of family. Beginning in 1930, the rolls also show the degree of Indian blood. Only persons who maintained a formal affiliation with a tribe under federal supervision are listed on these census rolls.

(Scan of facsimile from BIA Indian Census, Eastern Navajo 1934, NARA Microfilm, M 595:103, Southwest Collection, State Library)

2. U.S., Mexican and Spanish Censuses
The U.S. census sometimes noted the blood-quantum for someone listed as living in a reservation but most of the time listed only their residency in a town or village and noted race as Indian. If an Indian lived out side of the reservation their race was usually noted as being White or Mexican. The Spanish and Mexican Censuses often listed a person’s racial identity - Spanish, Mulato, Mestizo or Indian. Studying the censuses also helps establish generational links, ages, family relationships, places of origin and places the persons were residing during time census was taken.

(Digital scan from original document, 1860 Census, Santa Clara Pueblo, Rio Arriba County. U.S. Census Office, New Mexico Records, New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. Also on Microfilm.)

(Digital scan of first page from the 1790 Spanish census, La Alcadía de San Phelipe de Alburquerque, SANM II, 1092b, State Archives. Available on microfilm. Notice that members in households 10 through 23 are listed as Mestizos and one person is listed as Genizaro)

3. Microfilm of the Archives of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Baptismal and marriage records, especially in the 1700s and early 1800s, will indicate whether or not a person is Indian and sometimes will note the tribe. Many of these records have been extracted and published in printed form.

The following is a translated exerpt from a page of the baptismal record book of San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was recorded inthe year 1744. (Archives of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Roll 1, Frame 0337). Note how all four entries represent the caste system in New Mexico:

Joseph Indian	In the village of San Felipe de Alburquerque. On the twenty- sixth day of the month of August, the year seventeen forty-four. I solemnly baptized and administered the holy oils to Joseph, Indian. Son of unknown parents, the godparents were Joseph Griego and Manuela Griego. Father Juan Joseph de Oronzono.
Luíz Spanish	In the village of San Felipe de Alburquerque. On the twenty- eighth day of the month of August, the year seventeen forty-four. I solemnly baptized and administered the holy oils to Luiz Joachin. Legitimate son of Bernardo Ballejo and Francisca Silva, the godparents were Joseph Gallegos and Maria Silva. Father Juan Joseph de Oronzono.
Bartolome Mulato	In the village of San Felipe de Alburquerque. On the twenty- nine day of the month of August, the year seventeen forty-four. I solemnly baptized and administered the holy oils to Bartolome, Mulato. Legitimate son of Marcial Rael and Isabel Sedillo, the godfather was Juan Manuel Sandoval. Father Juan Joseph de Oronzono.
Agustina Meztisa	In the village of San Felipe de Alburquerque. On the six day of the month of September, the year seventeen forty-four. I solemnly baptized and administered the holy oils to Agustina, Meztisa. Legitimate son of Matheo Gutierrez and María de Guadalupe, the godparents were Pedro de la Candelaria and Ignes Gutierrez. Father Juan Joseph de Oronzono.

4. Library and Archive materials such as books, bibliographies and newspaper, manuscript, and
photograph collections. (See pathfinder- Native American Manuscript and Photograph Resources at the State Archives information desk and on-line at http://www.nmcpr.state.nm/archives/native- americans.htm )

( See also New Mexico Genealogist, Special issue-Honoring our Native American Heritage,
Vol. 44, No. 4, December 2005.)

DNA testing
This method of ancestry research is controversial and is opposed by many tribes as a basis for determining Indian identity and as admittance into a tribe or expulsion out of one. On the other hand it has been useful for federal recognition by some tribes and if used properly can be an additional tool to determine Indian ancestry. DNA testing has limitations. Test results can only approximate a place of origin (haplogroup) such as Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The latter which is the location of origin for Indian ancestry (thousands of years ago) can be broken down into three regions in the U.S. The test can place your distant ancestor in one of these three regions, but it can not tell what tribe she or he belonged to.

Also, DNA testing can only trace the paternal, paternal lineage (father’s father’s father and back) and also the maternal, maternal, lines (mothers’ mother’s mother and back). It can not trace your other lines such as your father’s mother or mother’s father. A woman can not be tested for paternal ancestry. A maternal uncle would have to take the test.

DNA testing as a tool in genealogical research is becoming popular. An on-going study (Hispanic and Geographic DNA Project) administered by Angel Cervantes, has taken DNA samples from over fifty New Mexicans whom identify themselves as native New Mexican Hispanics. The results are consistent with historical documentation and academic studies of race in New Mexico. Results from the project reveal that for those who participated (approximately 60 people) the majority of the paternal DNA were European or Middle Eastern with a couple being of American Indian origins. The maternal DNA results concluded that 76% belonged to American Indian haplogroups. In almost equal proportions they were from the three American regions. These being Athabascan (Sub-Asian/Alaskan – Navajos and Apaches) or Anasazi (Southwest U.S., Central and Northern Mexico- Pueblo) or Northeast (U.S. and Canada). DNA testing is not conclusive and should only be used as supportive documentation.

Indian genealogical research is a rewarding endeavor. Whether investigating to understand family history, prove tribal membership, or link to an Indian ancestor, the State Archives provide sources that are valuable to anyone researching Indian ancestry and identity.

Links to web sites for additional information:

Certificate of Indian Blood http://cita.chattanooga.org/bia/cdibfedreg.htm

Indian identity and tribal membership http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0192524.html , http://www.lapahie.com/Dine_Census_right.cfm , http://www.abanet.org/genpractice/compleat/f95identity.html .

DNA testing: http://www.genetree.com/product/native-american-test.asp , http://www.familytreedna.com/

DNA and Native American perspectives: ttp://www.williams.edu/go/native/tallbear_bolnick%20_dna.pdf

Samuel Sisneros

National Association of Secretaries of State Summer Conference

For the past several years, the Commission of Public Records has participated in the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). The organization, which is “the oldest professional, nonpartisan organization of public officials in the United States,” provides a means of communication on such important subjects as voting, notaries public, and administrative rules. The Association was founded in 1904 and opens its membership to anyone working in the above-mentioned subject areas be they in the federal government, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.

In particular, the Administrative Law Division (ALD) has been involved with the Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR) section of NASS. An excerpt from the ACR abstract that describes the section’s purpose and function reads as follows:

In addition to the conferences, ACR maintains two ListServ groups (special e-mail services) through which members can communicate with other members of the organization who have registered for the service. One group is dedicated to administrative codes and registers and the other to substantive rule review. These groups enable the members to discuss how specific situations are handled by different governments. The groups provide a wonderful opportunity whereby valuable information can be shared between the members throughout the year.

Once every two years, the ACR produces the State and Federal Survey, which compares the rulemaking processes, registers, and administrative codes in the states and the federal government. The survey is a valuable resource in understanding how administrative law is created, published, and organized across the nation. The survey is available from ACR for a fee.

The Commission of Public Records, specifically the ALD, has benefited from its association with NASS. In turn, the ALD has participated in NASS by attending the summer conferences for the last few years and providing four presentations for those conferences.

One of the commissioners on the Commission of Public Records has also been active in NASS for many years. The Honorable Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Secretary of State, has attended the conferences and participated in the administration of NASS for the duration of her term in office. From July of 2004 to July of 2005, she served as the president of NASS and currently continues to serve as the immediate past president. In July of 2006, Secretary Vigil-Giron will host the NASS summer conference in Santa Fe. During the conference, the ALD will present the method of New Mexico rulemaking to the ACR. More information on the conference is available at http://www.nass2006nmconf.org/.

A Year in the Life of a Grant and Scholarship Program

The New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board (NMHRAB) came into being in 1976 as a state-review body for grants submitted by repositories to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. To support more actively its mission to advocate for the preservation of and enhanced access to New Mexico’s historical records, the NMHRAB began a project grant program in 1999 and followed with a scholarship program in 2001. Since then it has awarded $372,062 in project funds to 93 repositories and made 46 scholarship awards in the amount of $32,985.

All funded projects address one or more of the following funding priorities:
1. Training Programs
2. Assessments and Surveys
3. Tribal Archival and Records Management Programs
4. Preservation of At-Risk Records
5. Reformatting and Re-Housing of Records
6. Facilitating Access to Historical Records
7. Documentary Research
8. Promotion of New Mexico History

This article is intended provide an understanding of the impact the grant project and scholarship program has had on New Mexico’s historical records. A review of the select projects and scholarships that were awarded in fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005) will be presented in conjunction with excerpts from final reports that were submitted. Awarded in September 2004, the grant period for these projects and scholarships was November 1, 2004 through October 31, 2005.

In September 2004, 17 project applicants had requested $125,783.64 in funding, while only $45,000.00 was available. Similarly, six scholarship applications were received, requesting $5,305.64 in assistance, with $3,216.86 in funds being available. Faced with a demand that far exceeded the funds available, the Board had to make difficult decisions. At the September 30, 2004 Board meeting, after hours of thoughtful deliberation the Board awarded project funds to 12 of the 17 project applicants and to four of the six scholarship applicants. Only one project applicant, the New Mexico Preservation Alliance, whose application received the highest score, was awarded the full funding amount requested - $1,630.00.

Three of the project applicants were awarded smaller amounts of funds for staff training. However, only one of these applicants, the City of Sunland Park, actually used the training funds that were awarded. During the course of the year, one applicant that had been awarded both project and scholarship funding, had to decline the award when the project director moved out of state and the agency could not find a replacement for this individual during the course of the funding cycle. Another scholarship was not utilized because the owner of a photographic collection passed away. The remaining project applicants and scholarship recipients, however, went on to tackle their projects or attend archival or records management training.

Following is a list of project and scholarship recipients, accompanied by a summary noting the type and amount of award, what was accomplished, and its impact on the historical records. Also included are extracts from submitted articles and final reports from the project directors and scholarship recipients that describe what transpired, in this “year in the life" of the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board.

Projects

City of Las Vegas
Funding Priority: Access
Award: $3,260.00
This project expanded access to the Rough Rider Memorial Collection. Donated to the City of Las Vegas by the widow of a Rough Rider, these materials document the development of a Rough Rider organization and its annual meetings. Electronic catalog records and digital images of photographs were created for nine linear feet (boxes) of materials.

Award Impact:
Linda Gegick made the following comments in the final report.
Investigation of this resource has exposed its value to genealogical history, military, regional and social scholars. The collection contains many firsthand accounts of the Cuban Campaign, such as ones by James T. Brown, Troop D.

"When we arrived at the fair grounds and were entering the gateway there was the entire regiment waiting for us. They unhooked the horse from the old Phaeton and pulled it up in front of headquarters. A large box was provided and Colonel Roosevelt was placed on it. He made a speech. I can only remember one phrase of that speech. That was viz: Men, in a few days we will be at the front and I promise you that I shall spend your lives the same as I would spend my own. Every man seemed to straighten up, throw out his chest and it was most evident that every man was saying, I’ll follow him any where and we did. Up to that time it had been a lark for nearly all of us, but from that time on we all entered into the spirit of the adventure, and were interested to learn and become a fighting soldier.

President McKinley could have had ten regiments as good as we were, but I challenge any regiment to surpass the leadership we had in Col. Roosevelt, Col. Wood, Major Brodies and Allen Cap B O’Neal and many other very fine officers.

We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the project and hope you agree. The results will set the standard for future projects involving archival materials."

Moriarty Historical Society and Museum
Funding Priority: Preservation
Award: $6,984.00
This project enhanced the preservation of 2,600 issues of original Torrance County newspapers. Copies on microfilm (an accepted archival medium that can survive for 500 years) were created for newspapers dating from 1900 to 1950 and including the Moriarty Messenger 1907-1918, the Estancia News Herald 1918-1950, the Mountainair Independent, the Willard Records and Morning News, and El Independente.

Award Impact:
Sammie Pachta stated the following in the final report.
"The project is the first step toward the Moriarty Museum’s goal to eventually house the most comprehensive local archive of historic Torrance County/Estancia Valley newspapers. Torrance County holdings (original newspapers and microfilm) were recently transferred to the museum. This material strengthens the museum’s existing collection, original newspapers received as a large private donation. Along with preservation efforts, a primary goal is to provide public access. A microfilm reader-printer will be installed on-site, enabling visitors to read and print microfiche. The database, created as a research tool to inventory collections is being expanded to include a search and retrieval capacity.

I want to thank you for all your help. Without your faith in our Museum project, we would never have gotten if off the ground."

New Mexico Preservation Alliance – New Mexico Library Association
Funding Priority: Training
Award: $1,630.00
This project, co-sponsored also by the Society of Southwest Archivists, created a local opportunity for professional preservation training. Unfortunately, training opportunities within the state are limited. The workshop was geared towards County Clerks and County Assessors who maintain large collections of architectural drawings and was free for New Mexico record-keepers.

Award Impact:
Jo Anne Martinez Kilgore noted the following in the project's final report.
"By January 4, the workshop was full. Twenty registrants were from New Mexico: affiliations included the University of New Mexico (7), Office of the State Historian, Historic Preservation Division, Department of Transportation, Albuquerque Academy, Museum of New Mexico (2), New Mexico State University, public libraries (2), county clerk, county assessor, and private practice (2). Additionally, we had 6 out of state participants: University of Texas – El Paso (2), Getty (2), Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, and Preservation Society of Newport County.

On January 13 and 14, 2005, Waverly Lowell presented the workshop. Participants were interested, stimulated, and educated. Feedback was very positive, with little, if any negative feedback.

Bringing workshops such as this, with nationally recognized professionals in the field, to the State of New Mexico is a prudent and efficient use of limited resources. We encourage the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board to continue supporting this type of education, and perhaps to organize these programs in the future."

Palace of the Governors – Fran Angelico Chavez History Library
Funding Priorities: Preservation, Access
Award: $5,000.00
This project resulted in the arrangement and description of the Los Artesanos Bookstore Collection (1940s-1990s). A total of 72 linear feet of materials were re-housed.

Award Impact:
Tomas Jaehn, in the final project report, noted the following.
"On behalf of the Palace of the Governors, I would like to thank the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board for providing the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library with funding to do these projects. I believe that public access to the Los Artisanos Bookstore Collection and the Santa Fe Fiesta Council Collection will be significant to many historians and other persons interested in New Mexico’s history."

Project Crossroads
Funding Priorities: Access, Research
Award: $1,356.00
This grant was used to conduct research, identify, and make copies of significant historical records in the collections maintained by the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. These 40 documents will be distributed as part of an on-line database that is a component of the School of American Research's Southwest Crossroads website project, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. A total of 105 documents were identified and digitized.

Award Impact:
Ann Valley-Fox stated in the final report:
"The Historical Records Grant, which Project Crossroads received from the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board for November 1, 2004 to October 31, 2005, has proved to be extremely useful in the fulfillment of our project goals.

Our project, Southwest Crossroads: Cultures and Histories of the American Southwest, is a dynamic, interactive, on-line matrix of original text documents, maps, photographs, videos and music designed to enhance the study of New Mexico history for students and teachers in our state. Working in collaboration with the School of American Research in Santa Fe, we hope to make this on-line resource available for students, educators and the general public by January, 2007."

Rio Rancho Public Library
Funding Priorities: Preservation, Access
Award: $2,269.00

This project entails microfilming and scanning a collection of one of Rio Rancho’s original newspapers, The Rio Rancho Roadrunner; preserving, microfilming and scanning two scrapbooks from the Rio Rancho Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary; as well as purchasing archival supplies. A total of 71 copies of the Rio Rancho Roadrunner and two scrapbooks were microfilmed and scanned, and archival supplies purchased.

Award Impact:
Toni Beatty stated in the final report:
"You will appreciate this: I am going around town meeting with developers and other rich folks to raise funds for our new library. It will contain a local history room in which we will house our archivally preserved and digitized local history materials. Our potential funders have been very interested when I tell them about the project we are doing with the grant you gave us. It makes us look very professional and forward thinking. So, your grant will have more impact than just preserving and digitizing our historical records. It might move some of our funders to donate to the new building as well. We need all the help we can get!"

San Juan Pueblo
Funding Priorities: Preservation
Award: $4,201.00
In an effort to identify and preserve the tribe’s historical records, a consultant was hired to conduct an assessment of the tribe’s records and to specifically identify at-risk documents. As a result of this project 4.5 linear feet of materials were arranged and re-housed.

Award Impact:
Herman Agoyo in the final report stated:
"The grant of $4,201 was awarded to Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo), to be managed by the Real Property Management Department, which holds files, maps, and records of importance to the Pueblo’s heritage.

The project began in February when Tribal Council approval was obtained to hire Willow Roberts Powers, Ph.D. and Certified Archivist Emeritus, as archival consultant to work on the project.

Work began on the extensive files and other records housed in the Realty Department. Many of these were materials obtained by a previous Realty officer, Joe Trujillo, and a researcher, Sue Ellen Jacobs, relating to land claims and land issues at San Juan Pueblo from the turn of the century. Other papers related to the original assignees of the land in the Pueblo, and to the families who have held those assigned lands ever since, including original maps. A third important segment of records related to trespass cases taken up by the BIA, also including maps. Lastly, the records of relevance included old leases, correspondence—older and more recent—on a variety of land related issues, and many maps.

A photograph album has been begun, for photos from San Juan community members. This is a small ongoing project, in which community members will be asked if they would like to put a copy of a family photograph in the album. The Wheelwright Museum, in partnership with the Pueblo, will create 2 digital copies—one for the family and one for the San Juan community photo album.

This project is considered a first stage in developing a San Juan Archives, to be further discussed and developed in future work. Willow Powers has committed to continuing to work pro bono at the Realty office, once or twice a month, to help write grants and outline the archival plans as well as maintain the processing of archival records."

University of New Mexico – University Libraries
Funding Priorities: Preservation, Access
Award: $3,871.00
A joint project of the University of New Mexico Library and the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Public Library resulted in the preservation of 105 volumes of clippings compiled by the City Clerk’s Office from 1922 to 1974. Scrapbooks were copied onto acid-free bond paper and originals were re-housed in acid-free enclosures. Copies of the scrapbook were deposited at the University of New Mexico General Library and the Special Collections Branch of the Bernalillo County Public Library. A total of three copies were created of the 105 volume set (34,236 pages) and the originals were re-housed in archival folders/boxes.

Award Impact:
Rosemary Diaz stated in the final report:
"Of the many topics in the collection, here are just a few outstanding examples: Pete Domenici, Clyde Tingley, C.E. Wells and other elected city officials, civil unrest, June 1971 riots (comprising two volumes for that month alone), some though not a complete collection of legal notices, city agencies—police, schools, libraries, museums, zoos (amazingly, the zoo must have had a great pr person as there are numerous zoo articles), land grants, cultural events such as the Montezuma Ball, Tingley Coliseum and the State Fair, roads and highways, shopping malls, balloon fiestas, expansion of the city, water rights, snowstorms, floods, election ballots and results, polling places, 'Mr. Fixit', mundane items such as garbage pickup schedules—these are just few of the myriad topics to be found.

Statistics:
34,236 pages of clippings were copied to archival paper and constitute the master copy.

102,708 pages were copied to multipurpose paper

Thank you for your participation and assistance in this endeavor. We look forward to working with you again in the future. We know that this project will make a difference in the research on modern day Albuquerque and especially in the stories of the city’s growth, progress, and its various modern day political characters, especially Clyde Tingley."

Scholarships

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (Melanie Sandoval)
Basic Records Management Workshop
Management of Public Records on Electronic Media Workshop
Award: $60.00

Award Impact:
Melanie Sandoval stated:
"Since attending these classes, I have obtained a better understanding of records management practices, including retention schedules. I have also learned to apply the principles of records retention to a computer-based record keeping. This information has been beneficial to myself as well as my bureau, in conducting a methodology in order to post and maintain all of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) documents on our website. We are currently looking into maintaining our permanent electronic records on-site; therefore we are in the process of implementing guidelines and procedures that address the elements of an on-site archival program. This process is all thanks to the information obtained from the SRCA classes I was awarded from the New Mexico Historical Advisory Board. Thank you very much for this great opportunity to advance my knowledge in the records management practices and to also benefit the Records Management Bureau here at the NMPRC."

Political Archives/Center for Southwest Research/ University of New Mexico University Libraries (Charlotte Walters)
National Archives and Records Administration Modern Archives Institute
Award: $2,689.86

Award Impact:
Charlotte Walters stated:
"Maybe I need to stop using all of these superlatives---WOW, excellent, wonderful and an amazing opportunity. But, why the Modern Archives Institute was all of those and more. The 97th Session of the Institute included folks from around the world—Ghana, Italy, India and the West Indies working for the United Nations, Religious and Governmental archives. And, the rest of us from the United States and working at incredibly diverse archives --National Park Service, Tribal, Federal Agencies, State Libraries, Historical Societies, Military, US Senate and Academic. The network opportunities and cross pollination of experiences and practical solutions between this Institute’s participants will I hope continue long into the future.

The depth and breadth of NARA and Library of Congress presentations covered important issues like appraisal, arrangement and description, preservation and conservation and the all essential public outreach. This opportunity allowed me to increase my awareness and understanding of current archival management and best practices. It also exposed me to many intelligent hard working archivists. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by the NARA and Library of Congress staff was truly an inspiration for all of us.

Un mil gracias to the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board for the scholarship. The Institute gave me many resources and an important professional network to support the New Mexico Political Archives. It is a solid base for me to build upon to increase my professional expertise and credibility. And, it was an honor to represent New Mexico’s rich archival legacy. Thank you!"

The projects and training that occurred in fiscal year 2005 reflect the diversity of historical and cultural interests that make New Mexico the unique and wonderful state that it is. They also demonstrate an appropriate use of federal and state funds that will benefit current and future residents of the state.

Randy Forrester