Quipu
A knotted cord used
by the Pueblo Indians to record and
transmit information during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
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A
NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE NEW MEXICO STATE RECORDS CENTER AND
ARCHIVES
1205 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 (505) 476-7900 FAX (505) 476-7901 |
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October 2001 Volume
6.3
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In this issue:
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Valerie Nye, a native of Albuquerque, attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where she received a BA in English. She also attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she earned a Masters in Library Science with an emphasis in Archival Administration. Erica Garcia, graduated from the University of New Mexico in December of 2000. She received a B.A. degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish. Her interests are New Mexico and Mexican history, social anthropology, Latin American politics, Chicano literature, and Spanish literature. She has been with the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board since March of 2001. Daphne S.O. Arnaiz-DeLeon, is a native of Riverside, California and a graduate from the University of California at Riverside with an MA in History and a subspecialty in archival management (1994). She became a certified archivist (CA) in 1998. She has been employed by the Archives and Historical Services Bureau for three years. Felicia Lujan, is an Archivist within the Archives
and Historical Services Division. She is also a contributing writer
to Round the Round House and the Santa Fe New Mexican.
She has been with the agency for two years. |
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NEW MEXICO
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
The New Mexico School for the Deaf has worked for over a century to improve the lives of deaf and hard- of- hearing children, and their families, living in New Mexico. During its 119 years as a State institution, the New Mexico School for the Deaf under the direction of eight different superintendents has educated thousands of New Mexicans. Due to the persistent work of Lars Larson, the first school for deaf children in New Mexico was opened for classes in 1885 in a small building located on West Manhattan in Santa Fe. The Territorial Legislature approved the school and gave the institution minimal funding on February 24, 1887. In 1891, using his own funds, Larson constructed a building for the school on what is the current campus of the New Mexico School for the Deaf. Eight years later on March 15, 1899 the Legislative Assembly officially established the “Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb” and created a board of trustees to oversee the management of the school. While the earliest superintendents of the school lobbied to change the school’s name and remove the word asylum, the official name was not changed to the “New Mexico School for the Deaf” until a legislative act in 1955. The early records of the school, which consist of a small collection, are housed at the Commission of Public Records — State Records Center and Archives. The collection contains the following: Board of Trustee minute books from 1887 to 1934; two ledger books from 1899 to 1915; several letters to and from Lars Larson; an incomplete set of the school’s publication, New Mexico Progress, dating from 1938 to 1984; and reports to the Governor. This year, the Archives Division is honoring education in New Mexico, during the week of October 8-12, 2001, in celebration of National Archives Week. In order to commemorate the accomplishments of the New Mexico School for the Deaf and education in New Mexico, the State Records Center and Archives will have a small exhibit displaying items from the New Mexico School for the Deaf collection. For more information about the collection, please call 476-7948 or e-mail the Division at: archives@rain.state.nm.us.
EVERY CITIZENS HISTORY By Erica Garcia
New Mexico citizens understand the history of New Mexico to be their history—not a long-winded fairy tale of a time long ago. For New Mexicans, exploring New Mexico history is like looking back on family history, family photo albums and papers. Our history is very personal, familiar, and important to us. For many there is the understanding that the constant creation of our history is connected to the most recent exhalation of every individual, not only famous heroes immortalized by statues and a TV mini-series. All this said we must look to the record keepers of our state to care for, in the best way possible, the history that New Mexicans cherish so deeply. The New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board (NMHRAB) is reaching out to offer scholarships to New Mexico’s record keepers. A pilot program was initiated by the NMHRAB and scholarships were given to seven individuals for archival and record management training through the New Mexico Commission of Public Records.. These scholarships will, hopefully, become part of our permanent programs. The desire is to provide the tools and information needed to repository employees and volunteers who otherwise might not receive training due to travel and financial constraints. By providing training resources to repository employees and volunteers, the scholarship program-like the Board’s grants to institutions-helps ensure the preservation of the records that document New Mexico’s rich history. The seven scholarship recipients are: Hillary Axelson from the City of Las Cruces, Nona Brown, Marilyn Clark, and William Clark from the Menaul Historical Library of the Southwest in Albuquerque, Robert Jenkins from Santa Clara Pueblo, Judy Ortiz from the Colfax County Clerk’s Office, and Donna Sam from the McKinley County Treasurer’s Office. These seven individuals were able to choose the courses from those offered by the New Mexico Commission of Public Records that would best help them care for the public and historical documents residing at their repositories. The scholarships covered course registration and travel costs. The promotion of program insures the preservation of our unique cultures and their deeply ingrained connection to the past, and a present sense of identity and pride. Without a focus on the maintenance of the state’s records our documented history is at risk. The NMHRAB has a strong faith in the repositories around the state and there is no doubt in their level of commitment to New Mexico’s history. By providing resources such as the NMHRAB Grant Program and now the NMHRAB Scholarship Program New Mexico’s record keepers can seek out funds to aid in their preservation goals. The citizens of New Mexico are the state’s most valuable resource. To respect our citizens is to respect and best care for their history. For more information on the NMHRAB’s Grant and Scholarship Programs please contact Erica Garcia, NMHRAB Grant Administrator, at (505) 476-7936 or e-mail egarcia@rain.state.nm.us.
SANTA FE COUNTY LAND BOOKS AND SPANISH ARCHIVES OF NEW MEXICO II TRANSLATIONS By Daphne Arnaiz-DeLeon
The State Archives has recently acquired two significant sets of material to add to the microfilm collections available in the Genealogy Room. These materials are the results of collaborative relationships with the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office and the Center for Southwest Research (University of New Mexico). The Santa Fe County Land Books document land transactions from the period of U.S. military occupation to the mid-twentieth century (1847-1948). This set of 62 microfilm rolls will greatly enhance the resources available to researchers in the Archives. These rolls will also be added to the existing Santa Fe County Records finding aid and serve to more fully document the actions of local government in Santa Fe County. The finding aid is available over the Internet at the Online Archives of New Mexico web site (http//:elibrary.unm.edu/oanm), which contains searchable finding aids from the Center for Southwest Research (University of New Mexico), Rio Grande Historical Collections (New Mexico State University), New Mexico State Records Center and Archives, and the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library. The Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series II continues to be a significant source for materials pertaining to the administrative, civil, military, and ecclesiastical records of the Spanish colonial government (1621-1821). Unlike the Spanish Archives of New Mexico I: Land Records of New Mexico, the translations of which have been compiled and microfilmed, Spanish Archives of New Mexico II translations are scattered in various private collections in two distinct repositories (The State Archives and Center for Southwest Research). Only select documents from Spanish Archives of New Mexico II have been translated. The State Archives and the Center for Southwest Research decided to locate the translations and create a reference microfilm copy that would contain all of the existing translations regardless of where they resided. The result of this collaborative effort is one comprehensive source for Spanish Archives of New Mexico II translations at the State Archives and the Center for Southwest Research. The microfilm is available at both locations. Both the Santa Fe County Land Books and Spanish Archives of New Mexico II Translations will be available on microfilm to State Archives patrons in the Fall of 2001. For a list of translations arranged by Twitchell document numbers, please contact the Archives and Historical Services Division at (505) 476-7948, or by e-mail at archives@rain.state.nm.us. NEW MEXICO COMMISSION OF PUBLIC
RECORDS — By Felicia Lujan
During September of 2001, Governor Gary E. Johnson proclaimed that October 9th through the 12th would be recognized as Archives Week throughout New Mexico. Archives Week is an annual tribute to the importance and uses of historical records. This year the Archives and Historical Services Division of the New Mexico Commission of Public Records — State Records Center and Archives and the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board celebrated this event together and welcomed all other repositories to join with them. Archives Week is intended to improve public understanding and appreciation of available archival resources and repositories. The week provides a special opportunity for the Archives and Historical Services Division to encourage the utilization of archival materials, as well as to inform the public about the importance of preserving these materials. The Division actively collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to historical records that document the rights and history of New Mexico's people. Archival information is a primary element when exploring and understanding the past. Historical records offer a glimpse into the lives of other people and the activities of public bodies. Archival institutions assist New Mexicans by preserving and providing access to these glimpses, which in turn provide information and guidance for the future. The theme for this year's celebration was "Nourishing Visions and Voices: Remembering Education in New Mexico”. The event was an opportunity for students, teachers and the public to come together to learn more about the vast amount of information available for those who research and those who are merely curious about the past. A list of events for Archives Week included an opening reception, exhibits from various repositories, tours of the Archives and Historical Services Division, panel discussions, a film screening, and special open hours on Saturday for genealogists (10 AM – 2 PM). All events will took place at the New Mexico State Library, Archives, and Records Center building at 1209 Camino Carlos Rey in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Division was also designed and disseminated an Archives Week poster to help promote the event. The poster was be created using historical photos from archival collections that provide a look back at education in New Mexico. Also a flyer with specific details and times was distributed in September.
UP-COMING TRAINING OFFERED BY THE COMMISSION OF PUBLIC RECORDS
For the past three years, the New Mexico Commission of Public Records has offered training in records, information, and archival management (RIAM). The training program was initially created through a grant that the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board received from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Upon completion of the grant, it was decided that the training program would continue through the Commission itself, by offering the courses for a nominal fee. For fiscal year 2002 (July of 2001 through June of 2002), a schedule has been created and distributed. Courses are aimed toward expanding RIAM knowledge throughout local governmental entities, historical records repositories, and State agencies. The following courses will be available through April 2002.
For more information on any of the courses offered by the Commission, or to obtain a copy of the training schedule, please call Kathy Mattison at 476-7902, or contact her by e-mail at kmattison@rain.state.nm.us.
QUIPU NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ON-LINE
The quarterly issues of the Quipu newsletters have been available on-line at the Commission of Public Records web site for well over a year now. In an on-going effort to conserve resources, the agency is encouraging those readers who have Internet access to view the newsletter on-line. The newsletter is available at www.state.nm.us/cpr. If you prefer to view the newsletter on-line and wish to be removed from our mailing list, please call 476-7902 and ask to be removed from the list.
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