Author Archives: Jennifer Olguin
The Open Stacks: One-Year Anniversary
Last year, due to the global pandemic, the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) had to adapt to the new normal of relying on technology to continue to serve our users. Before the pandemic, we provided in-person reference assistance and class instructional sessions in the Caroline E. Stras Research Room. These served as great opportunities to…
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Clara Belle Williams: The Desire to Aspire
As the NMSU campus celebrates Black History Month, the Open Stacks hopes to highlight the achievements of Black students, faculty, and staff, as well as those throughout New Mexico and the Borderlands. Clara Belle Drisdale Williams made history in 1937 when she became the first African American to graduate from the New Mexico College of…
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Research Value of Postcard Collections
The Rio Grande Historical Collections has an extensive collection of postcards available for patrons to view. Thousands of digitized postcards held at the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) can be viewed via our photographic collections database. The information I am about to share will definitely capture the attention of postcard collectors or individuals who may be simply…
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Peter Hinde and the Casa Tabor papers
In November, the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) staff was saddened to learn of Father Peter Hinde’s passing. Father Peter frequently crossed the U.S. – Mexico border along with Sister Betty Campbell and visited the Caroline E. Stras Research Room to consult their Casa Tabor papers. Father Peter was an amazing advocate for social justice….
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Newly Processed: The Donald D. Stern papers
Although we all are living through challenging and trying times during the pandemic, the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is still receiving collections to add to our archival holdings in order to capture history and ultimately make available to the public. Earlier this summer, Dennis Daily, the ASC department head, received the papers of the…
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J. Paul Taylor: Educator, Civic Leader and Politician
On August 24, 2020, J. Paul Taylor celebrated his 100th birthday. Due to the current health crisis, an in-person celebration was not held as in the past. Instead, a virtual centennial celebration was held to honor Mr. Taylor, where family and friends sent digital birthday greetings and recollections. For those not familiar with J. Paul…
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Loretto Academy: Once-Thriving Catholic School in the Heart of Las Cruces
The Archives and Special Collections (ASC) has many interesting historical collections, but the Loretto Academy holding is a gem that catches people’s attention whenever we have a public display of our archival holdings. A woman attending the 2019 Border Regional Archives Group (BRAG) Border Archives Bazaar, held at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage…
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Newly Acquired Diary from Local Hero – Joseph Quesenberry
In honor of the Fourth of July, the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is proud to announce the replica acquisition of the Joseph “Joe” Quesenberry diary. The diary was acquired from a Quesenberry descendant in the fall of 2019 and is a great resource for those wanting to learn about how a native New Mexican carried out his military life while deployed overseas during WWI. The diary belonged to Joe Quesenberry, a former student at New Mexico College…
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Extraordinary Women: Advocacy, Activism, and Sisterhood
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. Various events were in the making to honor such a monumental time in American history, but due to the current pandemic, many events have been put on hold or canceled due to limits on social gatherings. At the local…
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History of Blackdom
Have you heard of Blackdom, New Mexico? Chances are slim, I myself never heard of the all-black settlement that was founded in 1901 in territorial New Mexico. Blackdom was literally located in the backyard of Dexter, a small farming community in Chaves County where I was raised. It was about two years ago or so…
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