Author Archives: Jennifer Olguin
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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Pioneer Jewish Family: Louis E. and Carmen K. Freudenthal
May is Jewish American Heritage Month and the Rio Grande Historical Collections Unit (RGHC) would like to highlight the Louis E. and Carmen K. Freudenthal family papers. The Freudenthal family settled in the Mesilla Valley long before New Mexico became a state. The papers primarily document Louis and Carmen Freudenthal and the bulk of the…
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The Rio Grande Historical Collections
Hi, I am Jennifer Olguin, the archivist for the Rio Grande Historical Collections (RGHC). I joined the Archives and Special Collections department in 2010 as a library specialist and in 2018 I obtained my Master of Library Science degree from the University of North Texas. Being the archivist in the RGHC unit is rewarding and…
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Honoring the Students in the Archives
The week of April 6th-10th marks an occasion that the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) acknowledges each year. Student Employee Appreciation Week gives us a chance to recognize and thank our student employees for the outstanding contributions they perform in the department. Usually gift cards for coffee and small treats are shared with student employees…
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Pioneer Families of the Mesilla Valley – Armijo and Gallagher Family Papers
Chances are if you are from the Las Cruces area or have visited the City of Crosses, you most likely have driven past the Armijo residence or perhaps have visited the home when it was once was a bank. The historic Armijo residence is located on Lohman Avenue and the south end of Church Street….
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