Life in Santa Fe Around 1910

   For a glimpse into life in Santa Fe in 1910-12 and a few of prime citizen concerns, I copied the following two excerpts from the “First Annual Report of the Mayor of Santa Fe, April 1^st, 1910 to March 31^st, 1911” by Arthur Seligman, Mayor. The first is from recommendations to the city made by the Mayor.  

Saloons and Public Dance Halls.

A Bit More On “Santa Fe Style.”

By

Arthur Scott

   I would like to expand a bit on Michael Miller’s short paper on Santa Fe Chic. He mentions that Carlos Vierra, a talented early Santa Fe artist, ids considered the “father of Santa Fe style.”  Carlos Vierra was a California sailor of Portuguese descent that gave up the sea to paint full time and moved to Santa Fe in the early 1900’s because of his health. However, the term “Santa Fe Style” and the definition of that style regarding architecture should actually be attributed to Sylvanus Morley.

   In 1912, my grandfather, Arthur Seligman, who was then Mayor of Santa Fe, appointed a City Planning Board Among the appointed members were

Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides

Anchor Books, 2007

Review by Arthur Scott

   This book is billed as “The epic story of Kit Carson and the conquest of the American West.”  The title comes from some of the “dime novels’ sold about kit Carson in the 19^th century. The cover somewhat gives that impression. However this book is very well researched with impeccable sources. Most are primary sources with a few verified secondary sources. The author states that he spent several years and travelled 20, 000 miles in his car from coast to coast. The narrative is long, 575 pages, but covers Carson’s life from birth his birth in Madison County Kentucky in 1809 to his death at Ft. Lyons, Colorado in 1868. This book is MUCH more than the story of Kit Carson, it is, on fact, a detailed history of the most tumultuous years of the US. This period includes President Polk’s imperialistic war with Mexico for the sole purpose of expanding US territory, the dragging of what is now New Mexico into the United States from Mexico, the Civil War, and the Indian Wars.

The Palace Hotel in all its grandeur in the 1880's. Engraving from Illustrated New Mexico.

SALT OF THE EARTH

Movie B/W 1954

Review by Arthur Scott

   The only blacklisted (banned) American film in history. Based on the two-year strike at the Empire Zinc Co. mine in Silver City during the early fifties.

From June New Mexico Magazine; photo used illustrate a letter from Margaret Dixon Brown stating that her mother, Martha Brown, said that motorists had to back up La Bajada so that the gravity feed fuel pumps in Model-Ts would work.

BULL FIGHTING IN NEW MEXICO

   Worthpoint.com, reported that a letter signed by my grandfather, Governor Arthur Seligman, was sold on EBay in 2008. Price is not disclosed. My grandfather served as Governor of New Mexico from 1931-1933, when he died in office. These were among the states most difficult years. He faced the great depression, massive unemployment, poverty, austerity measures, and cutting of the state budget. However, this letter addresses a problem which, few, if any state governors, ever had to address.    The description of the letter is as follows:  “This is a letter signed by New Mexico Governor Arthur Seligman. It is typed on Executive Office stationary and dated October 12, 1931. It also has its original envelope. The contents of the letter deal with the Governor explaining that he has received a letter complaining about a bullfight to be held in Socorro.

   My mother’s family immigrated to the United States from Wales in 1914. This is my grandfather Gardiner’s Naturalization certificate when he became a US citizen in 1922. Apparently eightt years of residence were required. My mother became a derivative American citizen by virtue of marrying my dad prior to 1922...

These are my daughtes in 1968 center and right. Center is Terri age 5 and right Jan age 4. A museum of NM program in the sixies to introduce children to history and culture. Article and photos are by Poly Schaafsma from the museum. In the lower photo they are exploring. Jan continued her exploring ways by spending  year on a forign exchange as a HS freshman in Austrialia. When she graduated from college she entered the Peace Corps assigned to Kampala, Uganda. Both are now stay-at-home moms.