Historical society welcomes newcomers
For the 159th time, historians are gathering for the Historical Society of New Mexico’s annual conference April 19-21.
This year’s opening session in Alamogordo, on the New Mexico State University campus, featured noted author Michael McGarrity, who has produced 15 crime novels set in the Southwest. For those not familiar with the Historical Society of New Mexico, consider this an invitation to join a historic institution with diverse membership, fascinating activities and connections.
The conferences provide a forum for dozens of wellresearched presentations, guided tours of areas of interest, book publishers/ vendors, a money-raising book auction, outstanding banquet, awards presentations and plenty of chances for attendees to connect with well-versed New Mexico historians.
Subject offerings at the conference traditionally take the form of lectures and slide presentations on topics ranging from little-known details of Spanish colonial presence in the region to recognition of Native Americans’ growing importance, railroad development, cattle mutilations and space invaders to mapping the territory and cyclical military occupation.
Check the website http:// www.hsnm.org/conference for all the presentations, tours and costs for this year’s conference. Annual conferences are held at various locations throughout the state and periodically, in conjunction with adjacent states. Last year’s joint conference in Flagstaff with the Arizona Historical Society, was filled to capacity, and numerous presentations focused on the close relationship of New Mexico and Arizona as territories and states. Such joint gatherings with other states provide a broader, regional perspective to presentations.
Yearly membership will link you with people interested in, and knowledgeable of, the magnificent history of the Land of Enchantment. Founded in 1859, more than 50 years before statehood yet only 11 years after becoming a U.S. territory following the Mexican War, the Historical Society of New Mexico has had a range of memorable members. They include Mabel Dodge Lujan, several former mayors of Santa Fe, past governors, Ralph Emerson Twitchell and Lansing Bloom, as well as territorial governor Lew Wallace, plus countless other luminaries.
Long an all-volunteer organization, the society also provides a speaker service at no charge to schools and groups. Many of its knowledgeable members provide interesting programs on nearly any historic subject. The society’s official publication, La Cronica, is available online and has numerous richly researched articles relating to all phases of New Mexico history.
In order to promote research in additional topic areas, the society offers several grants and awards throughout the year, described fully on the website. Grants, with no matching amount required, are available for both individual researchers and institutional members of the society. And there are various awards for outstanding service in the field of history.
Whether you decide to join the Historical Society or simply want to get a feel for New Mexico’s past, authoritatively described by seasoned historians, please know you will be most welcome as a visitor and a new member.