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Raton Grocery Store Records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-297-BC

Scope and Content

The Raton Grocery Store Records include fifteen items, mainly ledger and invoice books, related to the running of a mercantile outfit. Five of the ledger books show transactions for R.H. Azar of Raton, N.M., between 1907 and 1911. One ledger book from 1914 lists J.U. Miryasaki as 'owner'. Three notebooks and ledger books track invoices, and accounts between 1914 and 1920. And, six ledger books track accounts, debtors, and feed lot sales between 1929 and 1935. It is possible that these books represent records from three different eras or generations in the history of the store. The final item is an undated Charles Ilfeld and Company catalog.

A piece of scrap paper in item 13 also mentions a meeting at the home of E.H. Azar in 1936 and an inscription in the front of the book names Elias Azar as the book's owner. All items except for the Ilfeld catalog are handwritten in English with some Spanish notations. Item 13 also contains numerous notations in Arabic.

Dates

  • 1907-1938

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biography/History

The records in this collection show that the Azar Brothers, and later younger Azars, were involved in running a mercantile and grocery business in Raton, New Mexico between 1907 and 1938; the business may have existed before and after those dates. No specific business name is listed in any of the records although named in a few of the ledger books are R.H. Azar, Azar Brothers, and Elias Azar. Records from the 1920 New Mexico census show that Richard H. Azar lived in Raton with his wife and five children. The census labels his occupation as general merchant and lists his place of birth as Syria, in 1881. All of his children were born in Colorado between 1906 and 1913 suggesting that he maintained ties to both Colorado and New Mexico during this time. Line items in the ledger books show that the Azars were selling grocery items, such as eggs and milk, as well as cloth, hay, and other hardware items.

Extent

15 Volumes

Abstract

The Raton Grocery Store Records consist of fifteen ledgers and notebooks pertaining to the operations of a grocery and mercantile business in Raton, New Mexico, 1907-1938.

Related Material

Charles Ilfeld Company Records Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico. Smith Mercantile Company (Santa Rosa, N.M.) Records Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico.
Title
Finding Aid of the Raton Grocery Store Records, 1907-1938
Status
For Approval
Author
Processed by Tad McIlwraith
Date
©2000
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 297 BC::Raton Grocery Store Records)//EN" "nmu1mss297bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451