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Records of the United States Territorial and New Mexico District Courts for Santa Fe County,

 Collection
Identifier: 1972-011

Scope and Content

Collection consists of the territorial and New Mexico district court records for Santa Fe County, New Mexico (1846-1951). The bulk of the material covers the years 1846-1920. Included are record books (1849-1922), case files (1846-1951), and other court material. Record books consist of various dockets (1849-1920), court proceedings records books (1849-1912), a record of money judgements (1891-1922), Chancery Record (1873-1880) and a fee journal (1874-1880). Dockets include criminal (1871-1876, 1883-1915), civil (1849-1920), judge's (1874-1909, 1887-1894, 1896-1898, 1912-1914), execution (1853-1874), and foreign (no date) volumes. Court proceedings record books cover criminal (1881-1909) and civil (1879-1912) hearings. Additional record books and journals include volumes 1851-1879. Case files consist of criminal cases 92a-5056 (1853-1936) and civil cases 1-23396 (1846-1951). Large gaps may exist between case files. Many criminal and civil case files are unnumbered. Most of the criminal cases after 1910 are not part of this collection. Other court material consists of testimony of witnesses, warrants, bonds, and miscellaneous jury and court records.

Some materials in Spanish

Dates

  • 1846-1951, bulk 1846-1920

Language of Materials

English, and Spanish.

Access Restrictions

Case files are extremely fragile. Use microfilm only.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Historical Note

With the occupation of New Mexico in 1846 by the United States, seven political sub-divisions established by Mexico in 1844 were recognized as counties under the Kearny Code of Laws. Santa Fe was one of these original seven counties. New Mexico remained under a military form of government until September 9, 1850, when an Act of Congress established the Territory of New Mexico. On January 9, 1852, the boundaries of the counties were fixed by an Act of the Territorial Legislative Assembly. Santa Fe County, New Mexico was placed in the 1st Judicial District of the United States Territorial Courts in New Mexico in 1846. Upon statehood in 1912, the Territorial Courts became the New Mexico District Courts.

Extent

51 v. + 10 rolls + 60 linear feet

Organization

The collection is organized into five series:
  1. I. Docket Books
  2. II. Record Books (Journals)
  3. III. Miscellaneous Records
  4. IV. Criminal Case Files
  5. V. Civil Case Files

Microfilm Edition

Microfilm available.

Related Material

Naturalization records are located in the "Naturalization Records by New Mexico Courts" Accession Number 1959-281 Additional court material is located in the "Records of the United States Territorial and New Mexico District Court Clerks" Accession Number 1974-033 Most statehood material is located with the Judicial District Court Clerk.

Other records for this district court are available at the National Archives Field Branch in Denver, Colorado.

General

Contact Information

  1. New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
  2. Archives and Historical Services Division
  3. 1205 Camino Carlos Rey
  4. Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
  5. Phone: 505-476-7908
  6. Fax: 505-476-7909
  7. Email: archives@rain.state.nm.us
  8. URL: http://www.state.nm.us/cpr/ahsd_top.htm
Title
Inventory of the Records of the United States Territorial and New Mexico District Courts for Santa Fe County, 1846-1951, bulk 1846-1920
Status
Edited Full Draft
Date
©2000
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//New Mexico State Records Center and Archives//TEXT (US::Nm-Ar::1972-011::Records of the United States Territorial and New Mexico District Courts for Santa Fe County)//EN" "nmar1972-001.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 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives Repository

Contact:
1209 Camino Carlos Rey
Santa Fe NM 87507
(505) 476-7948