Two maps of Western New Mexico College, (January 1944),
File — Box-Folder: OS20-2
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
This collection contains the family papers and ranch records of the John T. McMillen family. The McMillens were a prominent Grant County ranching family and accumulated papers not only relating to ranching but to other civic activities. (Most of these items are the original documents but certain documents have been photocopied and the originals returned to the McMillen family.) The papers date from 1880 and a few newspaper clippings about Daniel C. McMillen are dated May 1975. Most collection materials cover the period 1938-1959.
Besides personal correspondence, including greeting cards, there is an extensive newspaper clipping file and manuscript drafts of speeches. One of the collection's greatest strengths and most thorough coverage is found in the minutes, reports, budgets, agendas and general correspondence from Mrs. McMillen's tenure of Western New Mexico University's Board of Regents (1959-1968). Legal papers, including deeds and contract agreements dating from 1880, trace the acquisition of the McMillen's land and cattle holdings. Another important segment is the series on the Office of Price Administration. Covering McMillen's tenure on the War Price and Rationing Board during World War II, this series not only contains correspondence and official directives, but publications describing the homefront situation of the war effort. Of particular value are the minutes of War Price and Rationing Board No. 9, which documents requests from citizens for additional rationed items and ration violation hearings. As a source for social history on World War II's effect on southwestern New Mexico, these minutes are incomparable.
Although the McMillen family was active in many civic organizations, the segment dealing with organizational activities is not particularly large. Most items in this series concern the Boy Scouts of America, although there are a number of documents pertaining to Mrs. McMillen's activities as New Mexico Mother of the Year in 1965. Other organizations included in this segment include Silver City Chamber of Commerce, 4-H Club, Lions Club and the New Mexico Family Planning Council.
Photographs from the McMillen family consist almost entirely of copy negatives made from original photos still in family hands. Journal records from a meat packing concern have been photocopied and microfilmed while the original items remain with the family.
The largest segment of the papers are the ranch and financial records. Under this broad heading are accounts and receipts, items pertaining to McMillen's conservation activities and annual accountant reports of the McMillen's financial status. In addition to business correspondence, (including letters from other New Mexico cattlemen and political officials) there are numerous items concerning the various brands owned by the McMillens. Receipts from cattle sales are contained in this segment, as are 62 small notebooks containing cattle tallies. Such tallies exist for nearly every year from 1913 until 1967. Besides check book stubs and publications and information from various organizations and government agencies, there are very complete insurance records from 1930-1971 and tax schedules from 1889-1896 and 1939-1964. Folders in this series are arranged first by subject and then chronologically. Some subject headings are the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, Federal Grazing, People's Packing Plant, Ranching Business, Soil Conservation, Reclamation and Farm and Livestock Bureau.
Finally, duplicate material has been stored in a separate box at the end of the collection. This same box also contains charred items. The burnt material has been photocopied and the photocopies placed in the appropriate spots in the collection in order to avoid smell and acid contamination of other items by the burnt things.
Besides personal correspondence, including greeting cards, there is an extensive newspaper clipping file and manuscript drafts of speeches. One of the collection's greatest strengths and most thorough coverage is found in the minutes, reports, budgets, agendas and general correspondence from Mrs. McMillen's tenure of Western New Mexico University's Board of Regents (1959-1968). Legal papers, including deeds and contract agreements dating from 1880, trace the acquisition of the McMillen's land and cattle holdings. Another important segment is the series on the Office of Price Administration. Covering McMillen's tenure on the War Price and Rationing Board during World War II, this series not only contains correspondence and official directives, but publications describing the homefront situation of the war effort. Of particular value are the minutes of War Price and Rationing Board No. 9, which documents requests from citizens for additional rationed items and ration violation hearings. As a source for social history on World War II's effect on southwestern New Mexico, these minutes are incomparable.
Although the McMillen family was active in many civic organizations, the segment dealing with organizational activities is not particularly large. Most items in this series concern the Boy Scouts of America, although there are a number of documents pertaining to Mrs. McMillen's activities as New Mexico Mother of the Year in 1965. Other organizations included in this segment include Silver City Chamber of Commerce, 4-H Club, Lions Club and the New Mexico Family Planning Council.
Photographs from the McMillen family consist almost entirely of copy negatives made from original photos still in family hands. Journal records from a meat packing concern have been photocopied and microfilmed while the original items remain with the family.
The largest segment of the papers are the ranch and financial records. Under this broad heading are accounts and receipts, items pertaining to McMillen's conservation activities and annual accountant reports of the McMillen's financial status. In addition to business correspondence, (including letters from other New Mexico cattlemen and political officials) there are numerous items concerning the various brands owned by the McMillens. Receipts from cattle sales are contained in this segment, as are 62 small notebooks containing cattle tallies. Such tallies exist for nearly every year from 1913 until 1967. Besides check book stubs and publications and information from various organizations and government agencies, there are very complete insurance records from 1930-1971 and tax schedules from 1889-1896 and 1939-1964. Folders in this series are arranged first by subject and then chronologically. Some subject headings are the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, Federal Grazing, People's Packing Plant, Ranching Business, Soil Conservation, Reclamation and Farm and Livestock Bureau.
Finally, duplicate material has been stored in a separate box at the end of the collection. This same box also contains charred items. The burnt material has been photocopied and the photocopies placed in the appropriate spots in the collection in order to avoid smell and acid contamination of other items by the burnt things.
Dates
- (January 1944),
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Extent
From the Collection: 9 linear feet (4,375 items)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository