GODFREY RANCH, 1914-1974
Series
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
As a leader in the cattle industry, George Godfrey's papers reflect the concerns of NewMexico cattlemen in the 1940s and 1950s. Problems with the federal government overadministration of the public lands, particularly Forest Service lands, are discussed, as to thegeneral fear of extensive federal regulation of the livestock industry. Another real problem facedby New Mexico cattlemen during this era was the threat of foot and mouth disease being broughtinto this county from Mexico. Consequently, Godfrey, as an active member and officer of the NewMexico Cattle Growers' Association, was frequently in communication with the Departments ofInterior, Agriculture, and State, as well as with numerous local and state agencies, and cattlemen'sassociations in other states. As a result, this collection provides an excellent picture of therelationship between the federal government and ranchers.
Not only is this collection a good source for agricultural history, but it provides an interestinglook at some national legislation introduced by important political figures. One example of this isthe extensive correspondence Godfrey carried on with political figures concerning John F.Kennedy's labor bill introduced in 1958. The cattlemen opposed this legislation but were moresupportive of the forestry bill sponsored by Lyndon Johnson during the same time period. AmongGodfrey's political correspondents were Representatives Thomas G. Morris, John J. Dempsey andAntonio Fernandez; Senators E. L. Mechem, Dennis Chavez, Clinton P. Anderson and Carl Hatch;as well as Governors Jack M. Campbell, Ed Mechem and Thomas Mabry.
A strength of the Godfrey Papers is the wealth of information it provides on the New MexicoCattle Growers' Association since only minimal records of the organization are extant. Not onlydid the association provide a forum for the state's leading cattlemen to express their viewpoints,but the correspondence, speeches, reports, programs, newsletters and press releases document theuncertainty and economic problems faced by New Mexico ranchers following World War II (oneof which was the military takeover of grazing lands). As an officer of this organization, Godfreycorresponded with many prominent New Mexicans, including A. D. Brownfield, Roger B. Corbett,Floyd W. Lee, Hugh M. Milton III, Albert K. Mitchell and W. P. Thorpe.
Godfrey also was active in the American National Cattlemen's Association (formerly theAmerican National Live Stock Association), and frequently corresponded with members of theNew Mexico Wool Growers Association. Other organizations in which he took an active part (asshown by the materials in the collection) include the Border States Foot and Mouth Disease Board,Cattle Sanitary Board of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau.
In addition to this organizational information, the collection also contains some ranch records.The oldest of these is an account book dating from 1914 and there are a few records dated as lateas 1974; however the bulk of the ranch records are from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
The collection has been divided into two sub-groups, "Godfrey Ranch" and "RanchingOrganizations." The first sub-group, Godfrey Ranch, contains Godfrey's personal and businesspapers, and is further divided into eight series: Correspondence, Legal documents, Financialdocuments, Reports, Speeches, Maps, Printed materials, and Miscellany. The other sub-group,Ranching Organizations, is divided by organization. There is necessarily a great deal of overlapin the subject matter of the two sub-groups, since the issues with which the organizations weredealing were the same issues which concerned Godfrey in the management of his own ranch.Therefore a researcher would be well advised to use a wide approach.
Not only is this collection a good source for agricultural history, but it provides an interestinglook at some national legislation introduced by important political figures. One example of this isthe extensive correspondence Godfrey carried on with political figures concerning John F.Kennedy's labor bill introduced in 1958. The cattlemen opposed this legislation but were moresupportive of the forestry bill sponsored by Lyndon Johnson during the same time period. AmongGodfrey's political correspondents were Representatives Thomas G. Morris, John J. Dempsey andAntonio Fernandez; Senators E. L. Mechem, Dennis Chavez, Clinton P. Anderson and Carl Hatch;as well as Governors Jack M. Campbell, Ed Mechem and Thomas Mabry.
A strength of the Godfrey Papers is the wealth of information it provides on the New MexicoCattle Growers' Association since only minimal records of the organization are extant. Not onlydid the association provide a forum for the state's leading cattlemen to express their viewpoints,but the correspondence, speeches, reports, programs, newsletters and press releases document theuncertainty and economic problems faced by New Mexico ranchers following World War II (oneof which was the military takeover of grazing lands). As an officer of this organization, Godfreycorresponded with many prominent New Mexicans, including A. D. Brownfield, Roger B. Corbett,Floyd W. Lee, Hugh M. Milton III, Albert K. Mitchell and W. P. Thorpe.
Godfrey also was active in the American National Cattlemen's Association (formerly theAmerican National Live Stock Association), and frequently corresponded with members of theNew Mexico Wool Growers Association. Other organizations in which he took an active part (asshown by the materials in the collection) include the Border States Foot and Mouth Disease Board,Cattle Sanitary Board of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau.
In addition to this organizational information, the collection also contains some ranch records.The oldest of these is an account book dating from 1914 and there are a few records dated as lateas 1974; however the bulk of the ranch records are from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
The collection has been divided into two sub-groups, "Godfrey Ranch" and "RanchingOrganizations." The first sub-group, Godfrey Ranch, contains Godfrey's personal and businesspapers, and is further divided into eight series: Correspondence, Legal documents, Financialdocuments, Reports, Speeches, Maps, Printed materials, and Miscellany. The other sub-group,Ranching Organizations, is divided by organization. There is necessarily a great deal of overlapin the subject matter of the two sub-groups, since the issues with which the organizations weredealing were the same issues which concerned Godfrey in the management of his own ranch.Therefore a researcher would be well advised to use a wide approach.
Dates
- 1914-1974
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English.
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the SearchRoom.
Extent
From the Collection: 2.5 Linear Feet (6 Boxes)
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository