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Opal Lee Priestley papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0437

Scope and Content Note

This collection deal exclusively with Opal Lee Priestley's work and research with Shalam Colony and the Faithist religion establish on the banks of the Rio Grande. Included are her manuscript "Shalam: Utopia on the Rio Grande," correspondence, articles, research and reviews.

Dates

  • 1884 - 1990

Access and Use Restrictions

This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.

Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.

Biographical Sketch

was born in Iola, Kansas and moved throughout the southwest due to her father's job as an oil field engineer. She studied journalism at the University of Oklahoma, but dropped out her senior year and married fellow journalism student Orville Priestley, who went on to buy the Artesia Advocate and the Las Cruces Sun News.

Priestley served on the Branigan Library Memorial Board of Trustees. In 1968, she received the Las Cruces Community Human of Achievement award and in 1977 the Dona Ana Historical Society's Hall of Fame award. She was named Citizen of the Year in 1982 in Las Cruces and in 1983 for New Mexico.

Priestley, who wrote western pulp books under the name Lee Priestley, also wrote 15 books including "A Rocket to the Stars" and "Shalam: Utopia on the Rio Grande, 1881-1907."

Extent

5 linear inches

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Local author of book about Shalam Colony whose collection contains manuscript, other writings by her and others about Shalam Colony, copies of legal documents and other items.

Related Material

John Ballou Newbrough papers. Ms 0211 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Elnora Wiley Shalam Colony collection. Ms 0441 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Hugh Rose writings on Oahspe. Ms 0330 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Dorothy Wills papers. Ms 0336 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Opal Lee Priestley Shalam Colony papers. Ms 0437 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Elias E. Bay letter. Ms 0011 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. nmlcu1ms0437 Shalam Colony publications donated by Joan Greer. RG 98-058. Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Shalam Colony photographs donated by Ian Watson. RG2000-031 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Shalam Colony research donated by Robert E. Buzan, Jr. RG 95-099 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Book relating to Shalam Colony genealogy donated by David W. Francis. RG 89-117 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Research paper written on Shalam Colony donated by Joyce Allman. RG 90-018 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Taped Faithist interviews from a Faithist conference in 1993 donated by Linda Blazer. RG 93-166 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Shalam Colony presentation with Linda Blazer and Opal Lee Priestly donated by Linda Blazer. RG 94-058 Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library.
Title
Guide to the Opal Lee Priestley papers
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Linda Blazer
Date
2005
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Repository Details

Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Branson Hall
PO Box 30006
MSC 3475
Las Cruces New Mexico 88003 USA