Morgan Nelson papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0181
Scope and Content
The papers of Morgan Nelson measure over 16 linear feet and fall into two major sub-groups: Political and Governmental Activities, and Cotton Activities. The first sub-group is further divided by federal, regional, state, and local levels of government. Most significant is the state level, since Nelson was for 12 years a member of the House of Representatives from Chaves County. He was also a member of the Board of Educational Finance (BEF), 1953-1957, and was its chairman, 1956-1957.
Throughout his political career, Mr. Nelson's main concern has been for education. Thus the fullest documentation can be found for his work with the BEF, the Advisory Committee on Higher Education Facilities, the New Mexico Commission on Statewide Higher Education Problems, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). It was as WICHE's representative that he was appointed to the U. S. Joint Commission on Correctional Manpower and Training. The early development of Eastern New Mexico University's Roswell Branch at the Walker Air Force Base facilities is also well documented. Mr. Nelson's interests included the public schools, and he served on the Board for Chaves County Independent School District No. 2. Also on the local level, he has long been active in the Chaves County Democratic Party and has held the position of treasurer.
The arrangement of materials in the second sub-group, Cotton Activities, follows Nelson's career as a cotton farmer, beginning with documents relating to his own farm in eastern New Mexico and including the many agricultural organizations with which he has been actively associated. Some of these are: New Mexico State University's Agronomy Department and Cooperative Extension Service, the 1517 Cotton Association, and the New Mexico Crop Improvement Association.
He made use of the support of the National Cotton Council and personally helped to publicize such needs of cotton producers as were represented by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1976. Mr. Nelson's increased involvement in cotton-related activities led to his membership on the Board of Directors of Cotton Incorporated, where he has served the cotton industry on a national level since 1972.
The types of documents in this collection consist mainly of correspondence, minutes, reports, speeches, data summaries, clippings, newsletters and other publications. The two sub-groups are fairly equal in size; the Political Activities portion contains 177 folders (23 boxes) while there are 160 folders (20 boxes) which relate to Cotton Activities.
Throughout his political career, Mr. Nelson's main concern has been for education. Thus the fullest documentation can be found for his work with the BEF, the Advisory Committee on Higher Education Facilities, the New Mexico Commission on Statewide Higher Education Problems, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). It was as WICHE's representative that he was appointed to the U. S. Joint Commission on Correctional Manpower and Training. The early development of Eastern New Mexico University's Roswell Branch at the Walker Air Force Base facilities is also well documented. Mr. Nelson's interests included the public schools, and he served on the Board for Chaves County Independent School District No. 2. Also on the local level, he has long been active in the Chaves County Democratic Party and has held the position of treasurer.
The arrangement of materials in the second sub-group, Cotton Activities, follows Nelson's career as a cotton farmer, beginning with documents relating to his own farm in eastern New Mexico and including the many agricultural organizations with which he has been actively associated. Some of these are: New Mexico State University's Agronomy Department and Cooperative Extension Service, the 1517 Cotton Association, and the New Mexico Crop Improvement Association.
He made use of the support of the National Cotton Council and personally helped to publicize such needs of cotton producers as were represented by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1976. Mr. Nelson's increased involvement in cotton-related activities led to his membership on the Board of Directors of Cotton Incorporated, where he has served the cotton industry on a national level since 1972.
The types of documents in this collection consist mainly of correspondence, minutes, reports, speeches, data summaries, clippings, newsletters and other publications. The two sub-groups are fairly equal in size; the Political Activities portion contains 177 folders (23 boxes) while there are 160 folders (20 boxes) which relate to Cotton Activities.
Dates
- 1951-1980
Language of Materials
English
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.
The copyrights have not been transferred to New Mexico State University.
The copyrights have not been transferred to New Mexico State University.
Biographical Sketch
Placeholder p text
- 1919
- Born September 27 in Artesia, New Mexico, the son of Fred M. and Florence (Morgan) Nelson
- 1937 (?)
- Graduated from Roswell High School
- 1940-1941
- State Master Counselor, Order of DeMolay
- 1941
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
- 1941-1946, 1951-1952
- Active duty, United States Army Air Corps and United States Air Force; colonel, United States Air Force Reserves; awarded Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Palm
- 1946-1980
- Farmer, Roswell, New Mexico
- 1947-1980
- Member Central Committee, Chaves County Democratic Party
- 1949-1952, 1955-1958, 1959-1962
- Member, New Mexico House of Representatives; chairman, Public and Military Affairs Committee
- 1950
- Married February 22 to Joyce LaSeur Walsh; children: Jimmie Margo, Margaret Denise Ann, Martha Jane
- 1953-1980
- Member, New Mexico Crop Improvement Association; vice-president, 1955
- 1953-1957
- Member, New Mexico Board of Educational Finance; chairman, 1956-1957
- 1956
- Member, New Mexico State University Cotton Industry Committee
- 1959-1960, 1963-1967
- Commissioner, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
- 1962-1964
- Chairman, Editorial Committee, New Mexico Commission on Statewide Higher Education Problems
- 1964-1980
- Member, Board of Directors, 1517 Cotton Association
- 1964-1980
- Member, Pecos Valley Farmers Association; president, 1978-80
- 1965-1970
- Member, New Mexico Advisory Committee on Higher Education Facilities; chairman, 1968-70
- 1966-1969
- Member, U. S. Joint Commission on Correctional Manpower and Training
- 1968
- Graduate work, Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell
- 1971-1973
- Member, New Mexico State University Cotton Advisory Committee (representing 1517 Association); chairman, 1973
- 1972-1980
- Member, Board of Directors, Cotton Incorporated
- 1974-1980
- Member, Executive Committee, Cotton Incorporated
- 1975
- General Chairman, Western Cotton Production Conference, El Paso, Texas
Mr. Nelson has also had an interest and/or membership in the following organizations:
- Baptist Church
- Chaves County Crop Improvement Association
- Chaves County Farm and Livestock Bureau
- Chaves County Independent School Board Number 2 (member)
- Freemasons (Shriner)
- National Cotton Council
- New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau (past director)
- New Mexico Flying Farmers (past president)
- New Mexico Savings and Loan Association (past vice-president)
- Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
- Roswell Junior Chamber of Commerce (past vice-president)
- Roswell Toastmasters (past vice-president)
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
- Western Soils Laboratory (past director)
Extent
19 Linear Feet
Abstract
Roswell, New Mexico, cotton farmer and former state representative. The collection contains correspondence, minutes, reports, speeches, data summaries, clippings, newsletters and other publications which pertain to his terms in the state legislature, his membership on the Board of Educational Finance and on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, and his involvement in numerous cotton-related activities and organizations, particularly as a member of the Board of Directors of Cotton Incorporated.
Acquisition
- RG80-93
- RG81-22 Gifts of Morgan Nelson
General
Contact Information
- Archives and Special Collections
- New Mexico State University Library
- P.O. Box 30006
- Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
- Phone: (575) 646-3839
- Fax: (575) 646-7477
- Email: archives@nmsu.edu
- URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/
General
- Title
- Register of the Morgan Nelson Papers, 1951-1980
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Processed by Linda Blacer, revised by Linda Blazer and Andrea Conners
- Date
- © 2001
- 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 University::Archives and Special Collections//TEXT (US::NmLcU::Ms 181::Morgan Nelson Papers)//EN" "nmlcu1ms181.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 University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository