Margaret Page and Alec C. Hood papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0243
Scope and Content
This collection is organized into two groups: Margaret Page Hood and Alec C. Hood. The papers of Margaret Page Hood comprise 4.5 linear feet and the papers of Alec C. Hood comprise .5 linear feet. There are an additional 2 linear feet of photographs which contain images relating to both individuals.
The papers of Margaret Page Hood are arranged into four series: Personal, Writings, Memorabilia, and Books. The majority of the papers consist of manuscript versions of her novels, short stories and poems. The Personal series includes her obituary, pages from her funeral booklet, a newspaper article about her, and a journal. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Writings series includes manuscript versions of several of her full-length novels, copies of all seven novels, and other writings. This series is divided into four subseries: novels, short stories, poetry, and newspaper and magazine articles. Each subseries is arranged alphabetically by title of the work. In the novels subseries, all materials relating to a title are filed together. The Memorabilia series includes certificates, guest books, materials regarding the death of Bronson Cutting, writings by other authors, and two scrapbooks. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Books series contains six books owned by Margaret Page Hood which are either signed by the author or rare.
The papers of Alec C. Hood are separated into three series: Personal, Civic Activities, and Military. The Personal series includes newspaper clippings about Hood, his marriage certificate to Margaret Page, correspondence, a ledger from the Motor Service Company and pages from his funeral booklet. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Civic Activities series includes materials relating to the Civilian Defense Corps of Las Cruces and Rotary materials. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Military series includes correspondence, identification cards, and American Legion memorabilia. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
There are approximately two feet of photographs associated with this collection. Where possible photographs have been identified and grouped according to subject or type of image. Included in this series are photographs of Alec Hood, Margaret Page Hood, their Las Cruces home, Maine, a daguerreotype, and some tintypes. The Photographs series also contains two Hartshorn family albums.
The papers of Margaret Page Hood are arranged into four series: Personal, Writings, Memorabilia, and Books. The majority of the papers consist of manuscript versions of her novels, short stories and poems. The Personal series includes her obituary, pages from her funeral booklet, a newspaper article about her, and a journal. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Writings series includes manuscript versions of several of her full-length novels, copies of all seven novels, and other writings. This series is divided into four subseries: novels, short stories, poetry, and newspaper and magazine articles. Each subseries is arranged alphabetically by title of the work. In the novels subseries, all materials relating to a title are filed together. The Memorabilia series includes certificates, guest books, materials regarding the death of Bronson Cutting, writings by other authors, and two scrapbooks. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Books series contains six books owned by Margaret Page Hood which are either signed by the author or rare.
The papers of Alec C. Hood are separated into three series: Personal, Civic Activities, and Military. The Personal series includes newspaper clippings about Hood, his marriage certificate to Margaret Page, correspondence, a ledger from the Motor Service Company and pages from his funeral booklet. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Civic Activities series includes materials relating to the Civilian Defense Corps of Las Cruces and Rotary materials. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The Military series includes correspondence, identification cards, and American Legion memorabilia. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
There are approximately two feet of photographs associated with this collection. Where possible photographs have been identified and grouped according to subject or type of image. Included in this series are photographs of Alec Hood, Margaret Page Hood, their Las Cruces home, Maine, a daguerreotype, and some tintypes. The Photographs series also contains two Hartshorn family albums.
Dates
- 1914 - 1985
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 to New Mexico State University.
Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred to New Mexico State University.
Biographical Sketches
Margaret Page was born on February 9, 1892 in Connecticut. As a child her family moved to Massachusetts, but she spent her summers with her grandparents near Portland, Maine. It was Maine that she grew to love and would return to later in life. After graduating from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, Margaret received her first job as a teacher at Nasson Junior College in Maine.
The Pages had family in the Southwest, and in 1924, Margaret arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico where she began her career in journalism in the publicity department of the Extension Service at New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The following year she married Alec Hood. She continued working as a journalist after her marriage, writing articles for the El Paso Herald Post, the Rio Grande Farmer, the Christian Science Monitor, and the New Mexico Sentinel. She worked for the Sentinel until 1944 when it ceased publication. In 1954, Margaret received the Zia Award from the New Mexico Press Women.
The Hoods moved to Maine after Alec's retirement and Margaret began writing fiction. She published seven full-length novels: six were mysteries set in Maine and one was set in New Mexico in the early 20th century. Some of her books were translated into foreign languages and one was adapted for television. Several of her short stories were published in Ellery Queen.
Through the Hartshorn family on her mother's side, Margaret was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was inducted into the Doña Ana County Historical Society's Hall of Fame in 1981. She died in 1983.
Alexander Cecil Hood was born in Leeds, England in 1888. He immigrated to the United States in 1912. First moving to Omaha, Nebraska, which he found to be too cold, Hood kept moving South. On a train in Socorro, New Mexico, he told the conductor to give him a ticket to the largest place between there and Texas, which was how Hood ended up in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
A skilled mechanic, Hood found work in auto garages and eventually bought his own garage. After Pancho Villa raided Columbus, New Mexico in 1916, Hood, along with several others, was appointed a Special Deputy Sheriff by Felipe Lucero. In 1917, he sold his business to join the Army Air Corps. He was discharged in 1919 and returned to Las Cruces to start over again. He eventually opened the Motor Service Company which he ran until 1947 when he sold it and retired. Hood organized a National Guard unit in Las Cruces in 1921 and served as first Lieutenant until 1924. While at one of the local dances, he met his future wife, Margaret Page. The two were married in 1925.
After his retirement the Hoods moved from Las Cruces to an island called Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine. While Margaret worked on her writing, Alec discovered a new hobby, carving birds.
The Hoods returned to New Mexico in 1953. Hood became secretary of the Rotary Club of Las Cruces and served in that position for 13 years. He remained active in the community until his death in 1985.
The Pages had family in the Southwest, and in 1924, Margaret arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico where she began her career in journalism in the publicity department of the Extension Service at New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The following year she married Alec Hood. She continued working as a journalist after her marriage, writing articles for the El Paso Herald Post, the Rio Grande Farmer, the Christian Science Monitor, and the New Mexico Sentinel. She worked for the Sentinel until 1944 when it ceased publication. In 1954, Margaret received the Zia Award from the New Mexico Press Women.
The Hoods moved to Maine after Alec's retirement and Margaret began writing fiction. She published seven full-length novels: six were mysteries set in Maine and one was set in New Mexico in the early 20th century. Some of her books were translated into foreign languages and one was adapted for television. Several of her short stories were published in Ellery Queen.
Through the Hartshorn family on her mother's side, Margaret was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was inducted into the Doña Ana County Historical Society's Hall of Fame in 1981. She died in 1983.
Alexander Cecil Hood was born in Leeds, England in 1888. He immigrated to the United States in 1912. First moving to Omaha, Nebraska, which he found to be too cold, Hood kept moving South. On a train in Socorro, New Mexico, he told the conductor to give him a ticket to the largest place between there and Texas, which was how Hood ended up in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
A skilled mechanic, Hood found work in auto garages and eventually bought his own garage. After Pancho Villa raided Columbus, New Mexico in 1916, Hood, along with several others, was appointed a Special Deputy Sheriff by Felipe Lucero. In 1917, he sold his business to join the Army Air Corps. He was discharged in 1919 and returned to Las Cruces to start over again. He eventually opened the Motor Service Company which he ran until 1947 when he sold it and retired. Hood organized a National Guard unit in Las Cruces in 1921 and served as first Lieutenant until 1924. While at one of the local dances, he met his future wife, Margaret Page. The two were married in 1925.
After his retirement the Hoods moved from Las Cruces to an island called Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine. While Margaret worked on her writing, Alec discovered a new hobby, carving birds.
The Hoods returned to New Mexico in 1953. Hood became secretary of the Rotary Club of Las Cruces and served in that position for 13 years. He remained active in the community until his death in 1985.
Extent
7 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
Undetermined
English
Abstract
Margaret Page Hood was a mystery writer and New Mexico journalist. Her husband, Alec C. Hood was a World War I veteran, a Las Cruces businessman, and a Las Cruces Rotarian. The collection is divided into two record groups, one for Margaret Page Hood and one for Alec C. Hood. Margaret Page Hood's papers contain manuscripts of her writings; published articles; personal materials; and Hartshorn family memorabilia including two photo albums. Alec C. Hood's papers consist of correspondence, clippings, and certificates relating to his involvement in the Rotary and the military.
Acquisition
- A76-151 Gift of Alec C. Hood
- RG84-099 Gift of Alec C. Hood
- RG85-003 Gift of Alec C. Hood
- RG85-108 Gift of Alec C. Hood
- RG88-111 Gift of the estate of Alec C. Hood
Separated Material
Some materials in this collection have been sent to the Branigan Cultural Center or transferred to the Rotary Club collection in the Rio Grande Historical Collections. A complete list of separated items is available at the repository.
General
Contact Information
- Archives and Special Collections
- New Mexico StateUniversity Library
- P.O. Box 30006
- Las Cruces, New Mexico88003-8006
- Phone: (575) 646-3839
- Fax: (575) 646-7477
- Email: archives@nmsu.edu
- URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/
General
- Title
- Guide to the Margaret Page and Alec C. Hood papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Portia Vescio
- 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 243::Margaret Page and Alec C. Hood Papers)//EN" "nmlcu1ms243.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