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Garrey Carruthers papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0307

Scope and Content

The Garrey E. Carruthers papers contain the professional papers of Carruthers in his different capacities as professor at New Mexico State University, White House Fellow, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and Governor of New Mexico. The papers span the years 1968-1991 and contain correspondence, papers, newspaper clippings, publications, records, photographs and campaign ephemera. The collection has been divided into seven (7) series: I. New Mexico State University papers; II. Federal service, III. Gubernatorial papers, which has been further divided into seven subseries: A. Campaign materials, B. Informational and operational files, C. Education issues, D. Speeches, E. Proposed legislation, F. Proclamations and press releases and G. Regrets; VI. Audio -video; V. Photographs; VI. Memorabilia and awards; and VII. Maps. Much of the original order and designations of the materials has been kept.

Included in the collection are materials relating to Carruthers' time as Professor of Agricultural Economics at New Mexico State including teaching files and research work. The materials also comprise publications written by Carruthers. Since Carruthers' time of service to New Mexico State University overlapped his time in politics and Federal service, there are materials from his time as chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, a White House Fellow, and Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior that may be included with files that correspond to his time as an NMSU professor. However, materials readily identified as being part of his time in Federal service (White House Fellow and in the Department of Interior) are listed as part of the Federal service series of documents.

The largest portion of the collection documents his time spent in office as Governor of New Mexico. Subject files of materials on issues and events relating to political topics and legislature form the bulk of these items. Included is correspondence and files relating to the issues, committees and events. Educational reform is one of the main issues covered by the materials. Speeches made while in office cover a wide variety of topics; in addition to education, business initiatives in New Mexico was a favored subject. The day to day work of the office and administrative files is also contained within the items.

The correspondents in the collection include President's Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George Bush, current US Senators for New Mexico Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici, former US Representative and Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan, former US Representative Steve Schiff, former New Mexican Governors Bruce King and Toney Anaya, former New Mexico State University President's James Halligan and Gerald Thomas, and former New Mexico State Land Commissioner Ray Powell.

Dates

  • 1968-1991

Language of Materials

English Spanish

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.

Biography

Garrey E. Carruthers was born in Durango, Colorado in 1939, and raised in Aztec, New Mexico.

He earned his bachelor and master degrees at New Mexico State University in 1964 and 1965, and received his Ph.D. in economics at Iowa State University in 1968.

Carruthers joined the New Mexico State University faculty in 1968 as a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business. He began as an Assistant Professor from 1968-1972, then was promoted to an Associate Professor position, which he served until 1974. It was that year that Carruthers was appointed as a White House Fellow for 1974-1975. In this capacity, he was a Special Assistant to Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz during the early days of the presidency of Gerald Ford.

In 1975, Carruthers resumed his position as an Associate Professor at New Mexico State University, in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business. The following summer, Carruthers was named acting director of the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute. He remained in his faculty position, eventually being named a full Professor in 1979.

Carruthers remained at the university until 1985, with interruptions for governmental appointments. The first of these was as assistant U.S. secretary of the interior from 1981 to 1984. He served as a consultant in this capacity, and later worked within the divisions of Land and Water Resources and the Land and Minerals Management. These divisions were responsible for the activities of the Bureau of Land Management, Minerals Management Service, and the Office of Surface Mining within the Department of the Interior.

Always interested in statewide politics, Dr. Carruthers left his position as Professor of Agricultural Economics and Business in 1985 to campaign for the Governor of New Mexico election of 1986. With New Mexicans overwhelmingly disapproving of the job performance of then-Governor Toney Anaya, Carruthers emerged as the Republican Party?s front-runner in the state. He later faced Democrat Ray Powell, the State Land Commissioner, in the general election in November 1986. Carruthers was elected handily. He was the first Republican Governor of New Mexico since Bruce King succeeded David Cargo left office in 1971.

He served as governor of New Mexico from 1987 to 1990. Unable to succeed himself under the terms of the New Mexico Constitution, Carruthers left office in 1991, and joined Health Care Horizons, based in Albuquerque. He served as a member of the board until 1993. At that time, Carruthers was named President and CEO of the Cimarron Health Plan, a health-maintenance organization (HMO). Carruthers served in this capacity until 2003, when he sold his interests in Cimarron to Molina Healthcare, Inc., an HMO based in California.

In July 2003, Dr. Carruthers became Dean of the College of Business at New Mexico State University, where he began his academic career in 1968. He currently lives in Las Cruces with his wife Kathy; they have three children and five grandchildren.

Extent

140 Linear Feet

Abstract

Professional papers of former New Mexican Governor Garrey Carruthers. Also includes papers from his years as Professor of Agricultural Economics at New Mexico State University, and from his multiple capacities in the Federal Government, including positions as a White House Fellow and Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Acquisition

  1. Gifts of Garrey E. Carruthers:
  2. RG 87-111
  3. RG 87-144
  4. RG 88-147
  5. RG 89-030

Related Material

Hagerman family papers. Ms 0104Archives and Special Collections Department, New Mexico State University Library. Ed Mechem papers. Ms 0292Archives and Special Collections Department, New Mexico State University Library.

General

Contact Information

  1. Archives and Special Collections
  2. New Mexico State University Library
  3. P.O. Box 30006
  4. Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
  5. Phone: (505) 646-3839
  6. Fax: (505) 646-7477
  7. Email: archives@lib.nmsu.edu
  8. URL: http://archives.nmsu.edu

General

Title
Guide to the Garrey Carruthers papers, 1968-1991
Status
In Process
Author
Processed by Maura Kenny and William B. Boehm, assisted by Sean Barham, Julie Bond, Jackie Duncan, Brittney East, Sandy Hutchison, Kris Laumbach, Matt Punke and Cecelia Romero, March 2006
Date
© 2006
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

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