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Fabián García Papers,

 Collection
Identifier: UA-0011

Scope and Content

The papers of Fabián García (1871-1948), horticulturist, Professor of Horticulture at New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Las Cruces, span the years 1886-1948, with the bulk of material between 1899-1948. Correspondence constitutes the major part of these papers, supplemented by publications, speeches, notebooks, record books, and financial papers.

The papers detail the lengthy career of Garcia from his early years as a student at Cornell, through his years as a budding horticulturist of note, to his final years as a beloved public figure. Garcia was a member of the first graduating class of New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1894 and, aside from a brief time as a student at Cornell University in 1899-1900, his career was closely linked with the development of the school that is now New Mexico State University. From 1914 to 1945 Garcia was director and horticulturist of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Las Cruces. Among the most successful and widely known experiments that Garcia fostered were those with the Yellow and White Grano onions, Chile No. 9, sugar beet seed, and Acala cotton.

Garcia utilized either Spanish or English as appropriate in conducting his personal, business and professional affairs. Spanish was his native language, and he learned to write formal Spanish while a student at New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts. Almost all correspondence from his wife and her family is in Spanish while most of his professional correspondence is in English. Some of Garcia's manuscripts, Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletins, press bulletins, and speeches were written and published in both English and Spanish.

The personal correspondence contains letters received and sent, esquellas, invitations, postcards and some items which had sentimental value for Garcia. There are love letters written by Julieta J. Amador to Garcia before their marriage in August 1907. Correspondents of special interest include Charles H. Tyler Townsend, Dennis Chavez, Andrew H. Hudspeth, Hiram Hadley, Elmer Ottis Wooton, H. B. Hening, Maude and Lansing Bloom, Concha Jimenez Stewart, Isidoro Armijo and John Bingham.

The personal correspondence makes it apparent that Garcia was held in high esteem by friends and acquaintances. Letters sent after 1945 provide a picture of a grief stricken and lonely man, as Garcia faced his last years suffering from Parkinson's disease. Garcia was hospitalized at McBride's Hospital from February 1945 until his death on August 6, 1948.

Included in Garcia's personal papers are the extant papers of Alfredo M. Sanchez. Sanchez, who was Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Territory of New Mexico, died unexpectedly in 1908 while on a visit to his family in Mesilla. Garcia was appointed administrator of his estate. Sanchez was graduated from New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1901, and six letters of advice from Hiram Hadley are of special interest. The Sanchez Estate papers include numerous letters from J. E. Clark, Superintendent of Public Instruction, to Garcia concerning Sanchez's personal effects.

The professional correspondence sent and received by Fabian Garcia (1885-1948) is of particular interest. It includes letters of recommendation for Garcia, written in 1901, by: Clarence T. Hagerty; L. B. Prime; P. H. Curran; P. F. Hare; L. H. Bailey; T. D. A. Cockerell; I. P. Roberts; J. D. Tinsley; F. W. Sanders; Hiram Hadley; A. E. Blount; J. J. Vernon; E. O. Wooton; Charles Keffer; and Arthur Goss.. These letters were written when Garcia applied for a position in Puerto Rico; also of interest is a letter from A. C. Hartenbower.

The majority of Garcia's professional correspondence is of a very general nature. Correspondents of note are: Hugh M. Milton II, Ramon Espinosa Velianueva, Curtis Newcombe, B. Youngblood, John Bingham, Austin D. Crile, A. B. Fite, C. P. Wilson, H. B. Peairs, A. C. Hildreth, O. A. Larrazolo, Ignacio C. Enriquez, Jose A. Baca, James Jardine, J. B. Ledford, and George Curry.

A number of manuscripts written by Garcia are included in his professional papers, as are a few copies of the numerous press bulletins he wrote for the Agricultural Experiment Station at Las Cruces. Various speeches on education, in both English and Spanish, are included in these papers, as are a few of the annual reports which Garcia authored as Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station.

A small glimpse of Fabian Garcia as a student is provided by his undergraduate thesis (1894), and by a few course notebooks from his year (1899-1900) as a special graduate student at Cornell University.

The professional papers also include some miscellaneous notebooks, a few certificates of appointment or membership, some miscellaneous information on judging agricultural products, and fragments of some course outlines.

The business papers (1885-1948) are about half of the total collection in bulk. These papers show Garcia as a careful and frugal steward of the properties he and his wife inherited. Most of the correspondence and legal papers deal either with various aspects of real estate management, or notes and loans, or investments. Also included are financial records (bank statements, bills and receipts, tax receipts, water use records and cash flow books).

A small but interesting item is the ranch records (1911-1915) for a small ranch owned jointly by Julieta and Fabian Garcia and Clotilde and Antonio Terrazas. These are in an account book (1911-1927). Five photographs are stored in the photo area.

Dates

  • 1886-1948 (1899-1948)

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 all copyright and other applicable statutes.

The copyrights possessed in these papers have not been transferred to New Mexico State University.

Biographical Sketch

1871, January 20
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico
1873
Brought to the United States by his grandmother, Doa Jacoba
1885
Moved to the Mesilla Valley
1889
Became a U. S. citizen
1890
Entered New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (N. M. C. A. & M. A.)
1894
Graduated in first class of N. M. C. A. & M. A.
1899-1900
Special graduate work, Cornell University
1905
Master of Science in Agriculture from N. M. C. A. & M. A.
1894-1904
Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Horticulture, N. M. C. A. & M. A.
1904-1945
Professor of Horticulture, N. M. C. A. & M. A.
1904-1913
Horticulturist, Agricultural Experiment Station, N. M. C. A. & M. A.
1913-1945
Director of Agricultural Experiment Station, N. M. C. A. & M. A.
1927, June
Honorary Doctor of Agriculture, N. M. C. A. & M. A.
1943, May 3
Honorary Doctor of Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
1941-1947
Member of Selective Service State Board of Appeals
1945, February
Hospitalized with Parkinson's disease
1948, August 4
Died at McBride's Hospital, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet

Abstract

Horticulturist, Professor of Horticulture and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now New Mexico State University) in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Consists of correspondence, notebooks, speeches, manuscripts for publications and other materials related to his career, civic service, and personal life. Includes the extant papers of Alfredo M. Sanchez, an Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Territory of New Mexico.

Acquisition

  1. A66

General

Contact Information

  1. Archives and Special Collections
  2. NewMexico State University Library
  3. P.O. Box 30006
  4. Las Cruces, NewMexico 88003-8006
  5. Phone: (575) 646-3839
  6. Fax: (575) 646-7477
  7. Email: archives@nmsu.edu
  8. URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/

General

Title
Register of the Fabián García Papers, 1886-1948
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
Processed by Lynda MacKinchan, revised by Linda Blazer and Andrea Conners
Date
© 2000
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 "nmlcu1ms71.sgml" changed to "nmlcuua011.xml" by Charles Stanford, May 13, 2008
  • 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