Herbert Bartlett Holt papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0061
Scope and Contents
The Herbert Barlett Holt Papers consist of the legal and personal papers of a prominent southwestern pioneer and lawyer. The bulk of the personal series contain personal letters from his wife Nellie, which span from 1897-1912. The letters from Nellie inform Herbert of various events that occur during his business travels. The letters contain information about their family, social events, politics and business matters occurring in Las Cruces during Herbert’s absence. The papers also contain material concerning Holt's appointment as Captain in the New Mexico Home Guard from 1918-1920 (now known as the New Mexico National Guard).
The majority of the legal papers in this collection concern mining. The following mining districts are represented: Cook's Peak; Florida; Tres Hermanas; Organ; Black Mountain; Silver Hill (Jicarilla); Virginia; and San Diego. There is a map of mining claims in the Tres Hermanas Mining District near Columbus, New Mexico.
The information on the Elephant Butte Project includes several annotated bulletins which date from 1905-1926. Also of interest is a copy of an unpublished manuscript by H. B. Holt entitled Early History of Elephant Butte Dam or Rio Grande Project, 1946, written for the Historical Committee of the Las Cruces Aztec Lodge.
The majority of the political items concern the 1948 elections when Holt's former law partner, William A. Sutherland, ran for District Judge of the Third Judicial District on the Republican ticket. This includes a Democratic flyer (in English and Spanish) which decries the "Holt political machine."
Also included in the collection is an undated estate note which concern Hiram Hadley, and a letter and a telegram from Albert B. Fall, both dated 1918. There are also several letters from Governor R. C. Dillon, and correspondence between U.S. Senator Andrieus A. Jones.
The collection also includes some correspondence about the Bowman Bank and Trust Company (1922-1925), various blank tax forms, miscellaneous political pamphlets and a few photographs. There are many shorthand written notes and annotations on the legal papers, government bulletins and newspaper clippings in this collection.
The folders follow a very rough chronological order; and the arrangement within folders is chronological, except for the John P. Mack materials and abstracts which are ordered as they were found. Lastly, kept in a small collections folder, are photographs that were found in the collection.
Dates
- 1813-1951
Biographical / Historical
Herbert Bartlett Holt was born November 4, 1868 in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Before coming to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1891, Holt was a stenographer for A.A. Robinson, who was vice president and chief engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad, in 1887. Holt married Nellie Blakesley in 1890 with whom he had three children.
From 1891-1903, Holt was a court reporter for 3rd Judicial District of Territory of New Mexico. He was admitted to the bar in 1898 and from 1901-1908 was associated in law with J. F. Bonham and Judge Edward A. Mann. Holt was the District Attorney for 3rd Judicial District of the Territory of New Mexico from 1905-1907 and also president of the Elephant Butte Water Users' Association from 1905-1911. Holt entered into law practice with W.A. Sutherland from 1908-1926. He served as a Senator in the first session of the New Mexico State Legislature and was Majority floor leader from 1912-1917.
In 1926, Holt’s law firm was renamed to Holt & Holt, when his son E.L. Holt joined the practice. From 1927-1928, Holt was the president of the First National Bank in Las Cruces. He was nominated to run for the U.S. Senate by the Republican party in 1930; the same year his first wife Nellie died. He was remarried four years later to Maude Sattley who died in 1940.
Holt continued to practice law during the 1950s. He died in Las Cruces on April 22, 1957.
Extent
3.50 Linear Feet (8 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Papers of Herbert Holt, a prominent southwest lawyer. Collection includes documents
relating to his practice that he shared with William Sutherland.
Processing Information
Updated by Cassie McClure and Bill Boehm, 2006. Additional materials integrated by Jennifer Olguin, 2020.
- Title
- Guide to the Herbert Bartlett Holt papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Cassie McClure and Bill Boehm
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository