Edwin L. Mechem papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0292
Scope and Contents
The Edwin L. Mechem papers are composed of various books, political and southwest in nature, along with political cartoons drawn about him by an artist named McGinnis and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings from his time as governor of New Mexico. With more photographs than manuscript documents, Mechem explains in a letter to the Archives that he tried to avoid accumulating or collecting paperwork from his gubernatorial activities. Some of the photographs contain annotations by Mechem.
Dates
- ca. 1950-2004
Biographical / Historical
Edwin Leard Mechem, born on July 12, 1912, was New Mexico's only four-term governor, a former U.S. senator and a federal judge.
Originally from Alamogordo, New Mexico, Mechem graduated from New Mexico A&M, now New Mexico State University, and earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas. Related to former New Mexico Governor Merritt C. Mechem, Edwin L. Mechem went into practice with his father and then joined the FBI during World War II.
Mechem won a state House seat in 1946. Four years later, he upset Democrat John Miles to. A member of Republican party known as "Big Ed," Mechem served as New Mexico governor from 1951-54, 1957-58, 1961-62, with his first term as New Mexico's first Republican governor in 20 years. New Mexico governors were elected to two-year terms when Mechem served.
He resigned as governor in November 1962 to complete the U.S. Senate term of Democrat Dennis Chavez and during that time he voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Mechem lost his bid to retain the seat in 1964.
In 1970, he was appointed a federal judge by President Nixon and took senior status as a judge in 1982 on his 70th birthday. Mechem served as a judge for more than 30 years and continued to work at home until his death on November 27, 2002.
Extent
2.80 Linear Feet (4 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Papers and photographs from former Republican New Mexico governor and federal judge Edwin L. Mechem.
Processing Information
Updated by Cassie McClure, 2006
- Title
- Guide to the Edwin L. Mechem papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Updated by Cassie McClure
- Date
- Updated 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