Thomas Branigan Memorial Library photographs
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0001
Scope and Contents
The Thomas Branigan Memorial Library photographs consist of 396 photographic prints depicting people and places in the Las Cruces, New Mexico area during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Included are scenes of downtown Las Cruces, important Las Cruces personalities, businesses, hotels, homes, agriculture, irrigation canals, surrounding communities, the Organ Mountains, New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now New Mexico State University), Apaches, Juarez, Mexico, construction of the Elephant Butte Dam, and the Gen. John J. Pershing Punitive Expedition into Mexico to search for Pancho Villa.
Dates
- ca. 1870-1975
Biographical / Historical
The Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, Las Cruces' first permanent public library, was formed in 1934-35 with funds willed to the City of Las Cruces by Alice Branigan in memory of her husband, Captain Thomas Branigan. The will provided $35,000 for the construction of a library building and an additional $10,000 for purchase of books. The original building, located on Main Street in downtown Las Cruces, was a modified Southwest Pueblo style designed by El Paso architect Percy McGhee. The library occupied that building until 1979 when it relocated to a new, larger and more modern structure at the intersection of Main and Picacho streets.
Extent
4.50 Linear Feet (6 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs from the collection of the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, Las Cruces, New Mexico, primarily depicting late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century Las Cruces-area people, places and events.
Processing Information
Archives staff
Dennis Daily, 2004.
- Title
- Guide to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library photographs
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Archives staff and Dennis Daily
- Date
- 2004
- 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