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Fort Selden letters

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0127

Scope and Contents

The Fort Selden letters are microfilms of original letters held by the National Archives and Records Administration. They are primarily letters sent to and from Fort Selden from the Office of the Quartermaster General. The four rolls of microfilm were received through John P. Wilson who used them as a research tool for a paper called, “Ft. Selden Development Project, Phase II, Archeaological Investigations.” Two reels come from NARA record group 92, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, and two reels come from NARA record group 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office.

Dates

  • 1866-1899

Biographical / Historical

Established at what is now Radium Springs, New Mexico and built on the Rio Grande, Fort Selden was a territorial fort constructed in 1865. Originally built for one company of infantry and one company of cavalry with sixty horses. The fort was built adobe style, flat one story buildings except for the Administration building. Water was taken from the Rio Grande and the nearest town was Leasburg, with Dona Ana twelve miles to the south. The site for the fort was taken from an older Indian campground and a Spanish crossroads before the Jornada del Muerto, or Journey of the Dead Man, in Spanish.

Extent

4 Reels (4 microfilm reels - 4th floor)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains letters to and from former army outpost Fort Selden, New Mexico between 1866-1899.

Related Materials

A77-117. Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. A76-050. Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library.

Processing Information

Updated by Cassie McClure
Title
Guide to the Fort Selden letters
Status
Completed
Author
Updated by Cassie McClure
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

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