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Fort Cummings post records

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0131

Scope and Contents

The collection has six rolls of microfilm which contains correspondence between commands in the U.S. Army. There is an abstract of monthly post returns from October 1863- September 1886 written by John P. Wilson in June 1970 for the Museum of New Mexico is Santa Fe. The map included with the collection is a copy which was copied in different smaller-sized sections.

Dates

  • 1863-1884

Biographical / Historical

Named for Major Joseph Cummings, Fort Cummings in Luna County, New Mexico, was designed by General George B. McClellan with the high wall of adobe entirely enclosing the barracks and the headquarters. Built in 1863 near a stagecoach station for the Butterfield Overland Mail, the fort’s original purpose was to protect mail carriers, emigrant trains and freighters from local Apaches. It was permanently closed in 1891.

Source: Pearce, T. M. New Mexico Place Names. 1965. Albuquerque: The University of New Mexico Press.

Extent

6 Reels (4th floor microfilm cabinets; map in map cases)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

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

Related Materials

Fort Selden letters. Ms 0127. Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library.

Processing Information

Updated by Cassie McClure, 2006.
Title
Guide to the Fort Cummings post records
Status
Completed
Author
Cassie McClure
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

Contact:
Branson Hall
PO Box 30006
MSC 3475
Las Cruces New Mexico 88003 USA