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Amador family papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0004

Scope and Contents

The papers consist largely of correspondence and financial records of individual family members. Evidence of the Amador's social connections, interest in the latest goods and fashion, religious and charitable affiliations, and concerns regarding Mexican politics are documented. Invitations to balls and other social events in Las Cruces and in Mexico are found throughout the collection. Mailings from various department stores, including Lane Bryant of New York and the White House in El Paso, Texas, are found in several of the Amador women's series. Daughters Emilia and Clotilde received considerable materials from religious organizations, such as Commissariat of the Holy Land and Apostleship of Prayer. Additionally, several of the daughters attended Loretto Academy and kept close connections to it after their time there. Correspondence between Clotilde and husband Antonio Terrazas reveals some of the family's interest and involvement in the political movements of the time. Business materials are found within the Martin Amador, Antonio Terrazas and Jesus Garcia series. Ledgers document the trading activities of Martin Amador's freight business both in Silver City and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Transactions of Compania Industrial Mexicana in Chihuahua, Mexico, are present in Antonio Terrazas's materials, as well as records of alfalfa sales. Jesus Garcia's business dealings include mining, Adams Express Company, and official business of Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The Miscellaneous series contains unidentified correspondence, writings, and speeches. Some of the materials are political in nature with references to the Mexican Revolution and Benito Juarez.

The materials have been divided into 15 series: Martin Amador, Refugio Ruiz de Amador, Clotilde Amador de Terrazas, Antonio Terrazas, Corina Amador de Campbell, Emilia Amador de Garcia, Jesus Garcia, Francisco Amador, Juan Amador, Julieta Amador de Garcia, Maria Amador de Daguerre, Martin A. Amador, Jr., Miscellaneous, Advertisements and ephemera, Photographs.

Dates

  • 1856-1949

Language of Materials

Bulk of the material is in Spanish.

Biographical / Historical

The Amador Family Papers span the years 1856-1949. Martin Amador and his wife Refugio Ruiz de Amador had eight children who survived to adulthood. The Amadors operated several businesses in Las Cruces, including the Amador Hotel, a general store, a livery stable, and a business hauling freight and goods from Chihuahua, Mexico, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The hotel also housed a theater, the local jail, a courtroom, and post office. The Amadors owned several farms in the area.

Extent

40 Linear Feet (106 Boxes)

Abstract

Papers of the Amador family, entrepreneurs and community leaders of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Included in the collection are the personal papers of Martin Amador, Refugio Ruiz de Amador, their children, Emilia Amador de Garcia, Juan Amador, Francisco Amador, Martin A. Amador, Jr., Maria Amador de Daguerre, Clotilde Amador de Terrazas, Julieta Amador de Garcia, and Corina Amador de Campbell, and sons in law, Jesus Garcia and Antonio Terrazas. The papers include correspondence, financial, and legal records which detail both the Amadors’ business activities and their personal lives. The bulk of the materials are in Spanish. A large portion of the collection consists of trade catalogs from the Amador's mercantile business.

Related Materials

Fabian Garcia papers. Amador Trade Catalogs are described separately as Ms 0004 ATC. A database for the trade catalogs included in this collection can be accessed through the Rio Grande Historical Collections web site and the catalogs are searchable through several different fields.

Processing Information

Processed by Shawn Aubitz, revised by Marah deMeule and Christine Moreland Bruhnke Updated, with additional materials processed by Terry Reynolds, Misty Bargmann, Jennifer Olguin and Charles Stanford, 2012.
Title
Guide to the Amador family papers
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Shawn Aubitz, revised by Marah deMeule and Christine Moreland Bruhnke Updated, with additional materials processed by Terry Reynolds, Misty Bargmann, Jennifer Olguin and Charles Stanford
Date
2012
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