William Adair family papers

Collection

Identifier: Ms-0074

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The personal papers of William J.T. Adair and Maria Paulina Adair span the years 1897-1969. Most of the correspondence, almost 2000 items, are written by Mrs. Adair. The rest of the personal correspondence is written by Mr. William J.T. Adair or the Adair children. The letters in these papers are of interest for the picture of social and family life that they give. They are also of interest as a continuation of the Amador family papers. Principal correspondents of Maria Paulina Adair are: her five children; her husband; her aunts, Maria Amador de Daguerre; Emilia Amador Garcia; her in-laws, Mr. And Mrs. William M. Adair; Eufie and Jose Sena; and her sister-in-law, Sister Mary Ida (May Adair). Correspondence to the Adair children from other family members, or from one child to another is included in these papers. These letters cover the years 1923-1965. There is also personal correspondence to William J. T. Adair for the years 1907-1940. His principal correspondents are: his father, William M. Adair; his uncle, Jose Sena; his aunt, Celina Jaramillo; his sister, Sister Mary Ida; and his wife, Maria Paulina Adair. Also included in the personal papers are some miscellaneous legal papers and some insurance papers for the years 1921-1956, as well as some bank statements and some bills and receipts. The financial records for the Las Cruces Knights of Columbus for the year 1917 and some legal papers of others in the possession of William J. T. Adair are also included. Also included are miscellaneous newspaper clippings and greeting cards presumably kept by Maria Paulina. The Adair Company records series spans from 1907-1959. These are the fragments of the records of a small grocery store in Las Cruces, NM owned by William M. Adair and his son William J. T. Adair. From 1913 to 1916, this company was located only in Las Cruces, and was run by William M. Adair and his sons, Arthur and William J. T. In 1916, the elder William Adair moved his large family to Huntington Beach, California where he opened a second grocery store. William J. T. Adair, who was the eldest son, remained in Las Cruces where he was in charge of the local store and various other family properties.The bulk of these papers are unorganized grocery orders, invoices, accounts, and correspondence concerning grocery orders. There is also correspondence sent and received by William M. Adair concerning the Adair Company. Also included are some bank statements and cancelled checks and some correspondence concerning credit customers. One of the most interesting items in these records is a letter copy book (1912) that contains correspondence for the Adair Company. In 1912, the Adair grocery building burned down. Also of interest are the various Adair Company cash books, claim books, hay book, and receipt books. The bulk of these ledgers are dated from 1912-1918, but there are partial cash flow records for 1934, 1935, 1937 and 1938.

Dates

1897 - 1969

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Open. All materials in this collection are available for research under supervised conditions in the Research Room.

Biographical / Historical

The Adair papers are comprised of materials relating to William Joseph Telesforo Adair (William J.T. Adair) (1891-1940) and his wife, Maria Paulina “Pauline” Garcia de Adair (1895-1977) and family. William J.T. Adair was born in 1891, in Taos, NM to Virginia Clouthier and William M. Adair. He was a merchant in Las Cruces, New Mexico from about 1912 until his death. He died in June, 1940 as the result of an accident. Maria Paulina Garcia was born on April 11, 1895 to Emilia Amador de Garcia and Jesus S. Garcia and was the grand-daughter of Martin and Refugio Amador. She was the only girl born to them, and their only child to survive past babyhood. Maria Paulina and William J.T. Adair were married on April 18, 1917. Mrs. Adair lived in Las Cruces until 1962, when she moved to Santa Fe to be near her daughter Virginia Jordan. Maria Paulina Adair died on April 3, 1977 in Santa Fe, NM. Five children were born to the Mr. and Mrs. William J.T. Adair: Maria “May” Emilia, born 1918; Margaret “Margarita” Julieta, born 1922; Virginia “Genia,” born 16 May, 1924; William “Bill” John (Juan), Jr., 27 January, 1930; Rose “Rosa” Marie, born in 1932. Maria Emilia married Mr. Joe W. Carniglia in 1940; they had five children. Margaret Julieta married John Dennemeyer of Luxembourg, Europe; they have three children. Virginia married William O. Jordan of Santa Fe, NM; they have six children. William John (Juan) married Nancy Bean; they have two children. And Rose Marie married Tom Tooker; they have two children.

Extent

9.5 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

The William Adair family papers consist of materials chronicling the lives of William T. Adair, his wife, and their five children. The collection is comprised ten series with the majority of it being correspondence among the Adair family and other relatives. The last series contains records of the Adair Company.