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James Fielding Hinkle papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0182

Scope and Content

The papers of James Fielding Hinkle span the years 1883-1967, with the bulk of the material falling into two periods: letters and business records of 1886-1917, and personal unofficial correspondence from Hinkle's term as governor of New Mexico, 1923-1924. The years 1918-1921 and 1940-1967 are very sparsely represented, and there are no records for 1926-1929. The collection includes some correspondence and other papers of Lillian Roberts Hinkle (1903-1967), pertaining to her membership in various organizations.

The collection has been divided into three series: James Fielding Hinkle, Lillian Roberts Hinkle and Photographs. James Fielding Hinkle's papers are organized into seven sub-series: Correspondence, Speeches, Financial Documents, Legal Documents, Maps, Printed Materials and Miscellany. Hinkle's papers represent the political activity in New Mexico for the late territorial period and the early 1920s; they also provide documentation on the cattle trade in New Mexico before 1900, early irrigation companies, and banking in the state. Lillian Roberts Hinkle's papers are divided between Correspondence and Printed Materials. The Photographs series consists of four images.

Correspondence comprises more than half of the collection and includes letters from Franklin D. Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge. There are letters from fifteen former governors of New Mexico, as well as from a number of other people active in New Mexico affairs. Significant correspondents include: E.A. Cahoon, T.B. Catron, George Curry, James J. Numa Frenger, Max Frost, R.W. Goddard, H.J. Hagerman, Arthur T. Hannett, Claude Hobbs, H.B. Holt, George H. Hunker, A.A. Jones, H.L. Kent, O.A. Larrazolo, Washington E. Lindsey, W.H.H. Llewellyn, Charles F. Lummis, Felix Martinez, J.B. Mathews, William C. McDonald, Edwin L. Mechem, Merritt C. Mechem, John E. Miles, William J. Mills, John Morrow, Miguel A. Otero, Jack Potter, L. Bradford Prince, G.A. Richardson, John H. Riley, Arthur Seligman, William T. Thornton, Clyde Tingley, R.E. Twitchell, and Henry L. Waldo.

Dates

  • 1883 - 1967

Language of Materials

English.

Access and Use Restrictions

This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

The copyright interests of John T. and Linda J. Hinkle have been transferred to New Mexico State University. Copyright interests of other individuals have not been determined.

Biographical Sketch

1864
Born James Fielding Hinkle, October 20 in Franklin County, Missouri, son of Miles Parsons Hinkle and Sara Sappington Hinkle
1880-1882
Attended University of Missouri
ca. 1882-1885
Worked as cowboy and foreman of several large cattle ranches in Texas
1885
Came to New Mexico; worked as a cowboy on the Penasco River
1886-1901
Involved in the ownership and operation of two cattle companies
1890
Helped organize the Bank of Roswell
1891-1893
Member, Lincoln County Board of Commissioners
1892
Married Lillian E. Roberts at Lincoln, New Mexico; the Hinkles later had four children: Rolla R., Vera (Farnsworth), Clarence E., and Lillian (Coll)
1893-1896
Representative of Lincoln, Chaves, and Eddy Counties in the Territorial Legislature
1894
Treasurer of Lincoln County
1899
Named a director of the reorganized Bank of Roswell, later called First National Bank
1901
Elected to Territorial Senate from Chaves County
1901-1911
Member, Lincoln County Board of Equalization (President, 1907-1911)
1904-1906
Mayor of Roswell
1912-1917
Senator from Chaves County
1923-1924
Governor of New Mexico
1931-1933
New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands
1934-1951
President, First National Bank, Roswell
1937
Wrote Early Days of a Cowboy on the Pecos
1951
Died in Roswell, March 26th

Extent

4 ca. linear feet

Abstract

Pecos Valley, New Mexico, cattleman, banker, and public official. Includes his personal unofficial political correspondence, including his term as governor (1923-1924) and correspondence with George H. Hunker, the state chairman of the Democratic Party. Also includes ranching and business papers, water development records, clippings and printed materials, and materials related to Lillian Roberts Hinkle's interests and activities in several organizations. Correspondents include Franklin D. Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, fifteen former governors of New Mexico, and other prominent New Mexicans.

Acquisition

  1. RG81-103 Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hinkle

General

Contact Information

  1. Archives and Special Collections
  2. New Mexico State University Library
  3. P.O. Box 30006
  4. Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
  5. Phone: (575) 646-3839
  6. Fax: (575) 646-7477
  7. Email: archives@nmsu.edu
  8. URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/

General

Title
Register of the James Fielding Hinkle Papers, 1883-1967
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
Processed by Linda Blazer, finding aid revised by Marah deMeule and Christine Moreland-Bruhnke
Date
2000
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//New Mexico State University::Archives and Special Collections//TEXT (US::NmLcU::MS 182::James Fielding Hinkle Papers)//EN" "nmlcu1ms182.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).

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