Maude McFie Bloom manuscripts

Collection

Identifier: Ms-0552

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes the original 1903 thesis manuscript of A History of the Mesilla Valley by Maude McFie. The collection includes several stories and theatrical plays written by Maude McFie Bloom. Some are handwritten and some are typed. Her research notes were documented on interesting scraps of paper, old envelops, note cards and paper. Her stories and plays will be of interest to journalism and creative students, as the collections includes several revisions of drama plays and stories. The collection also includes rejection letters of manuscripts she had submitted for publication. The bulk of the material has clear titles and chapter titles. Very few are untitled.

Her fictionalized stories included real people or events she was acquainted with or researched. Her characters included Kit Carson, Pablo Melendres, James Kirker, and other historically known individuals. Events such as the settlement of the Dona Ana Bend Colony Grant, and the murder of territorial Governor Charles Bent were included in her stories or plays.

Her theatrical play "Tonita of the Holy Faith" was reviewed in the Nov 12, 1920 Albuquerque Morning Journal by New York critic Madam Ida Serven. She pronounced it as “one of the strongest plays she has reviewed and "a drama of great merit."

Three oversize maps were removed from the collection that referred to Maude McFie Bloom's research on James Kirker. They have been moved to the map case 10 Drawer 9. California Mt Diablo Quadrangle Map Department of the Interior. Albert B. Fall, Secretary. U.S. Geological Survey. George Otis Smith, Director 1896 reprinted 1922, Shell Map of San Francisco Oakland and Vicinity ci 1970’s,and National Automobile Club map San Francisco Bay Region and vicinity N.D.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1903 - 1945

Biographical / Historical

Maude Elizabeth McFie was born in 1880 in Coulterville, Illinois. Maude’s family moved to New Mexico when she was four years old. Her father was New Mexico Chief Justice John Robert McFie her mother was Mary Barr Steel McFie. John R. McFie was president of the original Board of Regents for the newly created New Mexico A&M College. Maude was influenced by open-minded people who were active in the community. Both of her parents were advocates for the New Mexico Territorial Association for Equal Suffrage. Later in life, Maude would become an active member.

Maude attended college at New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State University). She wrote her thesis, A History of Mesilla Valley. Decades after her death; her thesis would become a published and valuable resource to historical researchers. The original manuscript was edited by her husband Lancing P. Bloom, who had hoped to have the manuscript published. Lansing died before this could happen. Years later, Maude’s daughter in law Jo Tice Bloom annotated published the manuscript.

Maude married Reverend Lansing Bartlett Bloom in 1907. Together, they had two sons and two daughters: Joyce Bloom (1910-1911), Carol Lansing Bloom (1916-2015), and Brewster Lansing Bloom (1918-1922); John Porter Bloom (1924- ).

Maude wrote short stories and drama plays. Much of her material came from oral interviews from people who had helped settle the Mesilla Valley Her fictionalized stories included real people or events she was acquainted with or researched. Her characters included Kit Carson, Pablo Melendez, James Kirker, and other historically known individuals. Events such as the settlement of the Dona Ana Bend Colony Grant, the murder of territorial Governor Charles Bent were included in her stories or plays. Her play "Tonita of the Holy Faith" was reviewed in the Nov 12, 1920 Albuquerque Morning Journal by New York critic Madam Ida Serven. She pronounced it as “one of the strongest plays she has reviewed and "a drama of great merit"

Lansing Bloom died in 1946. Maude died February 1973 in Virginia

Extent

3 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The bulk of the material is writing of Maude McFie Bloom, mother of John P. Bloom, wife of New Mexico historian Lansing Bloom, and daughter John McFie, on of the founders of the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Maude McFie Bloom graduated from the college in 1903. Her senior thesis, History of the Mesilla Valley, is a standard source of information for 19th century Mesilla Valley history. McFie Bloom knew and interviewed many of the important residents of the valley for her thesis. Included in these materials is her own copy of the thesis, with editing and notes. Most of the remainder of the writing in the collection is historical fiction, mostly unpublished, written by Maude McFie Bloom on topics of southern New Mexico interest.