Mesilla Valley Oral History Club records
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0570
Content Description
Records of the Mesilla Valley Oral History Club, an organization established May 1995 and disbanded June 2013. The club sponsored monthly meetings in which local residents presented on topics related to Mesilla Valley and southern New Mexico history. Many of these took the form of personal recollections of life in Las Cruces. The club did not conduct oral history interviews, but rather provided a venue for people to talk about their memories and their knowledge of regional history. Attendance at the meetings could run as high as 150-200. The collection contains audiocassette tapes and videocassette tapes of the meetings and presentations, transcripts of the presentations, an inventory of the presentations, correspondence, financial records, CDs and DVDs, and 35mm color slides.
The Mesilla Valley Oral History Club provided a consistent place for elders and scholars of the Borderland to tell their stories. Many members gave presentations about their families or areas of expertise. The presenters included members of foundational families in Doña Ana County, as well as professors at NMSU, businessmen and women, and key members of the city of Las Cruces. The Club’s popularity in the community sustained monthly meetings for over eighteen years (1995-2013).
Due to the nearly 200 sessions of the club, the collection includes a vast array of written and audiovisual material linked to the numerous presentations given over the years. Nearly every presentation has a written transcription available in the presentation folders. Most of the presentations were also recorded in at least one of the following media: VHS tapes, DVDs, audio cassettes, camcorder videos, and CDs or CD Roms. In addition, there are other supplemental audiovisual materials that include photographs, video reels, and slides of club meetings and presentations.
The first series is organization materials and includes paperwork and bills associated with the business of running the club. There are also copies of email exchanges between members. The second series is the largest part of the collection and includes written transcriptions of nearly every presentation given in the club’s history. There are also notes, maps, and printed out Powerpoint presentations included with some transcriptions.
The audiovisual series contains a multitude of subseries, as members recorded presentations in a wide variety of media. The earlier presentations in the 1990s were captured on VHS tapes and audio cassette tapes, whereas the last 10 or so years of the club were recorded on CDs, CD Roms, floppy disks, and DVDs. In some cases, there are multiple copies of a single presentation in several different formats. Some of the additional audiovisual materials were also used as part of a presentation, such as slides of relevant photos or music played with the presentation.
Although most of the collection consists of capturing presentations, there are a handful of materials that document other parts of the club’s activities. For example, many of the photo prints and slides depict the audience and board members gathered in the Aspen Room of the Best Western Hotel. The slides were used for trivia quizzes that the board members would write up as a contest during a given session. Members were prompted to match names of building with specific arches or bell towers, for example, and these visual quizzes are available for perusal in the slide binders and organization materials series.
The Mesilla Valley Oral History Club provided a consistent place for elders and scholars of the Borderland to tell their stories. Many members gave presentations about their families or areas of expertise. The presenters included members of foundational families in Doña Ana County, as well as professors at NMSU, businessmen and women, and key members of the city of Las Cruces. The Club’s popularity in the community sustained monthly meetings for over eighteen years (1995-2013).
Due to the nearly 200 sessions of the club, the collection includes a vast array of written and audiovisual material linked to the numerous presentations given over the years. Nearly every presentation has a written transcription available in the presentation folders. Most of the presentations were also recorded in at least one of the following media: VHS tapes, DVDs, audio cassettes, camcorder videos, and CDs or CD Roms. In addition, there are other supplemental audiovisual materials that include photographs, video reels, and slides of club meetings and presentations.
The first series is organization materials and includes paperwork and bills associated with the business of running the club. There are also copies of email exchanges between members. The second series is the largest part of the collection and includes written transcriptions of nearly every presentation given in the club’s history. There are also notes, maps, and printed out Powerpoint presentations included with some transcriptions.
The audiovisual series contains a multitude of subseries, as members recorded presentations in a wide variety of media. The earlier presentations in the 1990s were captured on VHS tapes and audio cassette tapes, whereas the last 10 or so years of the club were recorded on CDs, CD Roms, floppy disks, and DVDs. In some cases, there are multiple copies of a single presentation in several different formats. Some of the additional audiovisual materials were also used as part of a presentation, such as slides of relevant photos or music played with the presentation.
Although most of the collection consists of capturing presentations, there are a handful of materials that document other parts of the club’s activities. For example, many of the photo prints and slides depict the audience and board members gathered in the Aspen Room of the Best Western Hotel. The slides were used for trivia quizzes that the board members would write up as a contest during a given session. Members were prompted to match names of building with specific arches or bell towers, for example, and these visual quizzes are available for perusal in the slide binders and organization materials series.
Dates
- 1995 - 2013
Conditions Governing Access
Open. All materials in this collection are available for research in the Caroline E. Stras Research Room.
Biographical / Historical
The Mesilla Valley Oral History Club was a key part of the Doña Ana community for the eighteen years of its existence, from its inaugural presentation on May 4, 1995, to its final session on June 4, 2013. The members’ dedication to the club is evident not only through its longevity, but also the thoughtful manner in which the presenters were chosen and their presentations were recorded. The club members taped and recorded the vast majority of the presentations—first on VHS, camcorder, and audio cassettes, then on CDs and floppy disks. When the collection was donated to the Institute of Historical Foundation Survey, the archivists wrote transcriptions of those presentations captured on film or on tape. In addition, some presenters provided copies of their own transcriptions, outlines, slides, maps, or Powerpoints, which are available for perusal in the folder for each presentation.
In the written introduction to the first presentation transcription, the objectives of the club are stated thusly: to learn or pass on knowledge of area history. The categories for the presentations are listed as population growth, physical changes, events, family histories, and personal histories, yet this list does not fully encapsulate the variety and nuance of the presentations over the years. Certainly, the well-known stories and people of the Mesilla Valley constituted a large portion of the presentations, from the Gadsden Purchase to Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett to the military, space and nuclear history of White Sands.
In addition, the club was tuned into facets of local culture that were not part of Borderlands lore. The Club emphasized ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, particularly in the late 1990s. Presentations included the stories of French and German Jewish ancestors, black barbers and Buffalo Soldiers, indigenous medicine men, and Japanese and Irish immigrants. In addition, the Club understood the importance of addressing nationwide and worldwide issues and histories. For example, there were multiple presentations on climate change and nature. Due in part to its breadth and depth, the club enjoyed many years of popularity and prosperity. In the introduction to the presentation on June 3, 2003, Archie Beckett and Evan Davies celebrated the 8th year anniversary of the club and bragged about the ever-growing audience for the presentations—over 50 people attended every month. They also reported that the Club had only missed a couple of meetings. Despite the continual interest in local narratives, the Club ran out of steam in the 2010s. Many of the founding members wished to pass the torch, but it was difficult to find dedicated board members of a younger generation. Nonetheless, the club’s legacy lives on in the hearts of the elders who attended faithfully and often presented or took photos, including Anne Morgan, Ann Moore, Leslie Bergloff, and Kristopher Laumbach of the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation. The late Evan Davies, former director of the IHSF, was also president of the Mesilla Valley Oral History Club for many years.
In addition, the club was tuned into facets of local culture that were not part of Borderlands lore. The Club emphasized ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, particularly in the late 1990s. Presentations included the stories of French and German Jewish ancestors, black barbers and Buffalo Soldiers, indigenous medicine men, and Japanese and Irish immigrants. In addition, the Club understood the importance of addressing nationwide and worldwide issues and histories. For example, there were multiple presentations on climate change and nature. Due in part to its breadth and depth, the club enjoyed many years of popularity and prosperity. In the introduction to the presentation on June 3, 2003, Archie Beckett and Evan Davies celebrated the 8th year anniversary of the club and bragged about the ever-growing audience for the presentations—over 50 people attended every month. They also reported that the Club had only missed a couple of meetings. Despite the continual interest in local narratives, the Club ran out of steam in the 2010s. Many of the founding members wished to pass the torch, but it was difficult to find dedicated board members of a younger generation. Nonetheless, the club’s legacy lives on in the hearts of the elders who attended faithfully and often presented or took photos, including Anne Morgan, Ann Moore, Leslie Bergloff, and Kristopher Laumbach of the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation. The late Evan Davies, former director of the IHSF, was also president of the Mesilla Valley Oral History Club for many years.
Extent
18 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
From May 1995 to June 2013, the Mesilla Valley Oral History Club convened the first Thursday of every month (with a few exceptions) for more than eighteen years. Each meeting involved a buffet dinner in the East Aspen Room of the Mesilla Valley Inn, followed by a presentation about local history and culture. Board members also wrote up trivia quizzes as a warm-up before the presentations. Often, the presentation ended with a spirited discussion and question and answer period. The topics discussed ranged from local family anecdotes to historical reenactments to contemplations of nature and the environment. In addition, NMSU professors and city officials presented on their areas of expertise. The Club disbanded in June of 2013. The collection includes written and audiovisual records of most of the presentations, including written transcriptions, VHS tapes, audio tapes, and CDs, among other media.
Processing Information
Processed by Tracie Amend under the direction of Jennifer Olguin, Fall 2024.
Source
- Institute of Historical Survey Foundation (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Mesilla Valley Oral History Club records
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Tracie Amend
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository