Jesusita Acosta Perrault photographs

File

Identifier: PAAC-0105

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection includes gelatin silver prints, tintypes, postcards, albums and scrapbooks related to the public and personal life of Jesusita Acosta Perrault, her second husband Edward Albert Perrault, their daughters Dolores Perrault Montoya, Florence Perrault Sierra, Beatrice Perrault (Sister Mary Conrad), and Olivia Perrault. Also included are photographs of Jesusita's sister Josefa (Josefita) Acosta, the Acosta and Perrault extended family members, friends and former students of Jesusita Acosta Perrault and Beatrice Perrault (Sister Mary Conrad), New Mexico public figures, and New Mexico locations and industries.

Dates

circa 1860s-1960s

Creator

Morales (Perault), Jesuita Acosta, 1880-1962 (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Jesusita Acosta Perrault (1877?-1960) was born to Refugito Morales and Nepomuceno Acosta in Buenaventura, Chihuahua, Mexico, on January 23, 1880. She had one sister, Josefa (Josefita) Acosta, and two brothers, Pedro and Emiliano (?) Acosta. The family moved to Silver City, New Mexico in the early 1880s, where Nepomuceno Acosta opened a blacksmith and machine shop. Jesusita attended primary and secondary schools in Silver City and graduated from the Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1898. She was briefly married to Charles May, who died in 1900 or 1901. The newly widowed Jesusita May (also known as Mrs. May) attended the the Silver City Normal College and became a primary school teacher in San Juan and San Lorenzo in Grant County; she also taught English in Chihuahua for a few years.

In 1909, Jesusita married Edward Albert Perrault (1884-1926), a mining engineer whose family was well-established in Grant County. The couple had four daughters: Mary Florence (Sierra), Mary Dolores (Montoya), Beatrice (Conrad, Sister of Charity), and Olivia [Montgomery). Jesusita and her husband E.A. Perrault were involved in several Silver City civic, political and charitable groups such as Alianza Hispano-Americana. They supported causes such as education of the rural Spanish speaking communities and support for new immigrants. Jesusita was employed by the Silver City Selective Service as translator and interpreter. She then worked as the Grant County Deputy assessor between 1921-1923. Edward A. Perrault was a member of Silver City's B.P. O. Elks Lodge No. 413. After his death in 1926, Jesusita worked as the Grant County Juvenile Officer. In 1928, Mrs. E.A. Perrault, as she was officially known, was the Republican candidate for the office of Secretary of State, and was elected as the first woman and Hispanic to ever hold that office in New Mexico. After completing her two year term (1929-1931), Perrault moved with her four daughters to Albuquerque and led the New Mexico's first U.S. Employment Service office. She moved to Taos in 1939 and held several town and county offices until her death on May 20, 1960.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (1 record carton; box; 1 shoebox; 1 flat box (16 x20 in.) )

Language of Materials

English

Spanish; Castilian

Additional Description

Separated Materials

The Jesusita Acosta Perrault photograph collection was separated from the Jesusita Acosta Perrault Collection AC 508 held by the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library. Correspondence, publications and ephemera temporarily housed with the photograph collection prior to processing were reunited with the library collection.