Correspondence,, 1979-2004
File — Box: 1, Folder: 31
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The Tom Rutherford Papers contain material relating to his involvement with ballooning, community activism, his political career in the New Mexico Senate (1972-1996) and Bernalillo County Commission (1997-2004) as well as his legal career. There are 12 series: Ballooning, Bernalillo County Commission, Campaigns, Community Activism, Democratic Party, Fraternal Order of Police, New Mexico Senate, New Mexico Bar Association, Newspaper Clippings, Family/Personal Papers, Transportation and Memorabilia. Photographs are found throughout the collection.
Ballooning material covers local, national and international ballooning, 1909-2004. There are posters, articles, photographs, programs, patches, stickers, correspondence as well as information on the World Balloon Championship Inc., Budweiser Balloon and Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (later called the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.)
Bernalillo County Commission series contains fiscal information, material concerning the National Association of Counties, and correspondence.
Campaigns series covers Rutherford's campaigns for New Mexico State Senate, Lieutenant Governor and Bernalillo County Commission. There is also information on other state and national elections. This series contains political bumper stickers and a CD copy of a 45rpm recording of music. The original label reads, "Friends of Tom T. Rutherford invite you to a Birthday Fundraiser, $25, March 1 '92, Beer & Wine! Good Eats!, Monte Vista Fire Station, 3201 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM, 2-5 pm."
Community Activism seriesreflects Tom Rutherford's issues of interest while serving in the New Mexico Senate. The subject files are arranged alphabetically covering such topics as education, human rights, economic development, arts, Special Olympics, neighborhoods and tourism.
Democratic Party series contains materials on the Democratic Party in New Mexico from 1972-1996.
Fraternal Order of Police series contains correspondence, clippings, brochures, reports, and state conferences material, 1995-1997.
New Mexico Senate series consists of correspondence, reports of committees Rutherford served on, bills he sponsored, and articles on issues he was interested in. Rutherford was a participant in the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) which organized study tours overseas for young American political leaders, and also brought young political leaders from other countries to the United States. This series also contains a CD copy of a recording, "Air check with Senator Tom Rutherford, July 8, 1983." This recording has Rutherford as a guest DJ on 94 Rock, KWXL in Albuquerque. He was the State Senate Majority Whip at the time and discusses the infamous highway orange barrels and construction in New Mexico, as well as issues such as planning and growth. Side two is a continuation of the same program.
New Mexico Bar Association contains correspondence and articles, 1985-2004
Newspaper Clippings, 1965-2005, are from New Mexico newspapers in Albuquerque, Roswell, Espanola, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Santa Fe and Deming as well as surrounding states. The articles cover Rutherford while he was in the Senate and on the County Commission, political issues, county issues public announcing work Rutherford did at various charity and organizational events.
Family/Personal Papers series contains material on the Rutherford and Colby families including Tom Rutherford's parents, James William Rutherford and Elizabeth "Bets" W. Colby Rutherford. There are family newsletters and information on family vacations to California, Canada and New York. Rutherford's personal papers include certificates and awards, some law school papers, his early career including broadcasting, The Flower Shoppe, special events and charities he was involved with, personal correspondence, trips abroad including China, Hungary and Guatemala. The China trip in 1985 includes letters in Chinese to Rutherford expressing a desire to continue friendship with America. There is a newspaper article about Rutherford's visit promoting economic development, also postcards, brochures, stamps, and money. Also found in this collection is the Northampton Mercury and General Advertiser for the Counties of Northampton, Bedford, Buckingham, Huntingdon, Leicester, Warwick, Oxford, and Hertford, Saturday, September 13, 1823 and various certificates including ones for Colonel Aid-de-Camp on the staff of the Governor of New Mexico, (1972-2003).
Transportation series covers planning for the Rio Grande Rapid Ride Project 1991-1994. There are agendas, monthly reports and correspondence of the Bernalillo County Transportation Development District and the Santa Fe County Transportation Development District. Also in this series are newsletters, brochures, fact sheets and presentations for the proposed Rio Grande Rapid Rail.
Memorabilia consists of plaques, political pins, balloon stickers, cup and pen dating from 1980-2003.
Most of the collection is in English, however, there are letters to Rutherford in Chinese and Hungarian, also news articles in Chinese.
Ballooning material covers local, national and international ballooning, 1909-2004. There are posters, articles, photographs, programs, patches, stickers, correspondence as well as information on the World Balloon Championship Inc., Budweiser Balloon and Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (later called the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.)
Bernalillo County Commission series contains fiscal information, material concerning the National Association of Counties, and correspondence.
Campaigns series covers Rutherford's campaigns for New Mexico State Senate, Lieutenant Governor and Bernalillo County Commission. There is also information on other state and national elections. This series contains political bumper stickers and a CD copy of a 45rpm recording of music. The original label reads, "Friends of Tom T. Rutherford invite you to a Birthday Fundraiser, $25, March 1 '92, Beer & Wine! Good Eats!, Monte Vista Fire Station, 3201 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM, 2-5 pm."
Community Activism seriesreflects Tom Rutherford's issues of interest while serving in the New Mexico Senate. The subject files are arranged alphabetically covering such topics as education, human rights, economic development, arts, Special Olympics, neighborhoods and tourism.
Democratic Party series contains materials on the Democratic Party in New Mexico from 1972-1996.
Fraternal Order of Police series contains correspondence, clippings, brochures, reports, and state conferences material, 1995-1997.
New Mexico Senate series consists of correspondence, reports of committees Rutherford served on, bills he sponsored, and articles on issues he was interested in. Rutherford was a participant in the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) which organized study tours overseas for young American political leaders, and also brought young political leaders from other countries to the United States. This series also contains a CD copy of a recording, "Air check with Senator Tom Rutherford, July 8, 1983." This recording has Rutherford as a guest DJ on 94 Rock, KWXL in Albuquerque. He was the State Senate Majority Whip at the time and discusses the infamous highway orange barrels and construction in New Mexico, as well as issues such as planning and growth. Side two is a continuation of the same program.
New Mexico Bar Association contains correspondence and articles, 1985-2004
Newspaper Clippings, 1965-2005, are from New Mexico newspapers in Albuquerque, Roswell, Espanola, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Santa Fe and Deming as well as surrounding states. The articles cover Rutherford while he was in the Senate and on the County Commission, political issues, county issues public announcing work Rutherford did at various charity and organizational events.
Family/Personal Papers series contains material on the Rutherford and Colby families including Tom Rutherford's parents, James William Rutherford and Elizabeth "Bets" W. Colby Rutherford. There are family newsletters and information on family vacations to California, Canada and New York. Rutherford's personal papers include certificates and awards, some law school papers, his early career including broadcasting, The Flower Shoppe, special events and charities he was involved with, personal correspondence, trips abroad including China, Hungary and Guatemala. The China trip in 1985 includes letters in Chinese to Rutherford expressing a desire to continue friendship with America. There is a newspaper article about Rutherford's visit promoting economic development, also postcards, brochures, stamps, and money. Also found in this collection is the Northampton Mercury and General Advertiser for the Counties of Northampton, Bedford, Buckingham, Huntingdon, Leicester, Warwick, Oxford, and Hertford, Saturday, September 13, 1823 and various certificates including ones for Colonel Aid-de-Camp on the staff of the Governor of New Mexico, (1972-2003).
Transportation series covers planning for the Rio Grande Rapid Ride Project 1991-1994. There are agendas, monthly reports and correspondence of the Bernalillo County Transportation Development District and the Santa Fe County Transportation Development District. Also in this series are newsletters, brochures, fact sheets and presentations for the proposed Rio Grande Rapid Rail.
Memorabilia consists of plaques, political pins, balloon stickers, cup and pen dating from 1980-2003.
Most of the collection is in English, however, there are letters to Rutherford in Chinese and Hungarian, also news articles in Chinese.
Dates
- 1979-2004
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English Chinese Hungarian
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 10 boxes + 1 oversize folder
General
Includes photographs
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451