Interview of Judge Irwin Moise (continuation), April 19, 1976
File — Box: 1, CD: 37
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The original Curtis field recordings have been reformatted to CDs from reel to reel tapes. As in the goal of the Robb archive, Curtis and her associates at the Fine Arts Library have captured part of the rich musical heritage and history of the people of New Mexico. The collection includes both music and oral interviews.
Among the recording are Navajo morning songs and blessing ways, a Navajo music and dance workshop, Keresan children’s play - game songs, Laguna and other Pueblo songs, and All American Championship Indian powwow dances in the Mescalero Reservation and Ruidoso, New Mexico. The collection contains Native American recordings made in New Mexico by Philip Encino and Lorenzo Aragon. In addition, there are songs from the South Cheyenne, other Plains Indians and the Indians of Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Ayacucho, Peru. Among the Hispanic or Spanish pieces are traditional and original New Mexican and Mexican folk songs, alabados and matachines from San Jose parish, Albuquerque and Spanish Christmas shepherd pageants in Albuquerque. There are also songs from Holy Week passion celebrations in Villanueva and Tome, New Mexico; Cordova, Spain; and among the Tarahumara Indians, from Cusarare, in Chihuahua, Mexico. These recordings feature the native instruments of the Tarahumara - flutes, drums and the chapareque. Other recordings contain Spanish music at a UNM campus Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Catholic masses and church music programs, Spanish wedding music, and popular Spanish dance bands. Included also are recorded lectures by Cleofes Vigil on New Mexico Hispanic music traditions and on New Mexico territorial corridos or ballads by Ruben Cobos. Represented also are Anglo American old time fiddle contests in Portales, New Mexico, country western music from Clovis, and cowboy songs performed by Steve Cormier. There are also recordings of African American religious gospel music from Mount Olive Baptist Church and Grant Chapel, in Albuquerque.
Charlemaud Curtis and her associates also conducted interviews with old timers from Albuquerque, Santa Rosa, Clovis, La Joya and Lordsburg. Sometimes they did them during the music events they were taping and other times made special trips to record people. Individuals were also making interesting comments within the various musical programs as they were being taped. Some were individuals that Curtis knew through her family or were folks she met in her recording trips. The interviews represent the views of a Mexican American immigrant as well as several Hispanics and Anglo Americans.
One set of interviews covers the history of the development of music institutions in Albuquerque, including the UNM music department and local community concerts, opera, and the civic orchestra. Another group of interviews deals with Santa Rosa, New Mexico - giving both the Spanish and Anglo American view of the town’s development. They tell about the town and area history, cattle and sheep ranching, the first water and electric facilities, and the impact of the railroad and interstate highway on the town (Route 66) and the depression. There are also accounts of early American pioneers in Santa Rosa, doctors and the 1918 flu epidemic, Hispanic distrust of Santa Rosa bankers, trading at stores on credit, and the working of the sheep partido system in the area. Also included are stories of the early New Mexico Spanish settlers’ hardy faith, team spirit, foods and songs. Others describe making santos with a machete and local dyes, Spanish place names, the Santa Fe Trail and San Miguel County politics. In a 1976 interview, Judge Moise, from Santa Rosa, comments on Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima, a novel based in Santa Rosa . We also learn about early Anglo American ranch families in Clovis and an Anglo American pioneer woman’s life in Quay County. Covered, too, are the views of a Mexican American man in Lordsburg on migrant farm labor, working for the railroad, local foods and getting his first social security checks from the government. There are also discussions of the origin and characters of the Los Pastores performances at San Jose parish, in the south valley of Albuquerque and the history of La Joya land grant, Thomas Campbell, the church and school, and that town’s fiesta traditions.
There are program flyers and/or notes from a couple of these events in Box 2. This collection is part of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music.
Among the recording are Navajo morning songs and blessing ways, a Navajo music and dance workshop, Keresan children’s play - game songs, Laguna and other Pueblo songs, and All American Championship Indian powwow dances in the Mescalero Reservation and Ruidoso, New Mexico. The collection contains Native American recordings made in New Mexico by Philip Encino and Lorenzo Aragon. In addition, there are songs from the South Cheyenne, other Plains Indians and the Indians of Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Ayacucho, Peru. Among the Hispanic or Spanish pieces are traditional and original New Mexican and Mexican folk songs, alabados and matachines from San Jose parish, Albuquerque and Spanish Christmas shepherd pageants in Albuquerque. There are also songs from Holy Week passion celebrations in Villanueva and Tome, New Mexico; Cordova, Spain; and among the Tarahumara Indians, from Cusarare, in Chihuahua, Mexico. These recordings feature the native instruments of the Tarahumara - flutes, drums and the chapareque. Other recordings contain Spanish music at a UNM campus Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Catholic masses and church music programs, Spanish wedding music, and popular Spanish dance bands. Included also are recorded lectures by Cleofes Vigil on New Mexico Hispanic music traditions and on New Mexico territorial corridos or ballads by Ruben Cobos. Represented also are Anglo American old time fiddle contests in Portales, New Mexico, country western music from Clovis, and cowboy songs performed by Steve Cormier. There are also recordings of African American religious gospel music from Mount Olive Baptist Church and Grant Chapel, in Albuquerque.
Charlemaud Curtis and her associates also conducted interviews with old timers from Albuquerque, Santa Rosa, Clovis, La Joya and Lordsburg. Sometimes they did them during the music events they were taping and other times made special trips to record people. Individuals were also making interesting comments within the various musical programs as they were being taped. Some were individuals that Curtis knew through her family or were folks she met in her recording trips. The interviews represent the views of a Mexican American immigrant as well as several Hispanics and Anglo Americans.
One set of interviews covers the history of the development of music institutions in Albuquerque, including the UNM music department and local community concerts, opera, and the civic orchestra. Another group of interviews deals with Santa Rosa, New Mexico - giving both the Spanish and Anglo American view of the town’s development. They tell about the town and area history, cattle and sheep ranching, the first water and electric facilities, and the impact of the railroad and interstate highway on the town (Route 66) and the depression. There are also accounts of early American pioneers in Santa Rosa, doctors and the 1918 flu epidemic, Hispanic distrust of Santa Rosa bankers, trading at stores on credit, and the working of the sheep partido system in the area. Also included are stories of the early New Mexico Spanish settlers’ hardy faith, team spirit, foods and songs. Others describe making santos with a machete and local dyes, Spanish place names, the Santa Fe Trail and San Miguel County politics. In a 1976 interview, Judge Moise, from Santa Rosa, comments on Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima, a novel based in Santa Rosa . We also learn about early Anglo American ranch families in Clovis and an Anglo American pioneer woman’s life in Quay County. Covered, too, are the views of a Mexican American man in Lordsburg on migrant farm labor, working for the railroad, local foods and getting his first social security checks from the government. There are also discussions of the origin and characters of the Los Pastores performances at San Jose parish, in the south valley of Albuquerque and the history of La Joya land grant, Thomas Campbell, the church and school, and that town’s fiesta traditions.
There are program flyers and/or notes from a couple of these events in Box 2. This collection is part of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music.
Dates
- April 19, 1976
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English Spanish
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 3 boxes (.45 cu. ft., including 89 CDs and 5 folders)
General
Judge Moise again telling how practiced law in Tucumcari in 1928–33, with Mr. Jim Briscoe, due to depression, no work. In 1933 opened a small office in Santa Rosa, some paid him in old large dollar bills. In 1934 went to Washington, DC, met his wife. Then to Santa Fe, where he was state director of federal housing administration. Was elected judge in Las Vegas, served in World War II, moved to Albuquerque, again to Santa Fe, and back to Albuquerque. Again spoke of J. W. Melavin, store in Santa Rosa, nephew Jack, a banker in Santa Rosa, and his wife (Hinkle), was first woman fish and game warden in New Mexico. Knuckles family again. Judge told of only fun for children in town was watching the trains come in – railroad. Population about 1,200, grew to 2,024 at most. Told of the Moise’s store, had a square patio or corral in back, with small rooms, whole ranch families, (often Spanish) came in wagons from countryside to sell, trade, stayed in town a few days, week, camped there in the corral, cooked, etc. Spring and Fall, came twice a year for sheep and cattle. Brought in wool, cattle, bought supplies, as barter – or on credit, had no money, used credit at their Moise store. People came to town and stayed during court terms also,served as jury, witnesses, also to trade, or just socialize. Spanish citizens of Santa Rosa area did not trust the banks, did not understand the U.S. money system. Judge’s father spoke some Spanish, took the people’s money, gave them receipt – credit notes. Father put their money in bank, issued people things as they needed them, kept records for them. Moise Store was the go - between for Hispanics and Anglo businesses. Such credit trade was outlawed in 1920s–30s. Discussion of partido contract, shared livestock system. Ran cattle on another’s land, mortgage on land as insurance, bad situation if had to pay losses of animals. Not outlawed, but went out of favor, too many losses, due to drought, hail, winter storms, coyotes, mismanagement of accounts, men not able pay for lost cattle, so banks, stores took land from people for debts. Caused suffering, ill feelings. Coming of the automobile - cars - changed old ways, shopping, people could drive to Santa Rosa from areas about 50–60 miles around. Creation of counties, Guadalupe County, De Baca County, change in county seats, etc. Judge Moise’s comments on Rudolfo Anaya – Bless Me Ultima – that the book was 99% fiction, and did not accurately reflect the Hispanic people, nor life in Pastura, Puerto de Luna and Santa Rosa, (said was incorrect portrayal of the people), Mr. Padilla, etc. Santa Rosa was about 75% Hispanic in those days. There may have been a curandera around, but not like Ultima. Santa Rosa area Hispanics were descendants of Spanish settlers, did not identify with Mexico as shown in Anaya’s book, the local people were not Chicanos. Later the Chicano identity, idea, from outside of Santa Rosa area, was introduced by Tijerina, and other outsiders into Santa Rosa. Comments on other characters in book - based on real people - Mr. Padilla, teacher, the Anaya family of that area, Mrs. Rael, Katherine, Frank Page, Frank and A.J. Padilla, Puerto de Luna, etc. Also stories of homesteading, land patents, and other early people around Santa Rosa and in Clovis, Muldaven (Muldaden?), a Hungarian homesteader, Charles Sumner, Luther Hudson, George Curtis, Ewing family, Jim Jordan family, etc. Comments on the great depression era, banking, prices, decline, farming. Judge remembers going to auction farm foreclosures and collecting back debts on the spot from the seller before they departed and left without paying debts. Prices of wheat, wool, livestock. When good harvest, overstocked silos, no buyers, government dumped wheat in the roadway, etc.
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
cswrref@unm.edu
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
cswrref@unm.edu