Antonio and Francisco Borrego Gang sketch, Gorras Blancas, ca. 1990s
File — Box: 1 B, Folder: 11
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The Emma Moya collection contains original correspondence, copies of historic documents, notes on interviews and stories, sketches and photos, and a few newspaper clippings related to Old Town Albuquerque, Barelas, Los Duranes, Martineztown, and related neighborhoods. Besides keeping the history of her family, their lands and their memories, Moya also collected material about other Hispanic, German, French, Irish, Italian and Mexican families who settled in and contributed to Old Town Albuquerque and nearby areas. Included are histories of the Armijo, Baca, Chacon, Chavez, Duran, Perea, Romero, Michalbach and Springer families. One fascinating story is how the U.S. Government took the Coyote Springs Resort land from the Chacon family for Kirkland Air Force Base. As a recognized local historian, Moya was often called upon to provide historical information, maps and images to defend the rights of these areas or to celebrate their anniversaries and leaders. She interviewed and gathered background notes and photos for various local people when they were honored publicly or to tell their stories in her exhibits and articles. She also eulogized many with her poems, tributes and songs at their final services.
The collection contains images of people and places in Old Town, Barelas, Los Duranes, Martineztown and other locales. Photos and artwork were collected or created by Moya or her family members. Moya commissioned Old Town artist, Joel T. Ramirez, to make sketches based on some of the photos for her presentations and exhibits. Some photos and sketches are originals, others are copies. An oral history with Cleto Duran is included in the collection, as are measured architectural drawings of San Felipe Church made in 1974 and 2004.
The Moya papers provide a grass roots view of the local impact of the 1918 flu epidemic, prohibition, the Great Depression, the New Deal, WPA, and World War II, as well as subsequent decades. Materials trace the peoples’ struggles to preserve their history, lands, schools, and cultural identity in the face of annexation and change. There is insight into the development of tourism and commercialization of Old Town and the role of institutions and customs, such as the San Felipe Church, Old Town School, Old Town Society Hall, the clergy, the plaza, San Felipe fiestas, musicians, foods, legends and ghost stories, Holy Week pageants, luminarias, the river, acequia, gardens, etc. Through the memories of her parents and as a participant, Moya tells about gender roles in the church and community and the activities of children. More limited but similar material is provided for Barelas, Los Duranes and Martineztown.
Moya testified on behalf of the Atrisco Land Grant and the Albuquerque Land Grant, plus proved her family heirship in the Atrisco grant. Her documentation of the Old Town San Gabriel, Rio Grande and Tiguex parks, with controversies over the Luis Jimenez Aztec Pieta sculpture and the Juan de Oñate statue, are particularly important. Included, too, are letters and rebuttals to books on Old Town by the Albuquerque Museum and Father Thomas J. Steele. Also noteworthy are comments about Reies Lopez Tijerina and the 1967 Tierra Amarilla raid, the 1968 Poor People’s March in Albuquerque, the Albuquerque 1971 riot, police brutality, the 1980 State prison riot and the 1972 deaths of the Chicano Black Berets, Rito Canales and Antonio Cordova, as well as accounts of getting health care for the local communities; investigating school busing policies; urging the UNM Law School and Pharmacy School to admit Hispanics and Black students; challenging KGGM TV over its lack of Hispanic anchormen and coverage of minorities; protesting the New Mexico Bar Association exam policy for minorities, etc. There are letters between Moya and politicians, including Joseph Montoya, Manuel Lujan and Toney Anaya. The collection also contains research by Moya on Jewish Sephardic traditions in New Spain and New Mexico, with some material about Jewish history in Europe. Loggie Carrasco and Eleanor Sewell gave some of their Jewish historical materials to Moya. In this collection, Emma Moya tells the history of Old Town and nearby neighborhoods from a rare personal point of view.
In Fall 2016 and Winter 2017, Emma Moya provided additional materials for the collection, which were added in January - February 2017, expanding the existing Boxes. She gave more information in 2021, which was added in 2022.
The collection contains images of people and places in Old Town, Barelas, Los Duranes, Martineztown and other locales. Photos and artwork were collected or created by Moya or her family members. Moya commissioned Old Town artist, Joel T. Ramirez, to make sketches based on some of the photos for her presentations and exhibits. Some photos and sketches are originals, others are copies. An oral history with Cleto Duran is included in the collection, as are measured architectural drawings of San Felipe Church made in 1974 and 2004.
The Moya papers provide a grass roots view of the local impact of the 1918 flu epidemic, prohibition, the Great Depression, the New Deal, WPA, and World War II, as well as subsequent decades. Materials trace the peoples’ struggles to preserve their history, lands, schools, and cultural identity in the face of annexation and change. There is insight into the development of tourism and commercialization of Old Town and the role of institutions and customs, such as the San Felipe Church, Old Town School, Old Town Society Hall, the clergy, the plaza, San Felipe fiestas, musicians, foods, legends and ghost stories, Holy Week pageants, luminarias, the river, acequia, gardens, etc. Through the memories of her parents and as a participant, Moya tells about gender roles in the church and community and the activities of children. More limited but similar material is provided for Barelas, Los Duranes and Martineztown.
Moya testified on behalf of the Atrisco Land Grant and the Albuquerque Land Grant, plus proved her family heirship in the Atrisco grant. Her documentation of the Old Town San Gabriel, Rio Grande and Tiguex parks, with controversies over the Luis Jimenez Aztec Pieta sculpture and the Juan de Oñate statue, are particularly important. Included, too, are letters and rebuttals to books on Old Town by the Albuquerque Museum and Father Thomas J. Steele. Also noteworthy are comments about Reies Lopez Tijerina and the 1967 Tierra Amarilla raid, the 1968 Poor People’s March in Albuquerque, the Albuquerque 1971 riot, police brutality, the 1980 State prison riot and the 1972 deaths of the Chicano Black Berets, Rito Canales and Antonio Cordova, as well as accounts of getting health care for the local communities; investigating school busing policies; urging the UNM Law School and Pharmacy School to admit Hispanics and Black students; challenging KGGM TV over its lack of Hispanic anchormen and coverage of minorities; protesting the New Mexico Bar Association exam policy for minorities, etc. There are letters between Moya and politicians, including Joseph Montoya, Manuel Lujan and Toney Anaya. The collection also contains research by Moya on Jewish Sephardic traditions in New Spain and New Mexico, with some material about Jewish history in Europe. Loggie Carrasco and Eleanor Sewell gave some of their Jewish historical materials to Moya. In this collection, Emma Moya tells the history of Old Town and nearby neighborhoods from a rare personal point of view.
In Fall 2016 and Winter 2017, Emma Moya provided additional materials for the collection, which were added in January - February 2017, expanding the existing Boxes. She gave more information in 2021, which was added in 2022.
Dates
- ca. 1990s
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 8 boxes (5.25 cu ft.) plus 1 oversize folder
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