DVD, with 4 scanned photos of Mela Sedillo, provided courtesy of Eric and Anthony Jeffries, her grandsons, attorneys, Albuquerque. Added October 2019. Mela Sedillo, ca 1942, in front of her adobe home in the North Valley; Mela, ca. 1960 by doorway of her adobe home; Mela and husband Robert Koeber, ca. 1960; and Mela and grandsons Eric (taller boy) and Anthony Jeffries, ca. 1961., 1942-1961
File — Box: 1, Folder: 7
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The collection was given by Mela Sedillo Koeber’s family to the Center for Southwest Research. The main items likely come from her studies or teaching in the arts. There are 261 black and white snapshots, two large format photographs, three black and white fine prints, ten miscellaneous colored art pieces and two posters.
One print is an early European building with spires, by Marie Alder, undated but signed. There are two commercial prints of Roman buildings by A. Moschetti, Inc. The Adler and Moschettis are somewhat water damaged. There is an unsigned, undated black and white photograph of an unknown, large dining room, likely in New Mexico. It has modern wall vents, the tables are finely set, with two plain wooden doors in the background and a deep window sill with a flower pot. There are dark wooden chairs, with covered buttoned chair seats, tin craft chandeliers, sawed straight ceiling vigas, and an exit sign, as if it was a commercial place. Another photo is of an unidentified capitol dome, unsigned and undated.
The colored drawings, sketches and posters range from 1942-1989 and are probably student's or children's art. One has colored geometric designs while another is a colorful Halloween scene. Included is a pine tree detail signed to Mela from Lloyd, 1942. One of a tree and trail in the forest in the winter is signed Ainy?, 1945. A scene of swans, a bridge, benches and flowers is signed J. Kendell. One undated poster is from the Santa Fe Summer Theater, St. Michael’s Playhouse for the Broadway play “The Third Best Sport.” The other is a sign for the Art Auction at La Fonda by the Santa Fe Association of the Arts, also undated.
The 3x5 black and white photographs feature New Mexico Hispanic wooden hand carved furniture, doors, windows and porches, weaving, colcha pieces, religious art and ornamental metal or tin craft works from inside houses she visited. Sedillo probably took them between 1920-1940 to use in teaching.
The pieces and their backgrounds provide important glimpses of daily life. Some of the folk art work likely dates to the 1800s and others to the early 1900s. The photographs were pasted on display boards and were removed for preservation. They are not dated and the locations of the homes and names of the families are not noted, which was typical in that era. The names of the artists are also not noted.
In each category of art there are many different designs and patterns. Represented are home-made carved wooden beds, benches (tarimas), chairs, a stool, and chests and trunks (petacas), some with details of their decorations and metal locks. A few show the chests sitting up on tables or chairs to get them off the ground. There are also carved wooden hanging wall shelves and a staircase rail. There are upright floor cupboards (trasteros) and also wall cupboards, as well as various wooden side, end and corner tables, but apparently no dining tables. Other photos show fire places, wooden window covers, doors and porches (portales, corbels, vigas). There are also home weavings such as rugs (jerga) and blankets or coverlets (mantas), and colcha embroidery pieces. Included also are tin craft frames, mirrors, candle holders and a chandelier. In addition, there are photographs of religious art (santos) - carved bultos, statues, crucifixes, and carved and painted retablos.
Some of the images are notable. For example, there is a matching Sedillo photograph of the wooden panel (or door) called El Cibolero by E. Boyd in her book “Popular Arts of New Mexico,” 1975, p. 183, which Boyd dated to 1820-1850. One shows a grouping of a wooden chest on a woven rug, beside a large pottery jar. Along the sides of the chest are pillars like candles and on top the chest are candles and an enshrined bulto. Several of the broken trunks were re-used as boxes to store wood for the fire place or stove. There is one image of a wooden wall cupboard and beneath it is a silver or pewter serving set, with coffee or teapot, sugar bowl, creamer, covered dishes and small goblets. Another shows a corner ceiling corbel, with vigas and a black metal lantern or chandelier. Another tin craft chandelier shows a sign of re-use and has an electric light bulb coming out of it. There are two photographs of tin craft glass frames in which the image of the photographer is reflected. The collection is useful for learning about Sedillo’s work and for the study of New Mexico crafts and designs.
One print is an early European building with spires, by Marie Alder, undated but signed. There are two commercial prints of Roman buildings by A. Moschetti, Inc. The Adler and Moschettis are somewhat water damaged. There is an unsigned, undated black and white photograph of an unknown, large dining room, likely in New Mexico. It has modern wall vents, the tables are finely set, with two plain wooden doors in the background and a deep window sill with a flower pot. There are dark wooden chairs, with covered buttoned chair seats, tin craft chandeliers, sawed straight ceiling vigas, and an exit sign, as if it was a commercial place. Another photo is of an unidentified capitol dome, unsigned and undated.
The colored drawings, sketches and posters range from 1942-1989 and are probably student's or children's art. One has colored geometric designs while another is a colorful Halloween scene. Included is a pine tree detail signed to Mela from Lloyd, 1942. One of a tree and trail in the forest in the winter is signed Ainy?, 1945. A scene of swans, a bridge, benches and flowers is signed J. Kendell. One undated poster is from the Santa Fe Summer Theater, St. Michael’s Playhouse for the Broadway play “The Third Best Sport.” The other is a sign for the Art Auction at La Fonda by the Santa Fe Association of the Arts, also undated.
The 3x5 black and white photographs feature New Mexico Hispanic wooden hand carved furniture, doors, windows and porches, weaving, colcha pieces, religious art and ornamental metal or tin craft works from inside houses she visited. Sedillo probably took them between 1920-1940 to use in teaching.
The pieces and their backgrounds provide important glimpses of daily life. Some of the folk art work likely dates to the 1800s and others to the early 1900s. The photographs were pasted on display boards and were removed for preservation. They are not dated and the locations of the homes and names of the families are not noted, which was typical in that era. The names of the artists are also not noted.
In each category of art there are many different designs and patterns. Represented are home-made carved wooden beds, benches (tarimas), chairs, a stool, and chests and trunks (petacas), some with details of their decorations and metal locks. A few show the chests sitting up on tables or chairs to get them off the ground. There are also carved wooden hanging wall shelves and a staircase rail. There are upright floor cupboards (trasteros) and also wall cupboards, as well as various wooden side, end and corner tables, but apparently no dining tables. Other photos show fire places, wooden window covers, doors and porches (portales, corbels, vigas). There are also home weavings such as rugs (jerga) and blankets or coverlets (mantas), and colcha embroidery pieces. Included also are tin craft frames, mirrors, candle holders and a chandelier. In addition, there are photographs of religious art (santos) - carved bultos, statues, crucifixes, and carved and painted retablos.
Some of the images are notable. For example, there is a matching Sedillo photograph of the wooden panel (or door) called El Cibolero by E. Boyd in her book “Popular Arts of New Mexico,” 1975, p. 183, which Boyd dated to 1820-1850. One shows a grouping of a wooden chest on a woven rug, beside a large pottery jar. Along the sides of the chest are pillars like candles and on top the chest are candles and an enshrined bulto. Several of the broken trunks were re-used as boxes to store wood for the fire place or stove. There is one image of a wooden wall cupboard and beneath it is a silver or pewter serving set, with coffee or teapot, sugar bowl, creamer, covered dishes and small goblets. Another shows a corner ceiling corbel, with vigas and a black metal lantern or chandelier. Another tin craft chandelier shows a sign of re-use and has an electric light bulb coming out of it. There are two photographs of tin craft glass frames in which the image of the photographer is reflected. The collection is useful for learning about Sedillo’s work and for the study of New Mexico crafts and designs.
Dates
- 1942-1961
Access Restrictions
Collection is available for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 278 items (2 boxes) : 263 photographs, 13 works on paper, 2 posters
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
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