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Thomas H. MacDonald, Chief, Bureau of Roads, Washington, D.C, he shepherded in National Federal highway system, including New Mexico. Kammer's material copied from the Thomas H. MacDonald Collection, at Texas A and M University Archives. Includes a biography of MacDonald and request for his 1919 national job appointment. There are several of his position papers on American roads: Our National Highway Problems, 1921 address before the Good Roads Convention of American Road Builders, Chicago. Charts, statistics for 1921, each Western state, including New Mexico on public land, Indian reservation land and National Forest Land, lands through which highways will pass, etc. Address in Connection With the Highway Short Course, University of Illinois, 1922, for training more engineers to build the American highways; also deals with highway building in California, funding. Report of 1922 Conference, San Francisco, California, of Western atate highway officials, Bureau of Public Roads Engineers, Western Region, including New Mexico, discussion of Federal Highway Act, Federal Government aid funding and standards for state road building, joining the roads in various states, connections, extensions, expense will vary, of the width of the highways, surfacing, paving, bridges, traffic conditions, railroad crossings, funds from the railroads, consistent markings, signs for the roads, re routing highways, impact of leaving communities off the roads, etc. Letter to MacDonald, July 19, 1922, from L. A. Gillette, New Mexico Highway Engineer, Santa Fe, in behalf of the Committee of Western States Highway Association, comments about the highway standards required by the Federal Government for funding to states, some states could not comply, like New Mexico, and letter from MacDonald to Gillette, on ways to work out the differences. Roads and Education, 1922 paper for the Yearbook of the Far Western Travellers Association, 1911-1922

 File — Box: 8, Folder: 80

Scope and Content

From the Collection: “Research and Nominations" documents the bulk of David Kammer’s professional work surveying cultural landscapes and preparing State and National Register nominations. Properties he examined range from vernacular buildings of northern New Mexico to road sections and commercial buildings along Route 66. Kammer conducted the first statewide study of New Deal public works architecture and landscape projects in New Mexico. He surveyed historic acequias, bridges, theaters, neon, neighborhoods, schools and forts, Kammer’s work spans the geographic State of New Mexico, from Albuquerque to Colfax County, Corrales, Fort Bayard, Fort Marcy, Galisteo, Las Vegas, Mora, Ojo Caliente, Santa Fe, Truth or Consequences, and White Sands. He also worked in Costilla County, CO and Socorro/San Elizario (TX).

This series consists largely of accumulated photocopied research from a wide variety of sources and resultant historical narratives written by David Kammer. A collection of slides is also included. The collection provides a wealth of information related to New Mexico’s cultural and historic landscape.

Additional materials added to the collection in May 2019.

Dates

  • 1911-1922

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 8 boxes (8 cu. ft.), one 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