Skip to main content

William H. Andrews Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-19-BC

Scope and Content

The collection contains 4 scrapbooks and 9 file folders reflecting Andrews' career as delegate to congress from New Mexico. Scrapbooks primarily contain news clippings and title pages from House Bills. The folders are comprised of correspondence, affidavits, telegrams, and news clippings.

Two of the scrapbooks document House Bills that Andrews was involved in authoring and introducing, including hand written entries and House Bill title page clippings. One of these scrapbooks contains Bills from the 61st Congress; the other is from the 62nd Congress. A third scrapbook contains news clippings about the political and business interests of W.H.Andrews for the years 1902-1910. The fourth scrapbook focuses on Andrews' political career and New Mexico statehood, 1911-1913.

Dates

  • 1871-1912

Creator

Language of Materials

English, and Spanish.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws.

Biography

William Henry "Bull" Andrews was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1842. He was educated in public schools in Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1895-1898, and a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1889-1890 and 1891-1902. From 1889-1890, he was chair of the Pennsylvania Republican State Central Committee. When the voters "retired him from office" in 1902, Andrews moved to Sierra County, New Mexico. He later moved to Albuquerque.

Andrews became an astute and dominant politician in New Mexico. A year after arriving, he was elected to the New Mexico Territorial Council. He was elected to Congress in 1905 (narrowly defeating Octaviano Larrazolo), and reelected twice, serving in the 59th, 60th and 61st Congress, 1905-1911. Andrews was influential in obtaining statehood for New Mexico. He expected to be rewarded by election to the U.S. Senate, however, an alliance between Thomas Catron and Albert Fall thwarted Andrews' efforts.

Andrews organized and promoted the Pennsylvania Development Co., builders of the New Mexico Central Railroad. While in office, he was blamed for a $300,000 shortage in a Pennsylvania bank, money allegedly used to finance the Santa Fe Central Railway.

William Henry "Bull" Andrews died in Pennsylvania on January 16, 1919, virtually penniless. He spent a fortune in politics, always hopeful that he would get a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Extent

1 box ( 1 cu. ft. )

Collection Available Online

A selection of digitized materials from the William H. Andrews Papers is available at the Center for Southwest Research's Manuscripts digital collections.

Related Material

Holm O. Bursum Papers. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Willard S. Hopewell Papers. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Dan Chavez Papers on the History of New Mexico Government. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.

Relevant Secondary Sources

  • Peterson, C.S. Representative New Mexicans: The National Reference Book of the New State Containing Photographs and Biographies of over Four Hundred Men Residents of New Mexico. Denver, Colo.: C. S. Peterson, 1912.
  • Larson, Robert W. "Statehood for New Mexico, 1888-1912." New Mexico Historical Review. Vol. 37 (1962): 161-200.
  • Keleher, William Aloysius. The Fabulous Frontier: Twelve New Mexico Items.Santa Fe, N. M.: The Rydal press [1945]
Title
Finding Aid of the William H. Andrews Papers, 1871-1912
Status
Completed
Author
Described by Illene Renfro
Date
©2000
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 19 BC::William H. Andrews Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss19bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

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