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Stacher Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-382-BC

Scope and Content

Included are ten photocopied volumes, all prepared by Herbert C. Stacher around a specific theme. Most of the volumes are either autobiographical, or contain information about his father, Samuel Franklin Stacher. They include family recollections, photographs, genealogical information, and copies of original documents relating to the Stacher family.

Three of the volumes relate to coal mining in the Gallup, New Mexico area. Included is a history of the Gallup Southwestern Coal Company, as well as employee records.

Several volumes relate to Samuel F. Stacher and his tenure as U.S. Indian agent and as Superintendent of the Indian school at Pueblo Bonito (which was actually built in Crownpoint). Other volumes in the collection relate to the history of Crownpoint.

Dates

  • 1940-1982
  • Majority of material found in 1980-1982

Creator

Language of Materials

English.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biographical Information

Samuel F. Stacher was born September 17, 1875 near Congress, Ohio. He entered the United States Indian Service in 1903, assigned to the Sac and Fox Agency and school in Eastern Oklahoma as a farmer. Stacher moved to the Navajo Springs Day School, near Cortez, Co. in 1906, where he remained until 1909, when he was transferred to Pueblo Bonito (Chaco Canyon, N.M.) with instructions to find a suitable location for the establishment of an agency and school. With this appointment, Stacher was also given the duties of U.S. Indian agent for the Navajo Indians living off the established reservation, but on the public domain (checkerboard area) in New Mexico and Arizona. At Pueblo Bonito, Stacher and his family rented the old stone hotel which was built by the Hyde Exploration Co., from Richard Wetherill. He briefly contemplated locating the school and agency at Pueblo Bonito, but decided that Wetherill wanted too much money to sell the land ($30,000), and it was too far from the railroad for getting supplies. In March 1910, Stacher chose Crownpoint as the site for the Indian agency and boarding school. He named the site Crownpoint for the rock peaks that looked like crowns. The school was established in 1912.

Stacher also originated the idea for the Indian Ceremonial, first held in 1920 and 1921 at Crownpoint. In 1922, the Ceremonial was moved to Gallup, where S. F. Stacher was director in charge of exhibits.

When the Crownpoint Agency was abolished in 1935, Stacher was transferred to the Indian Land Department, where he was later appointed superintendent of the Consolidated Ute Agency, headquartered in Ignacio, CO. He remained in this position until 1940, when he retired at the mandatory retirement age of 65. Samuel F. Stacher died on Aug. 28, 1952 in Albuquerque, N.M.

Herbert Cornell Stacher, born on July 29, 1901 near Fay, OK, was one of Samuel F. Stachers 5 children. He attended the University of New Mexico from 1917-1920, and served in the United States Navy from 1920-1922. He began a 25 year career working as a mine clerk for the Gallup Southwestern Coal Co. in 1922. Herbert C. Stacher was president and general manager for the 5 years before the mine closed down in 1947. In 1952, he accepted a position as Organization and Methods Examiner at the Fort Wingate Ordinance Depot, east of Gallup. He later became Chief of the Management Engineering Office. In 1969, he retired from Federal civil service.

Extent

1 box (.45 cu. ft.)

Related Archival Material

Glenn Leonidas Emmons Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Chester E. Faris Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico
Title
Finding Aid of the Stacher Family Papers, 1940-1982 (bulk 1980-1982)
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by B. Silbergleit
Date
©1999
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 382 BC::Stacher Family Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss382bc.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