Holm O. Bursum Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-92-BC
Scope and Content
The materials in the collection document Holm O. Bursum's personal life as well as his business and political careers. Correspondence, documents, and news clippings chronicle Bursum's ranching activities, his tenure as warden at the New Mexico State Penitentiary, various election campaigns, Republican Party involvements, and legislative activities. It includes documents relating to the controversial Indian Lands Bill, commonly known as the Bursum Bill. Albert B. Fall, Bronson Cutting and Elfego Baca are three of the more well known New Mexico personalities represented in Bursum's collection. The collection is arranged in a broad chronological sequence. Although most of the collection is in English, some materials are in Spanish.
Dates
- 1873-1936
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. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography
Holm O. Bursum was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on February 10, 1867. Bursum moved to New Mexico in 1881, two years after becoming an orphan. His first home in New Mexico was in Raton where he got a job working in a drug store. In 1882, he went to San Antonio, New Mexico, where he found a job working for his uncle, A. H. Hilton, father of hotelman Conrad Hilton. Seven years later, Bursum went into business for himself, hauling supplies for the U. S. Government from Wingate to Fort Wingate, and acting as railroad agent at Wingate. With the arrival of the railroad in the area, Bursum sold his freighting outfit for 1200 sheep, which he parlayed into a profit and then invested in two ranches. Bursum became a very prominent cattle and sheep rancher in New Mexico, owning "many thousands of acres" near Socorro. He was a member of the New Mexico Wool Growers Association.
Bursum began his political career when he was elected Sheriff of Socorro County, serving from 1894-1898. He was a member of the Territorial Senate in 1899 and 1900 and served as head of the Appropriations and Finance Committee. In 1899, he was appointed warden of the New Mexico State Penitentiary, a post that he held for seven years. Bursum was mayor of Socorro from 1906-1918. He was very active in the Republican party as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1928; he served as Chairman of the Republican Territorial Central Committee from 1905-1911. As delegate to the 1908 convention, Bursum was largely responsible for the Republican plank advocating statehood for New Mexico. He was Republican Floor Leader at the New Mexico Constitutional Convention in 1910. In 1919 he was made a member of the Republican National Committee representing New Mexico, and was reelected to the same position the following year.
In 1911 and 1916, Bursum lost elections for governor. In 1921, he was appointed to fill the seat vacated when Albert B. Fall resigned from the U.S. Senate. Later that same year, Bursum was elected for a full term. He was active as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Pensions. He unsuccessfully attempted to pass federal legislation which would have reduced the size of Pueblo landholdings in New Mexico by awarding disputed lands to non-Indian claimants.
When he retired in 1925, he devoted much of his time to supervising operations at his ranch. Holm O. Bursum died in Colorado Springs, CO on August 7, 1953.
Bursum began his political career when he was elected Sheriff of Socorro County, serving from 1894-1898. He was a member of the Territorial Senate in 1899 and 1900 and served as head of the Appropriations and Finance Committee. In 1899, he was appointed warden of the New Mexico State Penitentiary, a post that he held for seven years. Bursum was mayor of Socorro from 1906-1918. He was very active in the Republican party as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1928; he served as Chairman of the Republican Territorial Central Committee from 1905-1911. As delegate to the 1908 convention, Bursum was largely responsible for the Republican plank advocating statehood for New Mexico. He was Republican Floor Leader at the New Mexico Constitutional Convention in 1910. In 1919 he was made a member of the Republican National Committee representing New Mexico, and was reelected to the same position the following year.
In 1911 and 1916, Bursum lost elections for governor. In 1921, he was appointed to fill the seat vacated when Albert B. Fall resigned from the U.S. Senate. Later that same year, Bursum was elected for a full term. He was active as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Pensions. He unsuccessfully attempted to pass federal legislation which would have reduced the size of Pueblo landholdings in New Mexico by awarding disputed lands to non-Indian claimants.
When he retired in 1925, he devoted much of his time to supervising operations at his ranch. Holm O. Bursum died in Colorado Springs, CO on August 7, 1953.
Extent
20 boxes (7.35 cu. ft.), plus 2 volumes, plus 1 oversized folder
Collection Available Online
A selection of digitized materials from the Holm O. Bursum Papers is available at the Center for Southwest Research Manuscripts digital collections. Find the Holm O. Bursum Papers there in the Browse list.
Separated Material
Photographs transferred to the Holm O. Bursum Photograph Collection
Relevant Secondary Sources
- Historical Encyclopedia of New Mexico. Volume 1. Albuquerque: New Mexico Historical Association, 1945.
- Reader's Encyclopedia of the American West. New York: Harper and Row, 1977.
- Moorman, Donald. "Political Biography of Holm O. Bursum, 1899-1924." Thesis, University of New Mexico, 1962.
- Baca, Elfego, 1864-1945
- Cutting, Bronson M., 1888-1935
- Electioneering -- New Mexico
- Fall, Albert B. (Albert Bacon), 1861-1944
- Legislation -- New Mexico
- Legislation -- United States
- New Mexico -- History -- 1848-
- New Mexico -- Politics and government
- New Mexico -- Politics and government -- 1848-1950
- New Mexico's Digital Collections
- Political campaigns -- New Mexico
- Politicians -- New Mexico
- Prison wardens -- New Mexico
- Pueblo Indians -- Land tenure
- Pueblo Indians -- New Mexico
- Ranch life -- New Mexico -- Socorro County
- Socorro County (N.M.) -- History
- United States -- History -- 1919-1933
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Holm O. Bursum Papers, 1873-1936
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by CSWR staff
- 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 92 BC::Holm O. Bursum Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss92bc.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
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