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Clyde Tingley and Carrie Tingley Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-1072-BC

Scope and Content

The collection, accumulated by Leonard DeLayo, Jr., is arranged in 7 series:

Clyde Tingley - Personal, General, and Background includes biographical information, memorabilia, ephemera, news clippings, oil and gas leases, and materials relating to the Democratic Party.

Clyde Tingley - Personal Correspondence includes files from Tingley’s time as Governor of New Mexico as well as from his time as Mayor/Chairman of the City of Albuquerque. Correspondents of note include Clinton Anderson, Dennis Chavez, Erna Ferguson, and Ernie Pyle.

Carrie Tingley Hospital (Hot Springs, NM) – This series documents the Tingleys’ involvement with the Hospital in respect to donations and administration.

President's Birthday Ball (National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis) – Clyde Tingley served as NM Chairman for the President’s Birthday Ball- an annual fundraising event, spearheaded by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to fight infantile paralysis (polio). This series documents Tingley’s involvement and outreach.

NM State Projects contain limited materials, including a New Mexico State hospital survey and administrative material relating to the New Mexico State Fair (1953, 1954, 1958)

City of Albuquerque (CABQ) – contains a small amount of Tingley campaign and political material. The bulk of the series consists of CABQ reports relating to water, sewer, traffic, streets, and other infrastructure, as well as City Commission meeting materials. Land deeds and documents related to the Franchini Addition, as well as the Albuquerque Fraternal Order of Police, Route 66, and a proposal for the Ernie Pyle beach are found in this series.

Carrie Wooster Tingley – contains Wooster family documents as well as Mrs. Tingley’s correspondence.

Dates

  • 1856-1959
  • Majority of material found within 1935-1955

Creator

Access Restrictions

The 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

Clyde Tingley was born in London, Ohio, on January 5, 1882. He was educated in the public schools.

Clyde and Carrie Wooster met in Bowling Green, Ohio, while he was working as a mechanic for a car company. Carrie, who was from a “prominent wealthy family,” had contracted tuberculosis, and her doctor advised her to head for the Southwest. She did so, accompanied by her mother and Clyde. Carrie suffered an acute attack on the way to Arizona, and wound up in a clinic in Albuquerque. They liked Albuquerque, and decided to stay. Clyde and Carrie were married the following year, 1911.

In Albuquerque, Clyde became interested in politics while Carrie recuperated. Clyde was elected to the City Commission in 1922. He served continuously until his resignation on January 14, 1935, to begin his term as Governor. He served ten years as chairman of the City Commission and in his capacity as chairman was the unofficial mayor of Albuquerque. After completing his tenure as Governor, Tingley was reelected to his position on the City Commission (October 11, 1939), where he served another 13 years (1940-1953). Tingley’s accomplishments in Albuquerque include building parks, roads, a zoo and a baseball field; he paved streets, installed streetlights, started a bus system, and brought a beach to the desert.

Clyde Tingley served two terms as New Mexico’s 11th governor starting in 1935. Tingley, along with Senator Dennis Chavez, reorganized Democratic state politics. Clyde was one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s greatest supporters and friends. New Mexico benefitted from this relationship, ranking fifth in New Deal fund allocations. Governor Tingley brought a long list of improvements to New Mexico, from health care to tourism, the oil industry, water conservation, law enforcement and statewide infrastructure. He built or renovated 700 schools, mostly in rural areas. Perhaps his most enduring accomplishment as governor was building the Carrie Tingley Children’s Hospital at Hot Springs (now Truth or Consequences), built with New Deal backing.

Clyde Tingley passed away on December 24, 1960. Carrie Tingley died in Albuquerque on November 6, 1961. Both are buried in Albuquerque, NM.

Extent

5 boxes (4.4 cu. ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection includes correspondence of Clyde and Carrie Tingley, as well as material related to the City of Albuquerque, Carrie Tingley Hospital, and the New Mexico State Fair. Materials focus on Tingley’s time as Mayor/Chairman of the City of Albuquerque and Governor of New Mexico.

Arrangement

7 series:

  1. Clyde Tingley - Personal, General, and Background
  2. Clyde Tingley - Personal Correspondence
  3. Carrie Tingley Hospital
  4. President's Birthday Ball (National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis)
  5. NM State Projects
  6. City of Albuquerque (CABQ)
  7. Carrie Wooster Tingley

Related Archival Material

Governor Clyde K. Tingley Papers. New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. Carrie Tingley Hospital Records . New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. Dennis Chavez Papers Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries.

Separated Material

Photographs transferred to Clyde Tingley and Carrie Tingley Pictorial Collection.

Materials deemed “official” gubernatorial papers will be transferred to the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
Title
Finding Aid of the Clyde Tingley and Carrie Tingley Papers, 1856-1959
Status
Completed
Author
B. Silbergleit
Date
© 2021
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

  • 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