Dolores Goddard Collection of Elfego Baca
Collection
Identifier: MSS-802-BC
Scope and Content
The Goddard collection offers a view of Elfego Baca as a businessman, attorney, politician and family man. Among the items are business cards and advertisements for his attorney’s office and other businesses. There are newspaper clippings that show his work as an attorney and his interest in law enforcement as well as biographical articles about him. The collection has private letters from friends as well as correspondence with his book publisher, Kyle S. Crichton, Hollywood motion picture companies and state and federal government officials of his day such as John Dempsey, Charles Curtis and Bronson Cutting.
Additional clippings, in English and Spanish, deal with his political stands, manifestos, change on political parties and the establishment of the Elfego Baca Club, showing his role in New Mexico politics. Others tell of his role in the Rio Grande Conservancy District vote, Mexican affairs, state conferences and commemorative historic events. Also in the collection are critiques of the Crichton book and reminiscences of the 1884 Frisco battle and other incidents in his life, including comments on Billy the Kid. There are several popular periodical articles about Baca and a copy of the comic book based on the Walt Disney film, the Nine Lives of Elfego Baca.
Several unusual items in the collection are an analysis of his hand print, his eye glasses, campaign buttons and brochures, and the cuff links with the famous bolt and nut symbol worn by the members of the Elfego Baca Club. The photos are of particular interest, too. Among them are a painting of Baca, a photo portrait of him and one of his wife. Others portray Baca in campaign poses, on the Bob Ripley Show, in a military uniform, with Mexican revolutionaries, with Eddie Mack, the boxer, and with family members.
Additional clippings, in English and Spanish, deal with his political stands, manifestos, change on political parties and the establishment of the Elfego Baca Club, showing his role in New Mexico politics. Others tell of his role in the Rio Grande Conservancy District vote, Mexican affairs, state conferences and commemorative historic events. Also in the collection are critiques of the Crichton book and reminiscences of the 1884 Frisco battle and other incidents in his life, including comments on Billy the Kid. There are several popular periodical articles about Baca and a copy of the comic book based on the Walt Disney film, the Nine Lives of Elfego Baca.
Several unusual items in the collection are an analysis of his hand print, his eye glasses, campaign buttons and brochures, and the cuff links with the famous bolt and nut symbol worn by the members of the Elfego Baca Club. The photos are of particular interest, too. Among them are a painting of Baca, a photo portrait of him and one of his wife. Others portray Baca in campaign poses, on the Bob Ripley Show, in a military uniform, with Mexican revolutionaries, with Eddie Mack, the boxer, and with family members.
Dates
- 1884-1961
Language of Materials
English
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.
Biography
In 1916 Baca ran for sheriff of Bernalillo County and lost but was elected the sheriff of Socorro County in 1918. He ran unsuccessfully for Socorro County sheriff again in 1920. In 1921 Secretary Fall appointed Baca as an Interior Department agent and assigned him to Indian and land disputes. In 1924, after years of loyalty to the Republican Party, Baca joined the liberal Progressive reform ticket of the Law and Order League. During these years, he lost his campaigns for district judge and sheriff but founded the Elfego Bolt and Nut Club and published a club newspaper called La Tuerica - The Nut. In 1927 Baca worked for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Bill and he and Kyle S. Crichton published a biography about his life called Law and Order, Ltd., that Baca hoped Hollywood would make into a movie. By 1930 Baca joined the Democrats, then headed by his patron, Bronson Cutting. Baca ran for New Mexico governor in 1934, for district judge in 1936 and 1940 and had his story told and photo taken in 1940 for the Ripley's Believe It or Not Show. In 1944 Elfego again ran unsuccessfully for district attorney in Albuquerque. But age and poor health caught up with the old lawman and he died on August 27, 1945. Baca’s wish came true in 1958 when Walt Disney made a movie about him - The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca.
Elfego Baca
While Elfego Baca’s early days are probably well-known, his later achievements are less familiar. After the shootout, he moved to Albuquerque, married, raised six children, served as deputy sheriff, deputy U.S. marshal, and belonged to the local militia. He studied law, participated in Republican politics, and in 1892 began investing in the Albuquerque Spanish-language newspaper, La Opinion Publica. Baca was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 1895 and had law offices in Socorro, Albuquerque, and El Paso. He also was elected to several posts in Socorro, including deputy county clerk, deputy sheriff, county school superintendent and mayor. In 1905-06 Baca was district attorney for Socorro and Sierra Counties and became the editor, manager and publisher of La Opinion Publica. In 1907 he helped establish the territory's first chapter of the Alianza Hispana Americana, heading the Bernalillo County chapter. In 1910 he and former Governor Curry ran against Democrats Harvey B. Ferguson and Paz Valverde for the first two New Mexico seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a bitter and close fight, Curry and Ferguson won seats. Baca was also a successful investor, miner, consultant, and businessman, who built business structures in Albuquerque and Socorro. He had ties in Mexico, knew several of the nation’s leaders, and followed the course of the Mexican Revolution carefully. He defended General Jose Ynez Salazar and testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. on conditions in Mexico.
In 1916 Baca ran for sheriff of Bernalillo County and lost but was elected the sheriff of Socorro County in 1918. He ran unsuccessfully for Socorro County sheriff again in 1920. In 1921 Secretary Fall appointed Baca as an Interior Department agent and assigned him to Indian and land disputes. In 1924, after years of loyalty to the Republican Party, Baca joined the liberal Progressive reform ticket of the Law and Order League. During these years, he lost his campaigns for district judge and sheriff but founded the Elfego Bolt and Nut Club and published a club newspaper called La Tuerica - The Nut. In 1927 Baca worked for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Bill and he and Kyle S. Crichton published a biography about his life called Law and Order, Ltd., that Baca hoped Hollywood would make into a movie. By 1930 Baca joined the Democrats, then headed by his patron, Bronson Cutting. Baca ran for New Mexico governor in 1934, for district judge in 1936 and 1940 and had his story told and photo taken in 1940 for the Ripley's Believe It or Not Show. In 1944 Elfego again ran unsuccessfully for district attorney in Albuquerque. But age and poor health caught up with the old lawman and he died on August 27, 1945. Baca’s wish came true in 1958 when Walt Disney made a movie about him - The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca.
In 1916 Baca ran for sheriff of Bernalillo County and lost but was elected the sheriff of Socorro County in 1918. He ran unsuccessfully for Socorro County sheriff again in 1920. In 1921 Secretary Fall appointed Baca as an Interior Department agent and assigned him to Indian and land disputes. In 1924, after years of loyalty to the Republican Party, Baca joined the liberal Progressive reform ticket of the Law and Order League. During these years, he lost his campaigns for district judge and sheriff but founded the Elfego Bolt and Nut Club and published a club newspaper called La Tuerica - The Nut. In 1927 Baca worked for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Bill and he and Kyle S. Crichton published a biography about his life called Law and Order, Ltd., that Baca hoped Hollywood would make into a movie. By 1930 Baca joined the Democrats, then headed by his patron, Bronson Cutting. Baca ran for New Mexico governor in 1934, for district judge in 1936 and 1940 and had his story told and photo taken in 1940 for the Ripley's Believe It or Not Show. In 1944 Elfego again ran unsuccessfully for district attorney in Albuquerque. But age and poor health caught up with the old lawman and he died on August 27, 1945. Baca’s wish came true in 1958 when Walt Disney made a movie about him - The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca.
Dolores Goddard
Dolores McGuinness Goddard is the great-granddaughter of Elfego Baca. Dolores is a descendant through Josefina (Josephina), the daughter of Elfego and Frances Pohmer de Baca (Francesquita). Josefina married John McGuinness, who worked for Baca as an interpreter, editor and secretary. Their son was William Joseph McGuinness, who was Dolores’ father. Dolores is married to John Goddard and lives in Hemet, California. These materials were collected over the years by Elfego Baca and his wife, passed on to their daughter Josefina, her son William Joseph and to Dolores. Over the years material was added to the collection by Baca's descendents.
Extent
2 boxes (1.7 cu. ft.) + 2 oversize folders
Abstract
This is a collection of correspondence, photos, newspaper clippings and articles about Elfego Baca as retained by his family after his death and collected in subsequent years. They provide a view of Baca’s political, business and family life beyond the well-known 1884 gunfight in Socorro County.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Dolores Goddard Collection of Elfego Baca, 1884-1961
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Nancy Brown-Martinez
- Date
- © 2008
- 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
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