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Democratic Party (N.M.) State Central Committee Records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-66-BC

Scope and Content

Boxes 1-3 of this collection contain correspondence. The material is arranged chronologically. There are letters relative to the organization of the committee in New Mexico as well as the national committee, political patronage issues with specific instances, letters of thanks to donors, requests from New Mexico precinct leaders and committee chairman for voters and tax payers lists, letters reporting on voting irregularities, and other issues. Correspondence with New Mexico representatives in Washington include letters of Senator A. A. Jones. Other letters are from various Committee chairs such as Arthur Seligman, successful Santa Fe businessman and banker and later governor of New Mexico. Box 4 contains newspaper clippings from New Mexico newspapers filed alphabetically by the name of the newspaper. A preface sheet has a typed list of New Mexico counties and names of towns and responsible reporters. Also in box 4 are materials on county and state party activities, precinct information such as list of delegates to county conventions for 1936, precinct officers and voters, and lists of World War I enlisted and drafted men from various counties in New Mexico. An addition to the collection was processed in 1980. Among other things it contains 2 scrapbooks of Democratic Party Minute Records (1934-1936), 2 books of precinct information, 2 scrapbooks of clippings, miscellaneous correspondence, precinct business, election statistics, and pamphlets.

Some material is in Spanish.

Dates

  • 1916-1955 (bulk 1916-1936)

Language of Materials

English,

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

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

Institutional History

In New Mexico, political party membership is attained when a person registers to vote and identifies his/her affiliation. As long as he or she retains that affiliation, he/she is considered a member of that party, entitled to participate in party conventions, primaries, and other party activities. The state convention meets and creates the central committee, which assumes the day to day activities of the party -- recruiting new party members, canvassing, fund raising, and various forms of electioneering. Each precinct holds a convention to select officers (committee members) and representatives (delegates) to a county convention. The county convention meets, selects county level party officers, a county central committee, and delegates to the state convention, as well as its representatives on the state central committee. The state convention meets and seats the central committee, which then selects the state party chairman. Daily decisions and management of party activities at each level are the responsibility of the party officers at that level, working in consultation with the central committee.

Extent

5 boxes (1.5 cu. ft.) + 6 vols.

Related Material

John Baron Burg Papers Center for Southwest Research,University Libraries, University of New Mexico Andrew Hutchins Hudspeth Letters Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico James Lee Lawson Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Clinton P. Anderson Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Dennis Chavez Papers Center for Southwest Research,University Libraries, University of New Mexico U.S. Selective Service Records Center for Southwest Research,University Libraries, University of New Mexico Cecilio Garcia Camarillo Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Pitt Ross and Edmund Ross family papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico

Relevant Secondary Sources

  • Garcia, F. Chris, and Paul L. Hain, ed. New Mexico Government. Albuquerque, N.M.:University of New Mexico Press, 1976
Title
Finding Aid of the Democratic Party (N.M.) State Central Committee Records, 1916-1955 (bulk 1916-1936)
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by T.S. Reinig
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 66 BC::Democratic Party (N.M.) State Central Committee Records)//EN" "nmu1mss66bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).

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