Secundino Romero Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-287-BC
Scope and Content
The Secundino Romero collection contains material relevant to the government and politics of Las Vegas, New Mexico; San Miguel County; and the state of New Mexico. The bulk of the material relates to Romero's work as clerk of the Fourth Judicial District. This includes ledgers and correspondence with New Mexico attorneys, court clerks, sheriffs, and persons involved in court cases and decrees. The collection also includes personal, family, and business correspondence, as well as materials associated with Secundino Romero's father, Eugenio Romero, pertaining to political matters. Names of note included in the collection are Jose Ramon Alarid, O.A. Larrazolo, Miguel A. Otero, Frank Springer, R.E. Twitchell, T.B. Catron, Harvey B. Fergusson, Maxwell Land Grant Co., H.O. Bursum, C.M. Foraker, Benjamin M. Read, L. Bradford Prince, and the Red River Valley Co. This collection contains documents written in Spanish and English.
Dates
- 1824-1911
- Majority of material found in 1885-1911
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.
Biography
Secundino Romero was born July 1, 1869, in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He was the second son of Eugenio and Ascension Lopez de Romero. He received his elementary education in a private school in Romeroville, New Mexico, and later attended the Jesuit College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Romero attended St. Mary's University in St. Mary's, Kansas, and graduated in 1890 from Spaulding's Business College in Kansas City.
Romero returned to New Mexico in 1892. He worked in the Romero family mercantile business for the next few years and became active in county Republican Party politics. His ranch in Cuervo, New Mexico, south of Las Vegas, would eventually encompass 14,000 acres and would become a successful sheep and cattle ranch.
In 1896, Romero was named chairman of the San Miguel County Republican Central Committee, a position he held until 1911. Romero was appointed clerk of the Fourth Judicial District in 1897, a patronage position he would hold until 1910. During this time, he was also the publisher of El Independiente, a popular weekly Spanish language newspaper.
Romero served as mayor of the Town of Las Vegas from 1906-1911, and sheriff of San Miguel County from 1910-1911. Also during this period, Romero became involved in state Republican politics. In 1912, he was appointed United States Marshal for the district of New Mexico by President Taft. In 1914, Romero was elected to the House of Representatives from San Miguel County and served as speaker of the House from 1915-1917. From 1918 until 1922, Romero again served as sheriff of San Miguel County and in 1922 he was again appointed U. S. Marshal, serving until 1926. Romero stepped down as chair of the Republican Party in 1927 after nearly three decades of leadership in Republican politics in Las Vegas, San Miguel county, and the state of New Mexico. He died on August 20, 1929, at his ranch in Cuervo, after suffering a heart attack. He was sixty years old.
Romero returned to New Mexico in 1892. He worked in the Romero family mercantile business for the next few years and became active in county Republican Party politics. His ranch in Cuervo, New Mexico, south of Las Vegas, would eventually encompass 14,000 acres and would become a successful sheep and cattle ranch.
In 1896, Romero was named chairman of the San Miguel County Republican Central Committee, a position he held until 1911. Romero was appointed clerk of the Fourth Judicial District in 1897, a patronage position he would hold until 1910. During this time, he was also the publisher of El Independiente, a popular weekly Spanish language newspaper.
Romero served as mayor of the Town of Las Vegas from 1906-1911, and sheriff of San Miguel County from 1910-1911. Also during this period, Romero became involved in state Republican politics. In 1912, he was appointed United States Marshal for the district of New Mexico by President Taft. In 1914, Romero was elected to the House of Representatives from San Miguel County and served as speaker of the House from 1915-1917. From 1918 until 1922, Romero again served as sheriff of San Miguel County and in 1922 he was again appointed U. S. Marshal, serving until 1926. Romero stepped down as chair of the Republican Party in 1927 after nearly three decades of leadership in Republican politics in Las Vegas, San Miguel county, and the state of New Mexico. He died on August 20, 1929, at his ranch in Cuervo, after suffering a heart attack. He was sixty years old.
Extent
5 boxes (4 cu. ft.) + 1 journal
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Secundino Romero Papers, 1824-1911, (bulk 1885-1911)
- Status
- Approved
- Author
- Processed by Dennis P. Trujillo
- Date
- ©2000
- 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 287 BC::Secundino Romero Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss287bc.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
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