Skip to main content

Jane C. Sanchez Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-872-BC

Scope and Content

The collection, divided into 4 series, contains primarily handwritten and typed notes, photocopies, transcriptions and translations of primary documents related to Colonial, Mexican and Territorial New Mexico. The bulk of the material in this collection is related to land grants and Spanish Colonial and Mexican law.

Dates assigned to files containing photocopies, transcriptions, and translations are the dates the documents were originally created and dated and not the dates that Jane Sanchez translated, transcribed or photocopied the documents, which most often are unknown. Folders retain Jane Sanchez' filing system, which often means that a variety of subjects are filed together. Folders often overlap in scope and folder titles do not necessarily reflect all of the subjects within the folder. Thus, researchers are advised to examine the collection in greater depth than might be apparent.

Biographical and General Correspondence includes biographical and family genealogical materials as well as correspondence related to family, research, and publications.

Primary Documents and Research Files is the core of the collection. Included are photocopies, translations, and transcriptions of colonial documents, many of which relate to the Recopilación de las Indias. Files also contain research correspondence with friends and colleagues, newspaper clippings, published articles, and other related materials. Subjects pertain primarily to land, land grants, water, and law. Reies Lopez Tijerina, Eve Ball, William Rynerson, Lincoln County, New Mexico cities, counties, and mines are a few of the other subjects represented in this series. An original letter from Charles Bent to Manuel Alvarez regarding the approach of the Texans is worthy of note.

Unpublished Manuscripts and Papers by Jane Sanchez as well as scholars including Victor Westphall and Richard Greenleaf are included in this series. Subjects include land, water, law, Pueblo revolt, Inquisition, Portuguese grammar.

Movie and TV Plotlines/Scripts/Theatrical Performance contain research notes and draft scripts, including material about a theatrical performance related to Doña Tules.

Dates

  • 1663-2004
  • Majority of material found within 1966-2004

Creator

Language of Materials

English Spanish

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

Jane Calvin Sanchez' parents met when her mother Ruth was on vacation at Bishops Lodge, where her father, Frank was working as a wrangler. They married and settled on Frank's ranch outside Cerrillos, NM, on the San Marcos Land Grant. Ruth's father, a physician in Chicago insisted that she return to Chicago where there were "adequate" medical facilities, to have her child, Jane, who was born on April 27, 1929. Mother and child were back in New Mexico, on the ranch, within a month, and that is where Jane Sanchez grew up.

Jane received her B.A. in Modern Languages from the University of New Mexico in 1951, with a major in Spanish. Sanchez worked for the New Mexico Historical Review while at UNM. Her professional interest in history focused on the Spanish Colonial Period, specifically land grants. Sanchez worked with historian, Dr. Victor Westphall, as a researcher and translator. She also assisted other historians and individuals with their research, including Reies López Tijerina. In 1966 she concentrated exclusively on land grant research with in-depth study of the Spanish and Mexican laws, particularly, the Recopilación de las Indias. Jane Sanchez was also a playwright who researched New Mexico historical figures and events and drafted fiction, nonfiction and situation comedy scripts for TV, movies and documentaries. Jane Sanchez died on February 12, 2006 in Albuquerque, NM.

Extent

4 boxes (2.25 cubic ft.)

Abstract

This collection contains papers of Jane C. Sanchez, a historian and playwright in New Mexico. The materials relate to her research primarily regarding land grants, colonial history, Spanish and Mexican law, and storylines for theatrical and movie productions.

Related Material

Vargas Project Records Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. John L. Kessell Papers Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Richard E. Greenleaf Papers Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. France V. Scholes Papers Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Eleanor B. Adams Papers Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Archivo General de la Nación de México (AGN) Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries.
Title
Finding Aid of the Jane C. Sanchez Papers, 1663-2004 MSS.872.BC
Status
Completed
Author
Samuel Sisneros
Date
© 2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

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