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Patricia and R.P. Meleski Pictorial Collection

 Collection
Identifier: PICT-2022-010

Scope and Contents

Meleski Pictorial collection is minimally processed, preserving the arrangement of donor, but with no attempt to identify unlabeled photographs. Most negatives and transparencies are dated; prints are generally undated with dates derived from negatives and transparencies. Most photographs are 8x10 inch prints, with many mounted on board. Most of the photographs are black and white, though there are a few color images. The collection includes 4x5 transparencies and various sizes of negatives. Finally, there are a group of motion picture films from the 1970s of road trips and jeep races, mostly in southern New Mexico.

The collection is arranged into 3 series: 1: Ghost towns, mines and other locations 2: Jeep racing and road trips 3: Photographs by others

Dates

  • 1958-1980

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 publications or distribution.

Biography

Patricia Meleski-Heydt (1935-2020) and R. P. Meleski met in Las Cruces while students at New Mexico State University. R. P. (Richard) was a student photographer and met Patricia when documenting a theater production in which she acted. They eventually settled in Albuquerque. Patricia was a high school English teacher and R. P. worked as a professional photographer. Together they shared the hobbies of Jeep racing, visiting and documenting mining and ghost towns in New Mexico. Though divorced, their work is published in the 1972 publication Echoes of the Past: New Mexico’s Ghost Towns.

Extent

2650 items (6 boxes) : 3 - 8mm films, 38 - 16mm films, 2 boxes with approximately 400 - 4x5 transparencies and negatives; 2 boxes with approximately 600 photographic prints and 1600 - 35mm slides; 16 - 5x7inch glass plate negatives, 2 cassette tapes, assorted presentation script pages, 1 photograph and scrapbook album

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A collection of still photographs, slides, negatives and motion picture films by Patricia and R.P. Meleski, primarily of southern New Mexico mining and ghost towns, jeep races and road trips. Collection is minimally processed.

Physical Location

B2, filed with pictorial collections. Box 6 (films) is in B3.

Creator

Title
Finding Aid of the the Patricia and R.P. Meleski Pictorial Collection
Status
Completed
Author
CSWR Pictorial staff
Date
© 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

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