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New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-2023-08-25

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program from its foundation in 2006 through the creation of 100 roadside markers to its ongoing initiatives ranging from school curricula to public outreach. The collection includes materials related to strategic planning, operating plans, correspondence, promotional and marketing materials, press related to the program, the development of K-12 curricula and a traveling exhibit, documentation of interaction with the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and the Tourism Department, and more.

The collection is currently unprocessed; please consult with CSWR reference staff with questions or for access. A preliminary inventory is as follows:

Box 1: Correspondence, operating plans, contracts, strategic planning, materials documenting interaction with Department of Cultural Affairs and Tourism Department.

Box 2: Publications and articles about the marker program, marker dedications, communication and marketing materials, research.

The New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program website, including K-12 Curricula, is available at: www.nmhistoricwomen.org

Dates

  • 2005 - 2023

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

The New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program celebrates the contributions of women who have helped shape the multi-cultural history of New Mexico. To encourage tourism, New Mexico began its Scenic Historic Markers program in 1935. Seventy years and some 500 historical roadside markers later, few women were represented by this program. In 2005, the International Women’s Forum--New Mexico launched an effort to rectify this through the recognition of the diverse contributions of women in New Mexico. Working with the Governor, State Legislature, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Cultural Affairs, the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative was established in 2006 and funding was secured. The Initiative inaugurated a statewide nomination process soliciting recommendations from pueblos, tribes and all of New Mexico’s thirty-three counties. The first Historic Women roadside markers were erected in 2007. Markers honor both well-known historical figures as well as lesser-known women who have contributed to the arts, activism, education, business, politics and government, science, military, healthcare and settlement of New Mexico. Since 2006, the marker program has developed in three phases. The initial phase spanned the establishment of the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative to the creation of the first 64 markers. The second phase, the NMHWM Initiative Plus, produced 23 additional markers. The third and current phase saw the shift from an Initiative to the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program in 2021. Five approved markers to be installed in the fall of 2023 will bring the program to a total of 92 markers. Additional funding was received in 2022 from the New Mexico State Legislature to support the development of outreach, a K-12 curriculum, the program website, exhibitions and a speakers bureau.

Extent

2 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

Shelved on B3-3A.
Title
Finding Aid of the
Status
In Progress
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