ZIM CS~JR I]vs ; F 1 9 1 r"-...... /X' ~r0J11Ca 63 oe Nuevo Mexico Decernber' 2004 Issue NUDlber 63 New Mexicans at the Western History Association Conference in Las Vegas Nevada

Thursday. October 14. 2004 - WHA Las Vegas. Nevada. Session: Donald Cutter: A Life ofScholarship. Panel participants were (1 to r) Janet Fireman. Natural History Museum ofLos Angeles County; David 1. Weber. Southern Methodist University; Cheryl Foote. Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute; Richard Ems. Fort Lewis Coileqe. Donald C Cutter. Professor Emeritus. University of and St. John Porter Bloom. a charter member of WHA and Jo rice Bloom. current Mary's University. San Antonio; Sandra SchackeI. Boise State University; Charles President of Westerners International at the awards banquet in Las Ve~"as NV. Cutter. Purdue University and Iris Engstrand. University ofSan Dieqo .

Western History Association The first meeting of what was to become the Western History Association was held in Santa Fe. New Mexico. in October 1961. The rneetlnq was organized by a small S;?roup of history "buffs' and academic historians. Since then. the organization has met annually in a wide ranee of western. and sometimes eastern. cities brin~in~ toqether a diverse S;?roup of western writers. academic historians. public historians. and enthusiasts. Since 1961 the WHA has ~rown dramatically in size and its publications have become the most presttqious in the field . Its stated purpose: ... shall be to promote the study of the North American West in all its varied aspects and broadest sense. DUTWoodBall. UNM. Bart Barbour. UNM participants Miguel Gendett. WHA and the Westerners: Boise State University. Virginia Sharffand Chris Wilson. In 1961. Westerners played a siS;?nificant role in helpinq to organize the Western History Association. Westerner John A. Carroll. then a history professor in . sent out the call to historians and buffs alike to S;?ather in Santa Fe. N. M. Other Westerners includinq historian Ray billinqton. Chicaqo newspaperman Don Russell. and historians John Porter Bloom and Robert Utley. then of S1. Louis. MO. and Washington. D.C.. joined in the successful drive that organized the Western History Association and established close informal ties between WHA and The Westerners. many of whom remain members of WHA. Westerners International sponsors a breakfast each year at the annual WHA conference. WI uses the occasion to present awards to the most outstandinq Corrals and Posses. an award for the best non-fiction Western book written by a Westerner and published the previous year. the Phillip A. Danielson Awards for the best presentations or programs delivered to a Corral or Margaret Connell Szazand Perec Szaz. Detlis Millet and Joan Jenson retired Posse durinq the previous year. and the "Coke" Wood Award for the best published History Professors at UNM. professors from NMSU. monograph or article dealing with the history of the American West. Another tradition at the annual WHA Westerners breakfast is an auction of Western items The 44th Annual Western History Association Conference was held October 13-16, including books donated by Westerners and boof publishers. Westerners corrals in 2004, in Las \7eS;?as. Nevada. All persons shown in the above photocraphs either New Mexico are located in Santa Fe. Albuquerque. Silver City. Las Cruces. and currently live in or have a past connection to New Mexico. (Photoqraphs by Deming Jo Tice Bloom is current President. Westerners International. JPB Carleen LazzeIl) ••• Historical Society of New Mexico Annual Conference Clayton, New Mexico April 21-23, 2005

HiS;?hliS;?hts of the upcoming conference will include: • Chuckwaqon Supper with entertainment by Mark Gardner and Rex Rideout. UsinS;? period musical instruments. their presentation will feature Santa Fe Trail ballads and cowboy songs collected by Jack Thorpe "Black Jack" Ketchum lecture by renown scholar Larry Ball. author of "Desert Lawmen: The High Sheriffs of New Mexico and Arizona Territories, 1846-1912" and "The Marshals of New Mexico and Arizona Territories. 1846­ 1912." Presentation by Don Garate. National Park Service. Tumacacori National Historical Park. He will talk about the importance of Juan Bautista de Anza who served as governor of New Mexico. 1778-1788. under Spanish Rule . Anza played a significant role in what is now northeastern New Mexico. Tour of Santa Fe Trail landmarks and the Dinosaur Tracks at Clayton Lake. Pre-conference activities will include attending the Five-States Livestock Auction with lunch at the Sale Barn Cafe and a tour of New Mexico State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Rabbit Ear Mountians prominent Santa Fe Trail Landmarks Conference co-sponsered by Union County Historical Society. (Phofograph by Nick Peyton)

Mark Your Calender Now: Historical Society Annual Conference, Apri121-23, 2005, Clayton, New Mexico Kidnapping La Conquistadora, 19731 by Richard Melzer is found ." At St. Francis Cathedral collections, and art dealers by November able to trace incoming calls when the Father Mi~uel Baca publicly pled with the 1972, but no arrests had been made and kidnappers attempted to communicate. kidnappers to show mercy. Archbishop the perpetrators were still on the loose in as promised in their note."

James Peter Davis expressed shock and the spring of the Iollowinq year. IS But the phone call never came on dismay. tellinq reporters that he only Finally. there was the possibtltty that Thursday, April 12. Instead. church hoped the thieves were not so La Conquistadora's kidnappers may have officials and city police had to wait until "deranged" that they would destroy the learned of these previous crimes and 8:20 on Friday eventnc. This first phone famous statue. although he admitted that were l6uilty of boldly attempting a contact did not last long enough to trace "you don't Rnow what to expect these copycat caper with far hiSJherstakes and the caller. But a second call. made days.": much SJreater risks. moments later, produced th e desired Outraced. Fray Ancelico Chavez, the Rumors of La Conquistadora's results. thanks to Father Baca's success in author of two books about La whereabouts also circulated widely, as staIIin~ the kidnapper. The call was Conquistadora. declared that the crime rumors often do in the capital city. Some traced to a residential address in Santa was an act of sacrilege in an a~e when speculated that La Conquistadora was Fe.27 not even churches were respected by being kept in northern New Mexico. not Events unfolded quickly. Armed with

"the crooks" any more. [I According to far from Santa Fe. Others believed that a search warrant. detectives Montoya Fray Anqelico. the statue's disappearance she had been taken south to and Baca rushed to the Santa Fe address in New Mexico was as traumatic to the Albuquerque. [11 and arrested their suspect, a slim people of this state as the disappearance Another SJroup thought that La seventeen-year-old Hispanic youth the of the Statue of Liberty would be for the Conquistadora had been transported as police had had under survetllance for nation as a whole. " far away as the east coast where she was some time. thanks to the help of an State and local police used all less well known and could fetch a informant whose identity was withheld available manpower as they launched handsome price on the national or for his (or her) protection." La Conouistedote Peregrina arriving at their search and investiqation. La international black market. Leqitimate After two hours of questioning in his Our Lady of Belen . Conqulstadora's altar was meticulously art dealers. museums, and collectors parents' presence, the teenager April 30. 1998 checked for fin~erprints . but none were across the nation were notified to be on confessed and. in the process, implicated the alert.eo an eighteen-year-old friend who had She stands only rwenty-eicht inches found. Only a single set of footprints was hi~h tall. She is made of willow wood. nanve discovered to help the police identity La But nothing happened for several attended school in Santa Fe, but to her nattve . Having arrived in Conquistadora's abductor. There was no days. despite the relentless efforts of who now lived in northeast si~n breakin~ police officers and the countless prayers Albuquerque. The police arrested New Mexico in 1625. she is at least 379 of and enrerinc at any of the cathedral's doors.[, of Catholics across the state. Reflecting eighteen-year-old Arthur W McComb years old. but she is well preserved. the of many New Mexicans, a within hours. thanks to the excellent care she receives Detectives, led by Paul Baca and state ancutsh The older boy was with from La Confradfa de Nuestra Senora del police invesrtqator MiRe Montoya. poet wrote: charged Rosario (The Confraternity of Our Lady surmised that one or two perpetrators iQue triste estamos sin ti! larceny. desecration of a church. of the Rosary). had probably hidden in the choir loft or How sad we are without you! criminal damace of property, and 6Que vamos a hacer ahora? contrlbutlnq to the delinquency of a Her wardrobe of 130 elaborate dresses elsewhere in the hUSJe cathedral as the would be the envy of almost any woman buildlnq was beinq locked for the niqht What are we to do now? minor. With a previous juvenile record. in history. One dress. made by Cochiti on March 18. When all was quiet. the Vuelve pronto con nosotros, McComb was held on $40.000 bond." Pueblo artist Dorothy Trujillo, is of Native intruders had apparently climbed to the Return quickly to us, The Santa Fe minor was so hi~h a~reed Am erican desiqn and includes small niche where La Conquistadora o Virgen Conquistadoral cooperative that he to lead the ~rabbed Vir~in silver bracelets and a miniature squash normally stood, the holy statue, o Conquistadora!" police to where La Conquistadora could and fled from the church in the dark of Meanwhile, an older woman in Santa Fe be found. Ea~er to retrieve the statue as blossom necklace. recalled a occurrence at the soon as possible. Montoya, Baca, Santa The statue's jeweled crown's niSJht. If true, theirs had been a direct stranqe and simple plan, as most successful Santa Fe Fiesta the precious summer. As Fe police chief Felix Lujan, and police replacement value equals $65 .378 . while criminal plans are in history. usual. the fiesta's procession had began captain Alfred Lucero accompanied the her pectoral cross. donated in 1960 by an anonymous admirer, is currently valued With precious few physical clues to at Rosario Chapel northwest of town seventeen-veer-old to La Conqulstadora's work with, detectives interviewed at least where La had been taken location in the cold early morning hours at $97 .529. The replacement value of all ei~ht of Saturday, April 14.50 of her jewelry equaled $180.856 in 2000 . ~ persons who might have had so she could be carried back to the cathedral at the head of the procession. Despite previous rumors that La Whole books have been written about information about the theft. Several her.' And thousands of visitors have people al6reed to take lie detector tests . The elderly woman remembered that Conquistadora had been hidden when several men had attempted to lift come to admire her at her special chapel Unfortunately, these interviews left the somewhere north of Santa Fe or south in at St. Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe: She police with as many questions as answers La Conquistadora at Rosario Chapel, the Albuquerque, her actual location was in in the puzzling statue had ~rown inexplicably heavy, as if Valencia County. is the center of attention at the annual mystery" Santa Fe Fiesta, where she is carried For example, the police pondered it had wanted to remain at the chapel The minor, whose name was withheld from the press because of his age, led throuqh the capital city's streets at the why La Conquistadora had been rather than return to the cathedral and kidnapped in the first place. Given her dancer. head of a ~rand procession.' eminent Stories of suddenly police to the foothills of the Mananzo She is the image of the Virgin Mary, fame, she could not possibly be sold heavy religious statues abound. but this Mountains, east of Los Lunas. The small le~itimate one seemed particularly ominous. at ~roup the most venerated saint in the Catholic either in the art world or on hiked about three miles, and, after least in retrospect. 22 Church. She is the oldest Madonna the nefarious black market. crossing a stream, approached a remote, figure in the United States. She is the Some wondered if the kidnappers had Three weeks after La Conquistadora's abandoned mine." taken La Conquistadora planning to kidnappin~ in 1973, the police and Carrying only two flashllqhts, the four most famous reli~ious. cultural. and historical artifact in all of New Mexico. portray rhemselves as citizens who had church officials had yet to receive word men followed the youth about two She is listed as a New Mexico Re~istered somehow discovered the lost statue and from her abductors. either by mail or by hundred yards into the mine. There the Cultural Property. had turned it over to the police to reap phone. Santa Fe and the entire state held police finally found La Conquistadora, Ori ginally known as OUf Lady of the the reward that was bound to be offered. its collective breath. safely wrapped in foam padding and The case suddenly broke on Saturday, Rosary or Our Lady of the Conquest. she In fact. about $1,500 in reward money secured in a large plastic bag. Other is currently called Our Lady of Peace. had been pledged by local businesses April 7. 1973. On that date Father Baca at works of art were also discovered, She is best known as La Conqutstadora. ' and groups. includinq the Santa Fe Fiesta St. Francis Cathedral received a letter including the invaluable missing artifacts Council, within days after the crime was from someone who claimed to know of from San Mi~uel mission But on Sunday. March 18, 1973. La church." committed.I; Conquistadora was kidnapped from her La Conquistadora's whereabouts. To The detectrces carefully carried La prove that the ransom note was not a sheltered place of honor. Or would the kidnappers soon Conquistadora and the San Miguel art to How could this have happened? Who contact church leaders to make fake , its author went so far as to enclose their car and becan the long journey could have committed such a terrible demands for a ransom of much hiSJher a cross from La Conquistadora's crown." horne." crime? Why would anyone have stolen value? Would they threaten to dernace Written in poor Italian. the note stated La Conquistadora and her entourage such a sacred symbol of love and peace? or even destroy the sacred image if their that La Conquistadora would be arrived at Santa Fe police headquarters To begin to answer these questions. we demands were not met? returned unharmed in exchange for a at 7:00 a.m. Bells from the nearby must return to the day and scene of the Police also wondered if this crime was ransom of $150.000 and a promise from cathedral rang just as the police removed crime. related to recent thefts of other rellqious Governor Bruce Kinl6 that those involved La Conquistadora from their vehicle. As usual. the cathedral's sacristan. art in the capital. On July 5, 1972. a in the crime would not face criminal Tears streamed down the faces of valuable statue of San Miguel. as well as prosecution. Della Garcia. had locked and secured the policemen and reporters at the scene. " cathedral's exterior doors by 9:15 p.m . on other statues and painrincs. had been If church leaders agreed to th ese Newspapers across the Southwest stolen from San Miguel Mission, the terms, Father Baca was instructed to ring announced La Conquistadora's recovery Sunday. March 18. The church remained the cathedral's bells exactly ten times at closed until it was time for 6:00 mass the oldest church in the United States. " with banner headlines." Santa Fe's followlnq morninq.' (Accordinq to one theory, La 4:45 p.m . on Wednesday, April 11. If the downtown merchants displayed pictures bells were rung at the designated time, Within moments parishioners noticed Conquistadora had gone off in search of of the rescued statue in their storefront Mi~uel La Conquistadora's conspicuous the lost San because he'd been the kidnappers would delrcer additional windows." Catholics uttered prayers of ~one lon~ thanks~i\7in~ absence. Church officials quickly so and couldn't find his way instructions by phone the followinc day " and planned both a grand back home! [7 ) notified the poli ce. The press announced Encouraoed. lead detectrces Montoya procession and a solemn mass to the shocking crime with front-pace Or could the crimes at St. Francis and and Baca told Father Baca to ring the welcome La Conquistadora horne." Mi~uel headlines. The public was horrified. San be related to a series of thefts cathedral's bells as instructed in the New Mexicans had much to celebrate. Grown men and women wept at the from twenty-four churches and ransom note. The bells rang ten times at But there were many unresolved loose ri~ht news.' Penitente moradas (chapels) in northern precisely the moment." ends in this mystery. Where. for example, As if appealing for the safe return of a New Mexico over the previous two Meanwhile, the police installed was La Conquistadora's crown? human victim. Santa Fe mayor Joseph E. years? Close to a hundred reliqious electronic equipment to intercept calls The statue's original crown had not Valdes vowed to "do anything in my artifacts, valued at over $100,000, were received in offices at St. Francis been stolen in March because it was power to be sure that La Conqulstadora recovered from l6aIIeries, private Cathedral. Detectives hoped they'd be normally stored in a heavily-insured First

2 National Bank of Santa Fe vault. But La Notes: 1973 ; Las Cruces Sun-News, April 15. Conquistadora had been wearinq a n 1. The author wo uld like to thank Jose 1973: Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15. imitation ~old crown when she' d been Duran. ISJnacio Garcia , Tom as Jaehn. 1973. and April 12, 1998 kidnapped and this second. still-valua ble Rena Chavez Melzer. Marina Ochoa. and 30 . Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15. 1973 headpiece was mtssinq w hen the sta tue Irene Sanchez for their Rind assistance in 31. Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15. 1973 was brought to police headquarters in the preparation of this narrative history. 32 . Albuquerque Tribun e. April 14. 1973: Santa f e . 2. Appraisal of Retail Repl acement Value Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15. 1973; Detective Baca worried that in his lof] La Conqui stadora Jewelr y, Susan C. Belen News-bulle tin. April 16. 1973 haste to m ove La Co nquistadora from Hum enicR. October 2000. Archives of the 33 . Las Cruces Sun-News. April 15. 1973 the mine to his police car on April 14 the Archdiocese of Santa Fe (AASF) : Ronald 34 . Albuquerque Tribune. April 14. 1973 crown may have accidentally fallen off. L. Grim es. Symbol and Conquest: Public 35. See. for exa mple. the Albuquerqu e unnoticed in the dim pre-dawn liQht. Ritual and Drama in Santa Fe Tribune. April 14. 1973. the Santa Fe New And so detectives Baca and Montoya (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Mexi can. April 15. 1973. th e Las Cruces returned to Valenci a Co unty by Press. 1992): 53. 112-13. The statue's Sun-News.April 15. 1973. and th e £1Paso helicopter to retrace their steps to and crown was designed by Sa nta Fe artist Times. April 15. 1973. fro m the a ba ndoned m ine in th e Karl Larsson and m ade by the Santa Fe 36. Santa Fe Reporter. December 14-20. Manz ano Mountains. They searched for Studios of Church An . Inc.. at a cost of 1994 three hours o n Monday. April 16. but $1.147.50 in 1960. Santa Fe Studios of 37. Santa Fe New Mexican. April 16. 20. found no SiQn of the crown. Instead. they Church An. Inc.. receipt. May 24. 1960. 27. and 29, 1973: Albuquerqu e Journal. discovered a larqe quantity of explosives. AASF. Santa Fe. New Mexico. The April 30. 1973 . Epple Quintana. makinQ La Co nqutstadora's survival in cro wn's cost was paid for with Raymond Ga llegos. O rla ndo O rteq a. the mine even m ore mi racul ous." cont ributions fro m donors not only in Alex Garcia . Elias Bustos . and th e To everyone's reli ef. La Sa nta Fe, but from as far away as Florida Hermanos Mayores de Nuestro Padre Conquistado ra's crown was soon La Conquisteoore Peregrin a on display and Californ ia. Accordi ng to a May 31. Naza reno thanked the police for discovered in an arroyo six miles so uth at Saint Francis Cathedral. 1960. Deed of Gift negotiat ed with th e their su ccessful recovery of La of Santa Fe where it had apparently been San ta Fe New Mexico. help of attorney/historian William Conquistadora in a lett er to the editor, left by the tecnace thieves. Hand-carved Keleher. th e statue 's cross was donated by Santa Fe New Mexican. May 1, 1973. remained safe in a desolate mountain antique wooden frames from the San a woman from Albuquerque. AASf 38. Santa Fe New Mexi can. April 16. 1973 mineshaft." We ca n o nly sp eculat e MiQuel mission theft were also found in 3. fray Angelico Chavez. Our Lady of the 39 . Albuquerque Tribun e. April 18. 1973; ab out how she esc a ped ~reater har m . an arroyo near S1. John's Co IIeQe. Conquest (Albuquerqu e: University of Santa Fe New Mexican. April 18 and 29. Perhaps a legend of the Rio Abaj o ca n Alth ouqh damaged. th e fra mes were New Mexico Press. 1948): Fray Angelico 1973 hel p explain wha t tra nspired. Accordinq so on repaired a nd returned to the old Chavez, La Conqutsteaote, The 40. San ta Fe New Mexican. April 30. 1973 to th is legend. a Spanish colonial so ldier mission church." A utobiography of an Ancien t Statue 41. Grimes. Sym bol and Conquest. 134. named Juan Soldado discovered a La Conquistadora's hornecominq to (Paterson. New Jersey: S1. Anthony Guild. 42 . Santa Fe New Mexican. April 30. 1973 valuable mine in th e Manzanos 51. Francis Ca thed ral took place o n 1954). 43. Santa Fe New Mexican. April 30. 1973 so metime in the eiQhteenth century. To Sunday, April 29, 1973. Reporters on the 4. This north chape l at the cathedral is 44. Grimes. Symbol and Conqu est. 60. this day. Juan's lJhost reportedly SJuards scene noted that few people lined the described in Bruc e Ellis. Bishop Letny 's 267. It was dunnq one such procession his find from intruders who might try to streets of Santa Fe because most people­ San ta Fe Cathedral (Albuquerque: in th e ninet eenth cen tury that the steal its riches for themselves. Even an es tim a te d 2,500-took pan in th e University of New Mexico , 1985): 98- 104. bearers of La Conquistadora set her litter w hen travelers have discovere d his procession itself. Three city blocks in 5. Grim es. Sym bol and Conquest, 58-61: down in order to rest. While th ey rested. treasure a nd have left items (from length. the procession was th e larQest Chris Wilson. The Myth of San ta Fe a little SJirl "saw the tiny Mad onna and. ban danas to rifles) to ide ntify the mine's held in Santa Fe in many years." (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. unobser ved . ran out to tak e it up in her location, their markers have disappeared Appropriately. detectives Montoya 1997): 183-84. 363n. arms as sh e would a doll. and happily when they eventually returned to the and Baca were among those chosen to 6. Translated. the statue's official name is returned to [her nearby] house." The area. Thanks to Juan. the remote carry (and ~uard ) La Conquistadora on Our Lady of the Rosary. th e Conqueress. statue was missed until the ~irI's m other locati on remained a secret for her throne." Accordinc to the press, Queen. and Patroness of the Ancient found it ruch ed in her daughter's bed. ce nturies." cathedral bells ranlJ loudly and joyously Kmqdom of New Mexico and the Royal The mother hurri edly returned La We can o nly speculate that Arthur throu qhout the momentous evenr." City of Santa Fe. Grimes, Symbol and Co nquistadora to Archbishop Jean B. McCo m b and his friend had found Juan's Once in 51. Francis Cathedral. the Conquest. 219. Archbishop Robert f Lamy who. many months later. sent the secl uded mineshaft and had hidden La capacity crow d watched as La Sanchez renamed th e statue Our Lady of SJ irl a "bea utifully dressed wax doll" to Conquistadora in it shortly aft er her Conquistadora was triumphantly pla ced Peace in 1992 "to sa tisfy American replace th e one she had innocently abduction o n March 18. It was a devout back in her chapel to the north of th e Indians who say [its] fo rm e r name tak en. Paul Horgan. Lamy of Santa Fe Juan who had kept wa tch over the statue cathedral's main sanctuary. At 3:00 p.m. denotes c ultural domination." (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. and had assured its safety for the three Archbishop James Peter Davis celebra ted Albuquerque Journal. July 12. 1992; 1975): 415-16. weeks it was detained in his m ine. A a solem n mass of thanlasqlving. Father 1. Sh eehan. ed.. Four Hundred 45. Quoted in the Santa Fe New Mexican. ~ood soldier. Ju an had guarded th e Baca delivered th e sermon. La Years of Faith (Santa Fe: Archdiocese of April 12. 1998. mine's ent ra nce. ReepinQo ut tresp assers Conquistadora was safely home at last." Santa f e. 1998): 197. Unfortunately. the 46. Quoted in the Santa Fe New Mexican. and only permitting th e police to enter To th e reli ef o f many. La renaming stirre d controversy, with some Jun e 26. 1973. so they could rescue the priceless icon at Conquistadora was abl e to play her supportinq the gesture (see. for example. 47 . Santa Fe New Mexi can, June 26, 1973. last. traditional role in the annual procession th e favorable Albuquerque Journal The police informant who helped lead Pedro Ribera-Onega. a hiQhIy durin q th e Santa Fe Fiesta less than four editorial of July 14. 1972). while o thers police to the two boys received th e resp ected lead er of La Co nfra dia de m onths later. As usual. her impressive o pposed it (see. for exam ple. Lena G. rew ard th at had been offered for Nuestra Senora del Rosar io . had a much ento urag e included Santa Fe policemen Lucero to the edito r. San ta Fe Nevr in formation Ieadinq to La di fferent exp la natio n of how La on motorcycles. a color guard (bearing Mexican. July 27. 1972). 's safe return. Santa Fe Co nquistadora had survroed. According papal and Am erican fIaQs). the fiesta 7. Albuquerqu e Journ al. March 20. 1973: New Mexican. April 29. 1973 to Ribera-Onega. La Co nquistadora had qu een (and her court). Catholic clergy. a Santa Fe New Mexican, April 12, 1998 48. Grimes. Symbol and Conquest. 135 . "allowed herself to be stolen to show us choir. flower Qirls. the Confraternity of La 8. Albuquerque Journal. March 20. 1973 49. Editorial. Santa Fe New Mexican. that we weren't taking care of our saints" Conquistadora. and the Caballeros de 9. Santa Fe New Mexican. March 19. 1973 April 16. 1973 and that security needed to be vastly Vargas. who bore the esteemed statue. '·1 10. Quoted in the Santa Fe New Mexi can. 50. Irene Barraza Sanchez. "Memorias de Improved.' And what became of the teenage March 21. 1973. Tome" in Tey Diana Reb olledo.Erlinda If thi s was her intent. La thieves? Arthur McComb was sa id to 11. Quoted in the Albuquerque Journal. Go nzales-Berry and Teresa Marquez. eds.. Conq uistadora succeeded. Secu rity at have had a "sm art m outh" when first March 25. 1973. Las Mujeres Heblen . An Anthology of 51. Fra ncis Ca thedral has improved arrested. a nd. after a two-month 12. Albuquerqu e Journal. March 25. 1973; Nuevo Mexicana Writers (Albuquerque: considerably. and church officials have evaluation, a psychologist concluded Santa Fe New Mexican. April 29. 1973 EI Norte Publications/Academia. 1988): go ne so far as to have a replica of La that the youth had had an overriding 13. Albuquerqu e Journal, March 23, 1973 17-18. Co nqu istado ra made so the replica. "desire to become a master crim inal.'!" 14. Albuquerqu e Journ al. March 23. 1973; 51. Quot ed in the Santa Fe Nev: Mexican. kn own as La Conquistadora Peregrina Only the prosp ect of a long prison term Santa Fe New Mexican. April 6. 1973 April 12. 1998. (or the Traveltnq Co nquistadora ). can at th e sta te penitentiary changed 15 . San ta Fe New Mexican. April 6. 1973: 52. Author's interview with I ~n a cio travel around the state while the original McComb's attitude and career ~oa i. In Grimes. Sym bol and Conquest, 131-3 2. Garcia, mayadomo of Rosario Cha pel, statue remains safely at ho rne." Jun e 1973 he and his accomplice aQreed 16. Albuquerque Journal. March 23. 1973 O ctober 28. 2004. La Conquistadora (or a t least La to plea bargains. Showinq overt remorse 17. Grimes. Sym bol and Conquest. 132. 53 . Valencia County News-Bulletin. May Pereqrine) retur ned to Valencia County for his actions. McComb announced to 18. Albuquerqu e Journ al. Novemb er 29. 2-3, 1998. La Conquistadora had visited w he n she visited Our Lady of Belen th e court that he was "finish ed with 197 2: Santa Fe New Mexican. April 12. co m m unities in the Rio Abajo several Church on April 30. 1998. as part of that crime" and had devoted his life to God ." 1998 times before . These communities year's Cuano Ce nte narlo celebra tion. Tried as an adult. McComb received 19 . Santa Fe New Mexican. April 6. 1973 included Isleta. Tome. La Joya . Socorro. Arrivin q at noon in a cha uffeured. air­ the maximum sentence of one to five 20. San ta Fe New Mexican. April 6. 1973 MafJdalena. Truth or Co nsequences. and conditione d RV La Co nquistadora was yea rs in prison. St ill a juvenile , 2 1. Magd alena VilJiI's poem. quoted in MonticeIIo . Belen News-Bulle tin. May 18, received by a crowd of devoted local McComb's younger friend was sentenced the Santa Fe New Mexi can. June 8. 1975. 1954 parishioners." to the New Mexico State Boys Home in 22 . Albuquerque Journ al. March 25. 1973 Twenty- free years a nd a day had Springer until he reached his eiqhteenth 23. Albuquerqu e Tribun e, April 14, 1973; passed sin ce the statue's triumphant Richard Melzer is a professor of History birthday" Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15. 1973 return to S1. Francis Cathedral in 1973. at the University of New Mexico -Valencia Some observers thought that these 24. Albuquerque Tribun e. April 14. 1973; Campus. He is the author. co-author. or The residents of Belen were glad to help punishments were to o lax. Others Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15, 1973 editor of e i~ h t bo oks and dozens of La Co nquistadora. the church. and all believed it would be best for th e boys to 25. San ta Fe New Mexican. April 15. 1973 articles abo ut New Mexico histor y. His New Mexica ns celebrate the anniversary mos t recent bOOR. When We Were Young serve 10nSJer prison terms for their own 26 . Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15. 1973 of a perplexinq myster y of the Rio Arriba in the Wes t (about the histor y of protection from th e bitter public at 27. Albuquerqu e Tribun e. April 14, 1973; that was ultimately resolved in the Rio childhood in New Mexico ), won the larqe." Santa Fe New Mexican. April 15. 1973 Gaspar Perez de ViIlaSGra Award from the Abajo. But most New Mexicans were simply 28. Santa Fe New Mexican. April 12 and Historical Society of New Mexico in 2004. ~ I a d that La Conquistadora's ordeal was 15. 1973 He currently serves as the Historical Society's First Vice-President. over and that sh e had so mehow 29. Albuquerque Tribun e.April 14 a nd 16.

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This Newspaper is published by Non- Profit O rg-anization HISTORICAL SOCIETY U.S. POSTAGE PAID OF NEW MEXICO La Crol1ica Sant a Fe, New Mexico RO. Box 19 12 8750 1 Santa f e. New Mexico 87504 oe Nuevo Mexico Permit No. 95 EDITOR John P Conron Number 63

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Carleen Lazzell HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NEW MEXICO OffICERS Post Office Box 1912 Riet

The opinio ns expressed in s i~n ed articl es are not necessarily those of the Historical Society of New Mexico. Mention of a product. serv ice or professional in these columns is not to be co nsidered an endorseme nt of that ' pro duct. serv ice or profession by the Historical Soci ety of New Mexico . www.hanrrr.org • • Tribute to Andrew K. Gregg Books: Din e: A History of the Navajos. By Carleen LazzeII By Peter Iverson leaving The Tribune. Gregg turned to Albuquerque: University of New freelance writing. producing boons of Mexico Press . 2002. history such as "New Mexico in the 19th Review by Bradley Shreve Century - A Pictorial History" and "Drums of Yesterday The Forts of New Peter Iverson's recent bOOR. Din e. Mexico." children's books. and stage plays. The latter included "Motley offers a thoughtful 1001< at the history of Tales," an adaptation of five fairy tales. the Navajo people from their origins to retold for adults. set to music and the present. The author uses a variety performed at the University of of sources, ranging from archival Albuquerque theater in 1981; and collections. such as the papers of the "Menace at the Mine." a melodrama Bureau of Indian Affairs. to Dine oral performed at the Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid in 2000." Gregg was also histories and traditional stories that responsible for organizing the have been passed down through the Albuquerque Corral of Westerners, local generations. historians interested in Western history. Iverson wrote his monograph with Affiliated with the Western History four general themes in mind-( 1) the Association. th ere are numerous Navajo's struggle for both physical and "corrals" throughout the nation. In the preface to "New Mexico in the cultural survival; (2) their ability to 19th Century - a Pictorial History," adapt to the changes that accompanied Gregg writes, "The pictures used in this the European invasion. as they When I read the list of obituaries in boof are the works of humans hands incorporated the more useful elements Peter Iverson. Arizona State University The Albuquerque Tribune in late and talent. Some are reproduced from of Spanish. Mexican, and American October. I immediately recognized the stone lithographs. Others are woodcuts and President of WHA. technology; (3) the geographical name of Andrew K. Greg-g. The from paintings or drawing-so Some are obituary column of the newspaper reproductions of woodcuts from expansion of the Navajo Nation from Indian nation, and an enjoyable read to gave little information except his ag-e. photographs. This is not a photo booR 1868 to 1934 and the overall prosperity boot. Iverson thoroughly covers his survivors and his occupation as - there are no halftone pictures of of Navajo society; and (4) the subject matter. whil e simultaneously photographer. I was pleased to see that photographs. This is the way the world perseverance of Navajo identity. While giving intriguing insight into the wa ys journalist Ollie Reed , Jr. wrote a more saw New Mexico in its own time, and Dine follows an orderly chronological in which the Navajo people and their extensive obituary about Gregg in The with the hand craftsmanship that path in its treatment of the Navajo's culture have endured and, indeed. Albuquerque Tribune dated Saturday, characterized that time." .. . "The October 30. 2004. halftone screen and photographic history. Iverson repeatedly alludes to or flourished. This much-needed study is Fascinated by the history of the reproduction meant the end for the touches upon thes e four basic themes essential reading not just for scholars of Southwest, Gregg and his wife. Fay. left hand engravers. Those days of careful throughout the book. Indian history. but also for scholars of their native Wisconsin. to tour New carving and squinting through Dine is the first comprehensive American history. BGS Mexico and other nearby areas. In 1956. magnifying glasses were g-one." history of North America's largest The Tribune hired Gregg as their staff Published in 1968 by University of photographer, a profession he New Mexico Press . Gregg's "New Mexico continued until 1962. in the 19th Century - A PictorialHistory" • •• According to Reed's article, " After is one of my most cherished books. Other books by Peter Iverson

Peter Iverson. Regents' Professor of History at Arizona State University, Tempe, has had several bOORS published, many which focus on American Indian culture. Riders of the West: Portraits from Indian Rodeo. with Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River was not in New Mexico but it was the principal photographs by Linda McCannell (see stopping place on the Santa Fe Trail (Inman. 1893). Illustration from Gregg's New illustration) was published by University Mexico in the 19th Century - A Pictorial History. Page 134. CL of Washington Press. The text by Iverson and the photographs cover selected Editorial Note tribes from both the United States and Canada. In reference to La Cr6nica de Nuevo the process for us to remedy the situation. Mexico. No. 62 . dated AUSJust 2004. we In our 2004 list of New Mexico Most In addition, Iverson wrote the want to explain why there were no Endangered Places. we inadvertently biography, Barry Goldwater: Native intended italics in the text and. on the failed to give credit to New Mexico Arizonian, published by University of other hand. unintend ed "gremlins" Heritage Preservation Alliance for Ol

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