47th Star Blog
New Mexico Stories
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New Mexico Stories: Eanger Irving Couse, Painter, Charter Member of the Taos Society of Artists (1866 – 1936)
A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Couse painted houses as a young man to earn enough money to attend the Art Institute of Chicago He also studied at the National Academy of Design and at the Julian Academie in Paris. He spent a number of years living and painting in Oregon and on the coast of Normandy. Because Joseph Sharp and Ernest Blumenschein recommended it, Couse visited Taos in 1902 and thereafter spent his summers in
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Third Excerpt from STATEHOOD OF AFFAIRS, an historical novel set in New Mexico
‘Statehood of Affairs’ is an historical novel set in New Mexico at the time of its struggle for statehood. Over the next two weeks we published three excerpts from this newly released book by author Daniel R. Cillis, Ph.D. “Welcome, Señor Hietmann.” “Thank you, President Madero. I am honored to be here and thank you for granting my request on such an important day for you and all of Mexico.” Hanging above the balcony is
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New Mexico Stories: Pop Chalee, Artist (1906 – 1993)
She was known as the woman with three names: Merina Lujan, Pop Chalee and Blue Flower. She was born as Merina Lujan in Castle Rock, Utah, to a Taos Indian father and a Swiss mother (Some sources indicate that her mother was East Indian. Others believe that was a fiction created by Dorothy Dunn, one of her teachers). Her parents soon divorced and Merina was raised at Taos Pueblo where her name was Pop Chalee, which
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New Mexico Stories: Peter Hurd, San Patricio Artist (1904 – 1984)
The name given to him soon after his birth at Roswell, New Mexico, was Harold Hurd, Jr., but he was called “Pete.” He legally changed his name to Peter when he was in his 20’s. Peter came from a family with a strong military tradition – a Hurd had fought in every American conflict dating back to the French & Indian War (1754 – 1763) – and studied at the New Mexico Military Institute before
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Second Excerpt from STATEHOOD OF AFFAIRS, an historical novel set in New Mexico
‘Statehood of Affairs’ is an historical novel set in New Mexico at the time of its struggle for statehood. Over the next two weeks we are publishing three excerpts from this newly released book by author Daniel R. Cillis, Ph.D. Noticing his lack of reaction Adobe says, “You seem to avoid talking about statehood, Colonel.” Again, the colonel does not react, but finally says, “We both know I am too old to go to Washington.
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New Mexico Stories: Susan Hummer McSween, Lincoln County War Figure, “The Cattle Queen of New Mexico” (1845 – 1931)
Susan Hummer was born at Gettysburg, PA. She moved to Kansas as a young woman and married Alexander McSween there in 1873. The two of them moved on to New Mexico and arrived in Lincoln in March 1975., just in time for Alex to get involved in the circumstances that led up to the Lincoln County War (1878 – 1881). When the shooting ended, Alex was dead. Susan went on to experience numerous adventures; ad
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Excerpt from STATEHOOD OF AFFAIRS, an historical novel set in New Mexico
‘Statehood of Affairs’ is an historical novel set in New Mexico at the time of its struggle for statehood. Over the next two weeks we are publishing three excerpts from this newly released book by author Daniel R. Cillis, Ph.D. “Twenty-five hard riders enter Chaco Canyon heading toward Chaco Pueblo. The sky grows darker, and a ghostly strong wind creates a sense of peril. A mystical world unfolds, revealing strange, secluded ruins. The riders become increasingly aware
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New Mexico 100 Stories: Ernest Leonard Blumenschein, Painter, Charter Member of The Taos Society of Artists (1874 – 1960)
Born in Pittsburgh, Blumenschein was raised in Dayton, Ohio. His early training was at the Cincinnati College of Music, but while taking courses at the Art Academy, he came to believe that his true calling was in art. He moved to New York City where he entered the Art Students League. He also studied at the Academie Julian in Paris. Tales he heard from Joseph Henry Sharp sparked his interest in the American Southwest, and
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New Mexico 100 Stories: Elizabeth Garrett, New Mexico State Song Writer (1885 – 1947)
Elizabeth was the third child born to Patrick Floyd Garrett [the Lincoln County Sheriff who shot Billy the Kid] and his wife Apolinaria (nee Gutierrez). Elizabeth became blind shortly after her birth. A friend of Helen Keller, she became an accomplished musician and song writer, and composed New Mexico’s official state song O, Fair New Mexico, in 1915. (Amadeo Lucero, Michael Martin Murphy and Pablo Mares also wrote songs honoring New Mexico.) She moved to
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New Mexico 100 Stories: Maria Adelina Emilia “Nina” Otero-Warren, Educator, Women’s Suffrage Leader, Author (1881 – 1965)
Nina Otero-Warren was born in La Constancia, Valencia County, New Mexico, into two of the territories oldest families: the Lunas on her mother’s side and the Oteros on her father’s. She was educated at Maryville College in St. Louis in 1892 – 1894. She moved to Santa Fe in 1984 when her uncle, Miguel Otero, was appointed territorial governor. Otero married a U.S. Cavalry captain (some sources say he was a lieutenant) named Rawson Warren
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New Mexico Stories
A series of compelling accounts of life in old New Mexico featuring brief biographies of WOMEN and ARTISTS who were born when New Mexico was a territory and lived to see it become a state, plus vignettes of life experiences as told IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
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