1. Blanche C. Grant, artist and writer; 2. Jennie Fortune, Secretary of State; 3, Margaret Reeves, Director of State Bureau of Child Welfare; 4. Maude Hancock Prichard, for 3 years a member of New Mexico Normal University.
Women of New Mexico ByMaud Hancock Prichard
(Educator. For three years member of New Mexico Normal University Faculty)
New Mexico—the land of "sunshine, silence, and adobe," the land of poco tiempo—is also a land of contrasts, of a happy intermingling of the old and the new. Youngest of the States of the Union—except one—yet within its bounds is found the oldest civilization on the continent, just as it was found when the first white man ventured into the vast unknown regions of New Spain in quest of riches for his Church and his King, and it is the only section of our great country where the Red Man has been left in possession of his lands and homes, and where he worships the gods of his fathers in the same way as for centuries past.
The history of New Mexico is replete with the achievements of this great Territory in the various wars of our Nation—sending more men (many of whom were Red Men) in proportion to its population than any other state or territory, but little or nothing is said of what the women did during those troublous times. No doubt the pioneer woman stood shoulder to shoulder in those times as did the Women's Council of Defense with the Men's Council during the World War.
However, in peace times, and after statehood was attained, is when accomplishments of the women of New Mexico have been outstanding. Almost coincident with the organization of the new State was the organization of the Federation of Women's Clubs by a group of women representing all parts of the State, which soon became a part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Since then other groups have founded other clubs, lodges, sororities, the League of Women Voters and Business and Professional Women's Federation.
New Mexico is exceptionally fortunate in the large number of women within its borders—found not only in cities but also in small towns, on ranches and in isolated places—who have brought to this western environment the training and culture acquired in the older states. With this background, there has developed a group of women of wonderful executive ability, with the foresight to plan and carry out constructive projects that have had much to do with the progress of the new State along lines that mean much for the social welfare of its citizens.
Logically, the Federation of Women's Clubs has taken the lead in these plans, but since the organization of the other groups, they have all worked as one body for the completion of the projects. While the clubwomen were awake to the needed activities, they realized that such matters must be carried on as State work, so the legislative committee of the Federation became an important factor of their plans, to present the various needs for approval by the Legislature. At first the committee was received somewhat dubiously, members of the Legislature seeming to feel that it was more or less of a fad and rather doubting that women thought and planned seriously on State affairs, but as a committee from the Federation appeared at each successive session of the Legislature, and seemed to know what they wanted and how to present the matter in an intelligent manner, the attitude on the part of the law makers has become one of respect and interested attention, and the requests of the women's organizations have been granted and appropriations made, even at times when it seemed impossible to do so.
As a result of the constructive plans of the Federation, the State has the following departments and institutions (which probably would have been created eventually, but there is no doubt they were provided much sooner than they would have been otherwise) named in the order of their establishment: (a) State Child Welfare Bureau, with corresponding Board, which has since been placed coordinate with the State Bureau of Health—each with its separate director—under the State Public Welfare Board; (b) Girls' Welfare Home (reform school), with a board composed entirely of women; (c) Home and School for Mental Defectives, for which plans are now complete for construction of the first building unit, and which also has a board of women.
Also, plans were made in time so that New Mexico was among the six states that were ready to accept and make use of funds for maternity and infancy work as provided by Federal aid, which has meant much for welfare work in rural communities.
The Board of Regents of each of the State educational institutions has at least one woman as a member. We have had a woman as Secretary of State for the last three terms, each of whom has served for a short time as Acting-Governor in the absence of the Governor from the State. State Superintendent of Public Instruction is also a position occupied by a woman for the last three terms. Several women have served as members of the Legislature. A majority of the County Superintendents are women, as well as a number of other county officers, especially the clerks. Many of the county Boards of Education have women as members.
Most of the interest taken by women in the affairs of State is from the standpoint of economy and efficiency. One matter of congratulation is that in none of the above departments or institutions which the women have had a special part in creating, has partisan politics had any share or influence at any time.
Every town of any size has managed to secure a library—usually through the efforts of a group of women in the beginning—and even some places that are scarcely a dot on the map have a fair library started, in connection with which many a story of human interest might be told. Hand in hand with the other lines of work are the Scholarship Loan Funds which practically every club of every organization maintains, by which many girls have been enabled to continue their education.
Woman Suffrage and Jury Service in New Mexico ByJennie Fortune
(Secretary of State)
The passage of the Nineteenth Amendment formally crystallized the high hopes of the nation's womanhood in their fight for the right to hold political office. Incidentally, the extension of the vote to women wrought a most marvelous and revolutionary change in the politics of New Mexico. In this State where the general tendency is to accept any modern change with caution, women are now appointed and elected to office in a manner hardly dreamed of a few years ago. That these women have made good, is neither unusual nor remarkably surprising. That some have made mistakes or are not especially qualified is also neither unusual nor need it be surprising. Especially since rarely, if ever, does merit enter as a prime prerequsite of a political aspirant, be that man or woman. The only astonishing thing is that woman should be expected to act any different from her male contemporary.
New Mexico has not yet recognized the right of women to sit on juries. It is a duty that undeniably should go with citizenship. Like men, however, she should have accorded to her the right of jury exemption, in the event that release from such service fills a more important or greater need.
Though New Mexico has no constitutional bar to women sitting on juries, any attempt to institute a legislative act to qualify women for jury service is sure to meet with opposition from the women themselves, who primarily fear the enforced absence from home that such duty would entail. Nevertheless, in all probability, the privilege and duty of jury service will gradually be extended to the womanhood of this State. Such a change, to be sure, will be quite as revolutionary in the experience of the womanhood of New Mexico as was the newly acquired right of the exercise of the franchise.
And for the women of New Mexico it will be a most salutary experience. It will widen their scope of reasoning; it will give them a deeper insight into human emotions, human frailties and human motives; it will make real the law as daily applied, and above all, it will widen their vison and extend their sympathy and understanding in human affairs. And for all this, it will make them wiser citizens and better mothers.
Nor is the day long in coming, when, in the course of everyday affairs, men and women will meet as equals, each in sympathy with the other's qualities, not necessarily alike in each other, but just as the Lord intended, "eternally different"; but each seeking for the mutual advancement, achievement and betterment of that country under whose flag they choose to live.
NEW MEXICO
AUSTIN, Mary, (Mrs.), a native of Illinois, former resident of California (Lone Pine and Carmel-by-the-Sea). Writer. Author of 17 books, 4 plays and many magazine articles and stories; very much interested in community theatre movement and Amerindian art; translator of Amerindian poetry. Lectures extensively on literary and art topics; one of the founders of the Indian Art Fund. Member: National Arts Club, New York, N. Y. Home: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
AVERY, Jennie M., (Miss), a native of the state of Michigan, for 14 years a resident of New Mexico. Owner of Avery Bowman Company, a well-known Real Estate, Insurance and Abstract firm; has served two terms as director of Chamber of Commerce; for many years, chairman of Appraisal Committee of Mutual Building and Loan Ass'n.; past state treasurer of Insurance Agents Ass'n. Member: Business and Professional Woman's Club. Home: 403 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
BARKER, Ruth Laughlin, (Mrs.), born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 14, 1889, daughter of N. B. and Katie K. Laughlin, a life-long resident of the state. Married to William Judson Barker. Children: Jean L., Ruth K., Laughlin. Writer. Has traveled extensively. Has written magazine articles for Colliers, Sunset, Ladies Home Journal, House and Garden, House Beautiful, Echo; state correspondent for Christian Science Monitor; chairman of Indian Affairs Committee, State Fed. of Women's Clubs, chairman of State Press, League of Women Voters. Member: New Mexico Fed. of Women's Clubs, League of Women Voters. Home: 116 E. De Vargas St., Santa Fe, New Mexico.
BEAR, Grace Thorpe (Mrs.), born in Binghampton, New York, daughter of Rev. W. W. and Mrs. P. Thorpe, a resident of New Mexico for twenty-five years. Children: Frances, Robert. Newspaper woman. On the death of her husband, twenty-three years ago, she took over his interest in the Record. President of board, New Mexico State Home & Training School for Mental Defectives. Was instrumental, together with others, to have a bill passed in the New Mexico State Legislature to secure this home, for the unfortunates of the state. Writes her own paper and specializes in feature material. Director, General Fed. of Women's Clubs. Past president, New Mexico Fed. Women's Clubs. Member: Roswell Woman's Club, Roswell Round Table, New Mexico Fed. of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, etc. Home: Roswell, New Mexico.
BLUMENSCHEIN, Mary Greene (Mrs.), born in New York City, New York, daughter of Rufus and Mary Shepard Greene, former resident of Paris, France and Brooklyn, New York. Married to Ernest L. Blumenschein. Children: Helen Greene. Artist and Silversmith. Studied at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y., and under Raphael Collin in Paris. Exhibited at Paris Salon, where she received second and third gold medals for painting. Was awarded silver medal at St. Louis Exposition and Shaw prize at Nat. Academy of Design, New York. Illustrated for American Magazine. Since 1926 working gold and silver. Member: National Academy of Design, N. Y., Women Painters and Sculptors, N. Y. Home: Taos, New Mexico.
BREECE, (Mrs. George Elmer), a native of West Virginia; resident of New Mexico for the last 9 years. Married to Col. George Elmer Breece. Active in Woman’s Club and civic activities. Member: Woman's Club, Delphian Society. Home: 809 W. Copper Ave., Albuquerque, New Mexico.
DeHUFF, Elizabeth Willis (Mrs. John David), born 1889, in Augusta, Georgia, daughter of John T. and Ann W. Willis, former resident of the Philippines, living in New Mexico for twelve years. Married to John David De Huff. Children: Ann, Frances, David. Lecturer and writer. Discovered and launched upon their careers the Pueblo Indian artists: Fred Kabotie, Velino Shije, Otis Poleleno, Julian Martinez, etc. Lectures regularly at La Fonda hotel for guests of the Santa Fe Transportation Company. Contributes articles to The Yale Review, the Bookman, the Southwest Review. Has written and produced two Indian plays. Collected Indian songs which have been harmonized by Homer Grunn and published under the title "From Desert and Pueblo." Author: "Taytay's Tales," "Taytay's Memories," "Swift-Eagle of the Rio Grande." Member: Colonial Dames, D.A.R., Santa Fe Players, Santa Fe Writers' Club. Home: Camino Chiquito, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
DOLL, Adelaide S., (Mrs.), born April 20, 1874, in Denver, Colorado, a resident of New Mexico for 52 years. Married to Charles E. Doll. Musician and music teacher; devotes her time to creative and constructive work in the local musical field; chairman of music for Santa Fe Fiesta, 1925 and 1926. Member: Santa Fe Women's Club (charter member). Home: 130 Lincoln Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico.
ECKLES, Isabel Lancaster, (Miss), a native of Wilmington, Delaware, a resident of New Mexico for the last 42 years. Superintendent of City Schools, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Former teacher, registrar and acting president, State Teachers' College, Silver City, N. M., 1919-22; for 7 years, County Superintendent of Schools for Grant County; State Superintendent of Public Instruction for New Mexico, 1923-27. Member of New Mexico State Board of Education, 1927-31. Director of Santa Fe Fiesta. Member: Silver City Woman's Club, Santa Fe Woman's Club, American Woman’s Ass'n of New York (honorary). Home: 225 Shelby St., Santa Fe, New Mexico.
FERGUSSON, Erna, (Miss), born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1888. Writer. In 1921, founded the Koshare Tours, first woman to act as "dude wrangler," at present making occasional especially arranged tours for literary and artistic people. In 1926 sold her business to the Fred Harvey company and organized for them the courier service for their Indian Detour, modelling the work of handling guests on her Koshare Tours. Articles on New Mexico have appeared in Century Magazine; magazine writer. Home: 1021 Orchard Place, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
FORTUNE, Jennie (Miss), born in Socorro, New Mexico, March 22, 1895. Secretary of State. Former County Clerk of Socorro County; has held various political offices. Member: Capital City Business and Professional Women's Club, National Fed. of Business and Professional Women's Club. Home: Socorro, New Mexico.
FRENGER, (Mrs. George W.), born in St. Louis, Missouri, April 5, 1873, daughter of Frank and Laura Eppelsheimer, a resident of New Mexico for the last 29 years. Married to George W. Frenger. Children: Reymond, Frank G., Laura Louise. Active in club affairs. Executive, Home Service Sec. American Red Cross for eight years. Organized the State Fed. of Women's Clubs; General Fed. Territorial and State secretary for 11 years; General Fed. director, 1916-20; former assistant chairman of Legislative Department of Women's Clubs, assistant chairman of Music Department of Women's Club; elected in 1928, Pres. of State Fed. of Music Clubs; State Chairman, Atwater Kent Radio Audition; president, Las Cruces Music Club. Member: State Fed. of Women's Clubs (life member). Woman's Improvement Association (past president), Las Cruces. Honorary member State College Progress Club, Home: 955 N. Alameda Blvd., Las Cruces, New Mexico.
GRANT, Blanche C, a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, daughter of Willard Webster and Mercy A. Parsons Grant, former resident of Taunton, Massachusetts, living in New Mexico for the
last 8 years. Artist and writer. Has held many exhibitions of paintings; painted the murals in Taos Community Church. Graduate of Vassar College. Organized Girl Scouts in Taos; overseas "Y" woman, 1919. Has published five small books, relative to Taos and the Southwest. Author: "Taos Today," "Taos 100 Years Ago," "Taos Indians," "Kit Carson's Own Story of His Life" (edited), "Santa Fe Today," "Carlsbad Cavern Guide Book." Home: Taos, New Mexico.
HAWKER, Alta L., (Mrs.), born in Pontiac, Illinois, December 2, 1879, former resident of Colorado, living in New Mexico for 11 years. Married to Otho W. Hawker. Children: Eugenia, John. Member, Democratic State and County Central Committees. Instrumental in the enactment of the New Mexico State Bill, regulating the profession of cosmeticians (1925). Active in general civic affairs. Member: Business and Professional Women's Club. Home: 411 E. Central Ave., Albuquerque, New Merxico.
LARKIN, Anna S. (Mrs. Ralph R.), born Shellsburg, Iowa, September 6, 1871, daughter of Charles L. and Hannah Summers, a resident of New Mexico for thirty years. Married to Ralph Roy Larkin. Children: Margaret, Katherine. Elected member of 1925 State Legislature on Republican ticket. For three years State President of
New Mexico League of Women Voters. Former School Principal, Has published articles and verse in The Woman's Journal. Member: Las Vegas Woman's Club, Sorosis, League of Women Voters, W. C. T. U. and several other organizations. Home: East Las Vegas, New Mexico.
LAUGHLIN, (Mrs. N. B.), a native of Tennessee; former resident of Dallas, Texas; living in New Mexico for the last 40 years. Married to the late N. B. Laughlin. Children: Ruth L. Barker, Helen L. Marshall. Active in child welfare work, interested in politics. Member: Woman's Club, National Democratic Club. Home: 301 Don Caspar, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
McKITTRICK, Margaret, (Miss), born in St. Louis, Missouri, January 8, 1891, a resident of New Mexico for 6 years. Formerly a very active worker for Woman's Suffrage; at present chairman of the New Mexico Ass'n. on Indian Affairs. Home: 651 Canon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
OSBURN, Luna C. (Mrs. Judson), a native of Petersburg, Illinois; daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Craven. For twenty years a resident of New Mexico. Married to Attorney Judson C. Osburn. Children: Judson G. Jr. Has lectured extensively before women's clubs and is well known for her establishment of traveling exhibitions of distinguished American art, throughout the clubs and public schools of New Mexico. Contributes to art magazines and periodicals; cited for distinction in art by Sesquicentennial Board and the general Federation of Women's Clubs for work with American pottery (1926). Member of Women's Board of the School of American Research. Member: Chicago Etchers Society (associate member), California Print Makers Society (honorary), D. A. R., Illinois Society of U. S. D. of 1812, New Mexico Fed. of Women's Clubs, Bookfellows, Roswell Woman's Club. Home: 715 N. Lea Ave., Roswell, New Mexico.
OTERO-WARREN, Adelina, (Mrs.), a native of Los Lunas, New Mexico, daughter of Manuel B. and Eloisa Luna Bergere, a life-long resident of the state, a descendant of the Spanish Conquistadores. County Superintendent of Schools. Chairman, Council of State Defense; chairman, Legislative Committee, State Fed. of Women's Clubs; Colonel on Governor Dillon's Staff; first woman Inspector in Indian Service; first woman chairman, State Board of Health; chairman, State Board of Public Welfare. Member: Business and Professional Women's Club, State Fed. of Women's Clubs. Home: Santa Fe. New Mexico.
PRICHARD, Maude Hancock, (Mrs. Geo. W.), born in Neoga, Illinois, April 16, 1876, a resident of New Mexico for 18 years. Married to George W. Prichard. Graduated in piano and vocal music, Illinois Wesleyan. Taught in High School. Degrees of Bachelor and Master of Pedagogy; for 3 years a member of New Mexico Normal University Faculty; has directed several church choirs; past president Santa Fe Woman's Club; former State president of Republican Women's Club. Appointed on Board of Directors of State Girls' Welfare Home. Member: Santa Fe Woman's Club, League of Women Voters, Capital City Business and Professional Women's Club. Home: 126 Lincoln Ave., Santa Fe, New Mex.
RANDOLPH, Lois (Miss), born in Washington, Arkansas, daughter of John Newton and Nancy Beane Vandever Randolph, former resident of Oklahoma, Arizona, and Arkansas, living in New Mexico for twenty-four years. Superintendent of Public Instruction. Active in educational work; three years experience in Government schools, four years in rural schools of New Mexico; established the Opportunity School, Gallup, New Mexico; former County Superintendent of McKinley County; served as State Chairman of Americanization under the New Mexico Federation of Women's Clubs for past seven years; organized the Southwestern Educational Association between the border states and the Republic of Mexico. Was one of three State Superintendents invited as guests of Dr. Hubert Work, Secretary of the Interior, to the educational conference in Honolulu (1927). At one time speaker for various State Teachers Associations. Contributes to educational magazines. Member: O.E.S, New Mexico Federation of Women's Clubs. Address: Capitol Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
REEVES, Margaret, (Miss), born in Carthage, South Dakota, September 10, 1893, former resident of New York City, living in New Mexico for the last 4 years. Social Worker. Director, State Bureau of Child Welfare; chairman, Child Welfare Division, New Mexico Fed. of Women's Clubs; member, Children's Committee, National Conference of Social Work; member of Board of Inter-City Conference on Illegitimacy; also on the executive committee of Southwest Regional Conference on Child Welfare. Author of a book being published by the Russell Sage Foundation, dealing with the subject of juvenile delinquency. Member: Santa Fe Woman's Club, Capitol City Business and Professional Woman's Club, Santa Fe League of Woman Voters. Address: State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
ROBEY, Roberta, (Miss), born in Hillsboro, Texas, August 7, 1888. Resident of New Mexico since 1922. Owner and Manager Villagra Book Shop. Takes active part in all civic affairs. Home: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
RUOFF, Margaret C. (Mrs. George D.), born in Newport, Kentucky, September 10, 1876, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth McNicoll, a former resident of Indiana, living in New Mexico for ten years. Married to George D. Ruoff. Children: Robert McNicoll, Walter Willard. President of New Mexico Federation of Women's Clubs. Active in club affairs; for three years President of Albuquerque Woman’s Club; Chairman, Writers' Class and Literature Department, Woman's Club; member of New Mexico Library Board of Directors. Member: Woman's Club of Alburquerque, American Ass’n of University Women, O. E. S. (Past Matron). Home: 1102 North 2nd street, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
RUSE, Margaret, (Miss), born in Dawson, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1895; former resident of New York, living in New Mexico for the last 3 years. Former High School art teacher; for 3 years assistant to Ezra Winter, mural painter of New York; alumna, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pa.; owner and proprietor of The Apache Restaurant. Member: Pittsburgh Artists Ass'n., Santa Fe Business Woman's Club. Home: 112 Palace Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico.
RUSH, Olive (Miss), a native of Fairmount, Indiana, former resident of New York City, living in New Mexico for the last 8 years. Artist. Specializes in canvas, oil, water-color and research in fresco, also stained glass windows; has exhibited in Boston, New York, Washington, etc. Home:630 Canon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
SALYER, Rose H. (Mrs), born 1881, in Cane Hill, Arkansas, daughter of J. B. and Calista Hanks, a resident of New Mexico for fifteen years. Children: Katherine. Educator. Former school teacher, and at one time State Supervisor of Rural Schools for New Mexico. Active worker in all school organizations. Member: Administrative Women's Club and other organizations interested in educational work. Home: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
SHORTLE, Alice Mitchell, (Mrs. A. G.), born in Conneaut, Ohio, Sept. 18, 1877, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Edward Behan Mitchell, former resident of Chicago, living in New Mexico for the last twenty years. Married to the late Dr. A. G. Shortle. Children: Margaret Bell, Sarah Wright, Alice Mitchell, James Samuel. Secretary State Board of Public Welfare. Before her marriage, teacher in Chicago public schools. Past Regent, local D. A. R.; former President, P. E. O. Member: P. E. O., D. A. R. Home: 815 W. Copper Avenue, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
STRONG, Clara F., (Mrs. E. J.), a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for 20 years a resident of New Mexico. Married to Edward T. Strong. Children: John E., Hazel Ruth. Former manager of Strong's Book Store, charter member and past president of Business and Professional Women's Club. Member of State Legislature, 1927-28. Member: Business and Professional Women's Club. Home: Stronghurst, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
SUMMERS, Nora Early (Mrs.), born in Winterset, Iowa, June 24, 1871; a resident of New Mexico for the last 27 years. Married to the late Mark Summers. Children: Martha S. Thompson, James Early. Abstractor. Active in church affairs. Member: Business and Professional Women's Club. Home: 725 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
TRUE, Clara Davis (Miss), born August 29, 1868, in Kentucky, daughter of George Robert and Frances Durham True, a resident of New Mexico for twenty-eight years. State High School Supervisor. For eighteen years in U. S. Indian Service; for two years with Indian Rights Ass'n in Philadelphia and Washington, salary paid by the Rockefeller Benevolent Committee for work among Indians. At one time teacher and principal in high schools of Missouri and New Mexico. Member: O. E. S. Home: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
WILSON, Charlotte Lansing, (Mrs.), born in Georgetown, D. C., April 9, 1876, a resident of New Mexico for 21 years. Married to Francis Cushman Wilson. Children: Frances Charlotte, Parker. Past president, State Board of Public Welfare of New Mexico; past president, Santa Fe Woman's Club; past State regent, D. A. R.; vice-chairman, Constitution Hall Finance Committee, D. A. R. Active in all civic affairs. President, National League of Women Voters. Member: D. A. R., Woman's Club. Home: Buena Vista Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
