Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Homeland up Close 1598 to 1950 or so.


Click on the Image to make it larger.

Most of my maternal ancestors came from Santa Fe, then to San Miguel del Bado then to El Gusano (South San Isidro) and Las Ruedas on the Los Trigos Land Grant. There were also some at Pajarito, Las Colonias and Las Mulas (North San Isidro). Some in Ilfield, San Juan, San Jose and skipping over to Las Vegas.

My paternal ancestors came from Santa Cruz de la Canada and spread to San Miguel del Bado and north and west from there to Tecolote, Valles de San Geronimo, Sapello and downriver to La Junta (Watrous). Also in the Watrous area to Tiptonville, Cherry Valley and finally seems like they all ended up in Las Vegas.

The Second World War changed everything. During the war a lot were drafted into the service and when they came back they moved away. At first to the Denver and Los Angles area. The "moving away just speeded up and after the Korean war the spread to pretty much most of the country." But the majority are still here, in every walk of life too.

There is an excellent book on the subject. "The Hispano Homeland" by Richard L. Nostrand and published by the University of Oklahoma Press. It tracks Hispano New Mexicans from the get go thru the 1980's. An excellent, excellent book and well worth the price.


1 comment:

E said...

That is an amazing photo. It is breath taking poetic beauty. What year was this photo taken? Who took it? Exactly what location is this? Is it Santa Fe, or some other place in New Mexico?

I went to Santa Rita in 1963. Doesn't exist anymore.