Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Ritch, W. G. (William Gillet), 1830-1904.
- Abstract:
- This collection contains the personal and professional papers of historian and New Mexico territorial governor William G. Ritch (1830-1904) and his collection of historical manuscripts, documents, and maps related to the history of New Mexico.
- Extent:
- Approximately 2,390 pieces in 41 boxes and 24 volumes (29.97 linear feet)
- Language:
- English and Spanish.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains clippings, correspondence, manuscripts, documents, maps, and scrapbooks in both English and Spanish related to the history of early and territorial New Mexico collected by William G. Ritch. The very early portion of the collection (1539-1700) contains original manuscripts, contemporary copies, and later translations of official documents and journals of explorers, correspondence, papers of various governors, court records, church inventories, and passport lists of American traders. The papers for the years 1846-1873 cover the American military occupation, New Mexico politics and government, New Mexico during the US Civil War, and Indian affairs relating to the Navajo, Apache, Comanche, and Pecos tribes. Items after 1873 tend to be the personal papers of William G. Ritch, including biographical sketches of significant New Mexicans, drafts of articles, and notebooks of research materials (including the biography of Father Antonio Jose Martinez by Santiago Valdez).
Correspondents include Manuel Armijo, William Frederick Milton Arny, James Henry Carleton, Miguel Antonio Otero, Donaciano Vigil, and others.
- Biographical / historical:
-
William Gillet Ritch (1830-1904) was territorial secretary of New Mexico from 1873 to 1885 and authored several books about New Mexico history. He was a native of New York who moved to Michigan in 1855 and later settled in Wisconsin. After serving in the 46th Wisconsin Cavalry in the Civil War, Ritch returned to Wisconsin and was elected state senator. He was later proprietor and editor of the Winnebago County Press. Failing health forced Ritch to seek a better climate, and in 1873 he was appointed secretary of the Territory of New Mexico. He served in this capacity until 1885, with the added responsibility of serving as acting territorial governor in 1875. He was active in the establishment of a public school system in the Territory and became a regent of the State Normal School. He developed an interest in the history of New Mexico and began collecting historical documents in hopes of circumventing their destruction or dispersal. He was elected as the first president of the New Mexico Historical Society in 1880.
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired from Watson L. Ritch, May 1923.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged in two series: Bound Volumes and Boxes. Boxed materials are chiefly arranged chronologically in Boxes 1-31, followed by newspaper clippings (Boxes 32-33), oversize materials (Box 34), and additional clippings and scrapbooks (Boxes 35-41).
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Apache Indians -- History -- Sources
Comanche Indians -- History -- Sources
Indians of North America -- New Mexico -- History -- Sources
Manuscripts -- Collectors and collecting -- New Mexico.
Mexican War, 1846-1848 -- New Mexico -- Sources
Navajo Indians -- History -- Sources
Clippings (information artifacts) -- United States -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Maps -- New Mexico -- 19th century
Journals (accounts) -- Kansas-- 20th century
Personal papers -- New Mexico -- 19th century
Professional papers -- New Mexico -- 19th century
Scrapbooks -- New Mexico -- 19th century
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191