Crypto Jews in New Mexico and Colorado?

I received an e-mail from a NMGS member who pointed me to a Smithsonian Magazine article about possible crypto-Jews in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. I don't wish to enter the debate as to whether there are crypto-Jews living in the area today, but I do want to emphasize this article. It's a good one that give both sides of the issue.

The story discusses genetics and disease, as well as the possibility that descendants of crypto-Jews still do Jewish rituals today.

Click on this link, "The 'Secret Jews' of San Luis Valley" by Jeff Wheelwright.

November 2008 NMGS Program

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 10:30 AM

Botts Hall, Albuquerque Special Collections Library

423 Central NE, Albuquerque NM

(NW Corner of Edith and Central)

The
New Mexico Genealogical Society
presents

Ramona Caplan

 

speaking about

 

Cathay Williams,

Buffalo Soldier

Her True Story into the 20^th Century

 

This is the unique story of an African-American woman, born into slavery, who became a soldier in the United States Army. In the years after the Civil War, and well into the 20^th Century, women were not allowed to join the military. She, like a few other women in history, disguised herself as a man in order to serve her country. She was the only documented female member of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Her story is intertwined within the history of post Civil War New Mexico. As such, Cathay Williams will represent Luna County in the New Mexico Historical Marker Initiative, a program that recognizes women who impacted the history of our state. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable woman.

 

This program is free and open to the public.

For more information about our programs, please visit the New Mexico Genealogical Society website at http://www.nmgs.org/workshop.htm

NMGS Program, This Saturday: “New Mexico’s New Deal”

This Saturday, October 18, 2008, 10:30 AM

Botts Hall, Albuquerque Special Collections Library

423 Central NE, Albuquerque NM

(NW Corner of Edith and Central)

The
New Mexico Genealogical Society
presents

Historian David Kammer, Ph.D.

discussing

"New Mexico's New Deal:

A 75^th Anniversary Perspective"

>

President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal left an indelible mark on New Mexico's public architecture and landscape. Through programs such as the WPA. PWA and CCC, the unemployed obtained work relief and left New Mexico with a legacy that includes courthouses, town halls, community centers, public art and parks.

This illustrated talk will explore how the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression affected the state and the New Deal's efforts to stimulate the state's economy through thousands of public works projects that extended to every community in New Mexico. The talk will also focus on New Mexico's New Deal governor, Clyde Tingley, and the ways that the New Deal transformed not only the state's built environment but the role of state government as well.

In recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the New Deal, the talk will offer an array of examples showing how these public works projects remain a part of our state's heritage.

This program is free and open to the public.

This program is made possible by the New Mexico Humanities Council through grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New Mexico Office of Cultural Affairs.

Inquiry: Photos of the Kavanaugh Family

The pictures below were sent to me by Rebekah Sanchez. They are of people that she hasn't been able to recognize. If you know who these people are, please send me a message at abqbobcat@nmia.com or post a comment to this blog.

The words that follow are Rebekah's descriptions of the photos:

I'm told that the Kavanaugh family photo was taken around 1915, and I think that's about right because the children in front were born in 1909 & 1910. They look like they are 4 & 5ish. From the left, there is Felix Kavanaugh, Rufino Kavanaugh (with hands in pocket), Nicolas Kavanaugh. Then there are the mystery ladies. I'm told that these ladies are Lucia & Julia Kavanaugh (Juan F. Kavanaugh's daughters), Henrietta Delgado Kavanaugh (Nicolas Kavanaugh's wife), & Rupertita Kavanaugh(Juan D. Kavanaugh's daughter). However, depending on who I talk to any of the four ladies in the picture could be any of the 4 named. Still in the back is Juan F. Kavanaugh, another of his sons Juan D. Kavanaugh, and Abraham Kavanaugh. Then the second row, the two on the left are two of the mystery ladies, then Melecia C. de Baca Kavanaugh & Margarita Salazar Kavanaugh. In front are the children of Juan D. Kavanaugh & Margarita Salazar: Ignacio Enrique Kavanaugh (b. 1910) & Mary Kavanaugh (b. 1909). Does anyone know for sure which lady is which? Lucia was born in 1893 and Julia in 1895. Henrietta Delgado Kavanaugh born ca. 1894 and Rupertita Kavanaugh in 1904.

Personally, I think that the lady directly to the right of Rufino looks like a little girl, and would be Rupertita. At the reunion, Julia and Lucia's descendants claim it's Julia or Lucia, and that she looks like an adult.

Then there is the very old Kavanaugh picture. At the bottom it is labeled 'Kavanaugh family.' My cousin Tita K. Lopez has his picture, and does not recoginize anyone in the photo (neither do I). This photo appears to be taken at the same house as the 1915 photo. Maybe the guy in the photo to the left of the doorway is Juan F. Kavanaugh? Some of the little kids may be his (Felix, Rufino, Lucia, Julia, Juan D. & Abraham), but who are the others? He had a brother and a sister in Las Vegas, Luis Gold (m. Juanita Garcia), and Carlota Gold de Sedillos (m. Luis Sedillos). Juan F. Kavanaugh had a sister Maria Kavanaugh Bustamante (m. Andres Bustamante) who lived in Santa Fe in 1880, and was in Gallup by 1900. Is it the Kavanaugh and Gold, Sedillo, or Bustamante family? Maybe it's his family and his step-dad's family the Coriz? His mom Refugio Aguilar married Filomeno Coriz, and he had several children from his first marriage.

The last picture is of Felix Kavanaugh (center) and ?. Probably taken in Las Vegas.

Rebekah says: "If your gang of bloggers could help me identify the folks in the pictures, that would be wonderful."