BALTIMORE — At a table in the library of the Maryland Historical Society, an investigator with the National Archives pulls file folder after file folder from a cardboard box and hands them to library director Patricia Dockman Anderson. An FBI agent sits nearby.
Item No. 451: an invitation to meet Vice President Hubert Humphrey in Hawaii in 1966. Item No. 1695: a ticket stub to the 1912 Democratic National Convention.
At first glance, one might question how photography and genealogy are linked. The reality is, however, that a big part of genealogy and historical research is simply basic detective work.
To do a complete study of an ancestor's past, a genealogist or family historian needs to put on their detective's hat, turn over every stone and investigate every clue at their disposal.
"Archiving in the Digital Era," a video from the New York Times, published April 29, 2013.
Today's New York Times had a nice article and short video on archivists working in New York City, titled "Leaving Cloister of Dusty Offices, Young Archivists Meet Like Minds." The article focuses on the social aspect of NYC archivists and the video features archivists' excitement around and challenge with the digital era.
…………………………………………
•Navajo Code Talkers of WWII•
(Photo courtesy of http://www.archives.gov)
Today was special for the Navajo saviors of World War II. The Navajo Code Talkers were rightfully honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution with a new monument here in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
During World War II the Diné language was used as a weapon. A secret code was created to confuse the Japanese by using over 200 words. Without the language of 400+ awesome Navajo Marines, the war may have been lost.
Wow… I must have destroyed and lost
so may iPods over the years that
I need to stop counting! Maybe I need to
have pod insurance since that
is one thing I simply can’t live without?
Funny~ that I lost the pod under
similar circumstances last time! What the?
Really?? Anyhow~ I guess it’s all good!?
I went for the big boy this time~ the more
memory, the better! Turns out the newest iPods
have a photo flash. They can also capture
panoramic photos, which happens to be one thing
I love about working in the archives. There are
some nice historical panos from back in the day!
Check out my panoramic shot of my
home away from home~
Mandrill’s Gym in Santa Fe, New Mexico
(click twice on the image to see it close up~
once in this window and then again in the next)
Panoramic photograph of Mandrill’s Gym
Santa Fe, New Mexico
by Felicia Lujan on 2.19.2013
“My Weakness Becomes My Weapon and Pain My Pleasure.”
Isn’t this quote awesome???
Recently, the possible use of DNA as a means of data storage has been making the news.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21145163
However, there is also another alternative method of data storage that is being developed. Hitatchi is working to make a quartz-based storage device. http://www.techspot.com/news/50313-hitachi-unveils-quartz-based-storage-data-may-last-100-million-years.html
According to the article, much like DNA, this method also has the potential to last for thousands of years.
This is an awesome post! ~~Felicia
Last week I was talking with a friend about the reburial of some human remains. The remains were discovered in mid 2003 by a contractor working for Bernalillo County. The contractor was working on a sewage system and unearthed the bones of an old cemetery, or camposanto. The camposanto was just north of Albuquerque rather close to the Rio Grande.
The New Mexico Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) was contacted by the contractor as soon as the remains were uncovered. This division assists with the identification and protection of cultural resources in my state. The work had indeed exposed an archaeological site. This division of DCA worked closely with archaeologists from the University of New Mexico on this site.
I remember when that story first surfaced. It is always horrifying to learn that these things happen. I helped a couple of people several years ago who were looking for information on the area where the remains were discovered. A recent article reported that the remains of about 123 people were recovered from the site. If my memory serves me right at the time I helped those people, the remains of at least 70 residents of the early village of Alameda had been discovered.
Archaeologists determined that the human remains were from a former burial ground of the original Nativity of Our Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Alameda. The time period tied to that community was from around 1700 to 1900. In the first few years of that final century, a major flood swallowed the area.
This past week, parishioners of the current Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church had a rosary and participated in a funeral procession. The church now sits on higher ground, due to that historic flood. The church parishioners then reburied the disturbed remains in the San Carlos Cemetery. The reburial coincided with the centennial celebration of that parish. I find that interesting because the church was built in 1913, shortly after New Mexico became a state.
Many years ago I remember helping two different archaeologists research a dig here in Santa Fe. Sadly, one of the archaeologists has now passed away. By using maps, we discovered that the area they were excavating here in Santa Fe was once a cemetery. It was scary to see the city divide the land and basically sell “graveyard” lots several years later. If I recall, that happened in the 1950s.
The most recent article on the Alameda remains said that with a “proper burial” these people were “now at final rest.” I send my blessings for the remains. It is unfortunate that someday these bones may be studied yet again by another set of archaeologists.
I was honored to be asked by the DigIn (digital information management) Program Administrators to be featured on the UofA web site. For those of you who don’t know, I was a Wild Cat for a couple of years. 
The DigIn Program offers a Masters Level Certificate in digital information management through the School of Information Resources and Library Science. There is also a doctoral program in digital studies.
There were other graduates to choose from and it made me feel good that they asked me. Out of 55 students admitted into the program with me, I believe only 13 graduated. Apparently one person was selected to be featured from each year (2008-2012).
I was approached about two months ago, and today I learned that the alumni features went live. It is an honor to be featured as the 2009 alumna in the DigIn Alumni Reflections.The site says “we asked our DigIn graduates how the certificate played in their career path.”
I was asked the following two questions:
•••Have you changed jobs since you received the DigIn certificate?”
•••How has DigIn helped you in your previous and/or current job?
If you care to see my answers, you can click on the link up top.
One thing I found confusing is that I was in the first graduating class, yet someone graduated in 2008? They even put a link under my section (which includes a UA News article I was featured in). Maybe there was only one student in 2008? I’m not sure?
Here is a link to that article~
DigIn Program Graduates First Cohort
~My Certificate of Appreciation~
It seems like just yesterday… I felt like a deer paralyzed by an unrelenting glare from the headlights of my future. Now I am quickly approaching two decades of service to my home state and her citizens.
This week we had an agency staff meeting. Toward the end of the meeting, several people were acknowledged for their service to the state. The years have been recognized in increments of five. This means that only 10 years of service to my agency have been accounted for. However, I think it has really been 13 years.
During the early part of my government career, I worked for: a Governor; a State Treasurer; a State Librarian; and the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department as a Public Information Officer. Some of the positions were not permanent, but I learned something unique from each position I had.
The larger part of my career has been with the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. I have been blessed to be employed by an agency that has been good to me. In my time with the agency, I have held five positions across two divisions and three bureaus. Each of these positions has touched part of what is referred to as the “life cycle of a record.”
I started with my agency in the late 1990s. My first position was in the Records Warehouse~ which is where active records are stored. I learned so many interesting things in that position. I am a Technical Writer and so my next goal was to qualify for a Management Analyst position.
I worked as an analyst for a couple of years. There I researched and wrote records retention and disposition schedules. These schedules are codified. Back then my old director called archives (where I am now) “the fluff.” I believe I was a natural fit for the archives as I have an undying love of history, collecting and New Mexican culture.
I have been with my current division for over a decade. It has been a great journey. Everyday I still learn something new. Everyday I meet new people. The final leg of my career has birthed a caring archivist. I genuinely love my profession and my state. It has been my honor to preserve history which will benefit generations to come.
All I can say for tonight is that I seriously feel like throwing up! I have a severe case of information overload and I was overwhelmed by the vast amount of history in Washington, DC. I am now back in Annapolis and it is 11:55pm here, 9:55pm~ New Mexico time. My feet hurt, my brain is aching, and my stomach is sick. There is just so much history. It was so much to take in. I didn’t get to see many things I really wanted to see because I only had one day. I spent like 14 hours in DC and I am now ready for bed. In one day I went on a White House Tour, kicked it with my cousin Melanie and her son Luke, visited the Natural History Museum, went on a Capitol Tour, and then visited the Library of Congress, Air and Space Museum, National Archives, Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. I have so much to share and write about, but for tonight I will leave you with one quote taken from the National Archives Building and two interesting JFK images. I captured his painting pondering fresh roses (the spiral being my symbol) in the White House. I was also shocked to see his initials prominently cloaking the National Archives (of course). I didn’t know about a new exhibit there highlighting records associated with the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960s. The exhibit draws from the collections of the Kennedy Library and the National Archives. Now it is time to take a bath, eat a pumpkin cheesecake, then go to bed with a full stomach and a full head.
~Quote of the Day from the National Archives Building~
The heritage of the past is the seed that
brings forth the harvest of the future.
~JFK Exhibit Banner on the National Archives Building~
~JFK Pondering the Roses at the White House~
Wow~ what an amazing presentation just made by the inspiring “digital pioneer” Martha Anderson. Ms. Anderson is a powerhouse with the Library of Congress who will be retiring in a few weeks. I am sure she will still be active in my realm because she is so passionate about what she does. In a December 4, 2012 article on a Library of Congress blog, Mike Ashenfelder referred to Ms. Anderson as a woman “who is one of the driving forces behind American Memory,” the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP), the International Internet Preservation Consortium (IIPC), and the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA). Mr. Ashenfelder is right about this woman having “an effect on most people she comes in contact with,” when you “watch her work a room at a conference.” I plan on writing more about her presentation when I return to New Mexico. Following are a few of her most powerful quotes and a great proverb she noted.
“When spiders unite, they can take down a lion.”
~African Proverb
“Never underestimate a community who is dedicated to a cause, works together, shows support, and learns from one another.”
~Martha Anderson, Library of Congress
“When a bunch of spiders get together, they are seen as a coherent whole.”
~Martha Anderson, Library of Congress
“Metadata is currency. It is touched more than you think and it is a living thing.”
~Martha Anderson, Library of Congress
“There is a lot of stuff endangered while we wait for the perfect access.”
~Martha Anderson, Library of Congress
**My Crazy Pile of Schedules**
No really… How many schedules do I need to live my life? How could I live another day without my Casio EZ Label Printer?? What a mess! I am preparing for the month of December to roll in and I was shocked to realize that I keep a grip of schedules! I am such a Virgo. It’s scary how I color code, alphabetize, list, decorate and detail bits of information. Whatever works I guess. Yes people~ I was born to be an archivist. If I didn’t do this I shutter to think about forgetting to: attend meetings, classes, and conferences; complete reviews; pay my bills; hit the gym; take my son to school; go on field trips; show up for potlucks; cover the reference floor; answer correspondence; and call on birthdays! Yikes~ being a Virgo is an important part of my life. I demand organization. I am glad that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Thank goodness! Have a good one people.
Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas made by Felicia
……………………………
<3…A loving heart is
the beginning of all knowledge.
…..Thomas Carlyle
……………………………
Tonight I made red chile enchiladas and beans to take to work tomorrow. I watched the CMA awards (awesome) while I cooked. Cooking is second nature to me. I went through: 80 corn tortillas; 6 pounds of cheese; 24 ounces of extra hot New Mexican red chile powder; 3 bunches of green onions; 2 cans of black olives; and six cups of beans. Last week the archives hosted a large event filled with scholarly lectures, silent films, books, and a grip of history. Everyone worked so hard planning and preparing, so I wanted to show my appreciation. I enjoy doing things for people because it makes me feel good. Hopefully my Friday treat will be enjoyed by everyone on staff. There may be some things I am still unsure of, but there are a few things I do know without a doubt. I am a woman with a good heart and I am an *excellent* cook. Hey— with luck and hard work, hopefully the rest will fall into place!
Pans of Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas made by Felicia
11*****Posted using WordPress for BlackBerry*****11
~Page 86 of the Pojoaque High School Yearbook (1992?)~
From top left to bottom, some of the people in these images include: Ronald Roybal, Analisa Montoya, Christine Leyba, Stephanie Herrera, Lenny Roybal, Eva Grant (my cousin), Felicia Lujan, LeAnn Quintana, and Geneva Quintana
After seeing my former classmate Dr. Patricia Trujillo recently in El Rito, I was reminded of some scans she gave me a couple of years ago. I am so thankful that she took the time to scan pages from a few of our old high school yearbooks for me. Over the next year or so, I will share personal glimpses from my past. Some are not as flattering as others, but never the less, I would like to share them. After looking at this page, I do admit that I never realized the yearbook staff called LeAnn, Geneva and I the “Babes of the High School.” As my dad would say~ “Aiiii…” Hahaha… I think this was 1992? I was also a proud member of FHA going to state a few times and nationals once in job interview. I so wanted to do cake decorating, but I was never good at baking. My sis took that skill hands down. I have always been the cook~ so I rocked it out in Home Economics! Haha… Anyhow~ this is just a way to share some memories. I also want to share images soon from a special little book which belonged to my mom. I am amazed that she saved it and I am so happy to have it in my family collection. I have been combing through her New Mexico Constitutional Convention Handbook from August 5, 1969. She was a senior that year. Maybe I do get my love of collecting from my mother? My mom took the time to collect the autographs of legislators, at least one congressman, a governor (well future governor), as well as other prominent New Mexicans.
Center of El Rito Campus
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
On October 12, 2012, I moderated a wonderful session for the archives. My division director and two archivists delivered informative presentations for the Historias de Nuevo Mexico Conference. The conference was held on the El Rito campus of the Northern New Mexico College. There is a link on the Santa Fe Reporter’s web site to local writer Stephanie Hiller’s blog, Particle Beams. Hiller was accurate in saying that “the purpose of the conference was to present complementary perspectives of the state’s unique history to correct the picture cultivated by mainstream historians celebrating the state’s centennial.”
A Rose on the El Rito Campus
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
The ride to El Rito was gorgeous and rainy. I can’t explain what it is about gloomy weather, but I absolutely love it. There were intricate rock formations, steep cliffs, and vast land which still seemed unspoiled by my contemporaries. The campus is beautiful and features rock walls, sleepy trees, ruins, dark rolling clouds (in the morning), and minds ready to absorb the power of history. In the dining area, there was one wall in a building which had one clear portal so that the old adobe could be seen by visitors and those who cared to look at New Mexico earth.
Intricate Wood Work
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
Cutting Hall (named after Bronson Cutting) was the focal point of the conference. The hall, also an apparent performance theater enveloped the busts of historical figures such as Bronson Cutting and Jonathan Grant in oversized nichos. Grant was a local area Jewish merchant deriving from Abiquiu and the El Rito area. The theater featured traditional tin work (wall and hanging lights) as well as Spanish Colonial carvings on enormous wood beams, doors, hand rails, and benches. There were also wooden floors.
Rock water fountain on the El Rito Campus
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
A friend and former classmate, opened the conference with a touching welcome. Dr. Patricia Trujillo, a powerhouse with Northern New Mexico Community College talked about connection and how when she wrote her introduction that morning, she was listening to the church bells on the El Rito Campus. She said the sound reminded her of her “familia” and specifically about the passing of her father one year ago. She talked about the bells as a symbol of connection, specifically connecting scholars with members of the community, as well as to remember our spirituality. When she and I spoke about me eventually pursuing a PhD, she gave me a wonderful compliment that made me feel good. She said “well when you do, you will have no problems because of all of your experience with documents and history.” Awesome!
El Rito Sky
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
Cutting Hall on the El Rito Campus
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
Dr. Joseph Sanchez, Director- Spanish Colonial Research Center (UNM) talked about the importance of the term “ indigenization.” or what he called “taking back your culture.” He used the example of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, the Pueblo de San Juan de los Caballeros taking back their traditional name. He said “most of us when we write, we search our souls.” He said “we study the values of the period, not our values.” Former State Historian, Robert Torrez delivered “Aftermath of the Mexican American War 1846-1848” He talked about the Treason Trials. One witness reported that all the church bells were sounding when the executions took place. Thomas Chavez, former Director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center and the Palace of the Governors/Museum of New Mexico delivered his paper titled “Juan Onate, Acoma, and a Troubled Administration.”
An Horno with Ruins
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
Dr. Glenabah Martinez of Taos/Dine, a professor at UNM delivered her paper titled “Religious Persecution of Pueblo Peoples in New Mexico in the 20th Century: Pedagogical Significance for New Mexico Youth.” Dr. Martinez talked about how to best teach our youth about history and specifically the history of indigenous peoples. She talked about “counter-narratives” that are often left out of text books. She said if you can’t respect the history, how do you respect the individual.” it is about “homeland” and “scared space” and the “core values” of love, respect, compassion, faith, balance and service when developing historical curriculum “community-to-community, culture-to-culture, and person-to-person.” Also “to promote indigenous students and their teachers to become intellectually aware of the critical roles of Pueblo People.” This will enable them to examine “present-day manifestations of historical oppression.” The main question posed to them being “what will your contribution be?” I really enjoyed her presentation, she talked about the “religious persecution of Pueblo People” and having “cultural integrity.”
Northern NM Community College Sign
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
This conference was a great opportunity to continue the dialogue which remains critical to our understanding of New Mexico history. I enjoyed an overcast day in a sacred place where I was able to learn and grow as a person and archivist. It was nice to walk around the campus by myself and absorb history in a way that I am rarely afforded.
A Building on the El Rito Campus
Photograph by Felicia Lujan
October 12, 2012
Fiction & Poetry
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Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.
From the photo editors of TIME
Poetry for the masses
Basically this blog will have whatever is on my mind more than often in the form of Poetry, but we will see what happens down the line. Sincerely, Taylor Menczynski
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