Historical Socity of New Mexico

The Historical Society of New Mexico (HSNM) recognizes the outstanding work by students, professional and avocation historians and organization through various annual HSNM Awards. The awards are announced and presented at the Annual Meeting and Conference, in the Spring. You may view the 2004 -2010 recipients click here. For more information contact HSNM Awards Chair, David Myers. Deadline is February 1.

The Paul A. F. Walter Award— for services to the Historical Society of New Mexico

A true Renaissance man, Paul F. Walter served at various times as president of the First National Bank of Santa Fe, editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican, and executive secretary of the School of American Archaeology. For fifty years he was a devoted member of the Historical Society of New Mexico and was elected president in 1926. In that position, he assisted Lansing B. Bloom during publication of the New Mexico Historical Review (NMHR). Until a short time before his death in 1996, Walter continued to be co-editor for the NMHR and an enthusiastic supporter of the Historical Society of New Mexico.

Edgar Lee Hewett began his professional life as an educator. He was appointed president of New Mexico Normal University (Highlands) in 1898. Soon after, archeology became his principal interest, bringing him worldwide recognition for his investigations on the Pajarito Plateau and elsewhere. Hewett is remembered as a founder of both the Museum of New Mexico and what became the School of American Research. Largely as a result of his efforts, federal officials established Bandelier National Monument in 1916.

A dedicated educator throughout a long and distinguished career, Dorothy Woodward earned her Ph.D. at Yale University in 1935. By that time she had already taught history in the Denver Public Schools for several years. Soon after leaving New Haven, she joined the faculty of the University of New Mexico, where she remained a fixture in the history department for the next twenty years. A contemporary of France V. Scholes, Woodward was sometimes called "La Suprema" by her students, who included Myra Ellen Jenkins, Robert W. Delaney and other well-known historians.

The Ralph Emerson Twitchell Award— for significant contribution to he field of history by individuals, organizations, or institutions in the area of fine arts, allied professions, unorthodox but significant articles or books, demonstrations, series or events, etc.

Born in Ann Arbor in 1859, Twitchell came to New Mexico as an attorney for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Subsequently, he became well known as an attorney, Republican politician, and Santa Fe booster. More importantly, Twitchell also won acclaim as an author and historian, producing the monumental five-volume work, The Leading Facts of New Mexico History, and the invaluable two-volume research source, Spanish Archives of New Mexico (series I and II). In 1916, he became president of the Historical Society of New Mexico.

The Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá Award— for an outstanding publication by an individual or individuals (articles, monographs, books, etc)

A poet and soldier, Captain Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá (b.ca. 1668) arrived in New Mexico as a member of the expedition of don Juan de Oñate in 1598. Although a "creole" by birth, being a native of the city of Puebla de los Ángeles in New Spain, he went to Spain to study at the famed University of Salamanca before entering military service. His epic poem telling of the travails of the Oñate expedition, La Historia de Nueva España, has been described as the first history published that portrays a part of the future American nation.

The Lansing B. Bloom Award— for an outstanding publication or series of publications by a society or institution (books, monographs, newsletter, brochures, guides, etc.)

Author, scholar, editor— Lansing Bloom must be regarded as a preeminent figure in the pantheon of New Mexico historians. A graduate of Auburn Theological Seminary, Bloom first became interested in Borderlands history during service as a Presbyterian missionary in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Subsequently, he came to New Mexico and accepted a position on the staff of the School of American Research and the Museum of New Mexico. His interests extended from the colonial era to New Mexico's role in World War I. During the 1920s and 1930s, Bloom made several trips for research in Spain and Mexico, returning with invaluable photographic copies from the national archives. In 1926 he became the first editor of the New Mexico Historical Review and continued in that post until his death twenty years later. All those with an interest in history are deeply indebted to Lansing B. Bloom.

The Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez Award— for historic survey and research

A distinguished churchman and explorer, Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez was born in Mexico City circa 1740. At the age of seventeen he joined the Franciscan Order. In 1775 his superiors sent him to New Mexico to make an official visitation of the missions in that remote province. A keen observer, Domínguez composed a report that is undoubtedly the most accurate source available for conditions in the northern frontier during the eighteenth century. Together with his colleague, Fray Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, and with New Mexican cartographer and distinguished soldier don Bernardo Miera y Pacheco, Domíguez also led an epic search for a passable route from New Mexico to the Franciscan missions in California. Although unsuccessful, their remarkable journey ranks as one of the great explorations in the southwest.

The Bradford Prince Award— for significant work in the field of historic preservation

Attorney, author, and politician, L. Bradford Prince was one of New Mexico's preeminent citizens of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A New Yorker, he first came to the territory in 1879 to serve a chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. An ardent student of history, Prince was elected president of the Historical Society of New Mexico in 1883, and he remained active in the organization for many years. In 1889 President Benjamin Harrison appointed Prince Governor of New Mexico. During his four-year term, Prince resided in the Palace of the Governor's on the Santa Fe Plaza, and he subsequently initiated efforts for its preservation. He also worked tirelessly for the preservation of Spanish colonial mission churches and wrote concerning their history.

The Pablita Velarde Award—for an outstanding children's publication

Pablita Velarde, "Tse Tsan" (Golden Dawn) in the Tewa language of her Santa Clara Pueblo home, was an outstanding artist originally trained as a young student in Dorothy Dunn's Studio Art School at the Santa Fe Indian School. She was also a wonderful storyteller as exhibited in her self-illustrated book, Old Father Storyteller, first published in 1960. Her paintings are held by many museums, with an outstanding collection at the Bandelier National Monument. She received many awards, including the Palmes Académiques excellence in art from the French government.


Home 2011 Conference Speaker's Bureau Grants La Crónica Historic Plaques scholarships Awards Join Now About us Board What's New State Historians Digital History Project Links -Societies -History FAQs		Historical Society of New Mexico - Awards The Historical Society of New Mexico (HSNM) recognizes the outstanding work by students, professional and avocation historians and organization through various annual HSNM Awards. The awards are announced and presented at the Annual Meeting and Conference, in the Spring. You may view the 2004 -2010 recipients click here. For more information contact HSNM Awards Chair, David Myers. Deadline is February 1. The Paul A. F. Walter Award The Edgar Lee Hewett Award The Dorothy Woodward Award The Ralph Emerson Twitchell Award The Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá Award The Lansing B. Bloom Award The Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez Award The Bradford Prince Award The Pablita Velarde Award The Paul A. F. Walter Award— for services to the Historical Society of New Mexico A true Renaissance man, Paul F. Walter served at various times as president of the First National Bank of Santa Fe, editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican, and executive secretary of the School of American Archaeology. For fifty years he was a devoted member of the Historical Society of New Mexico and was elected president in 1926. In that position, he assisted Lansing B. Bloom during publication of the New Mexico Historical Review (NMHR). Until a short time before his death in 1996, Walter continued to be co-editor for the NMHR and an enthusiastic supporter of the Historical Society of New Mexico. The Edgar Lee Hewett Award— given for outstanding services to the public Edgar Lee Hewett began his professional life as an educator. He was appointed president of New Mexico Normal University (Highlands) in 1898. Soon after, archeology became his principal interest, bringing him worldwide recognition for his investigations on the Pajarito Plateau and elsewhere. Hewett is remembered as a founder of both the Museum of New Mexico and what became the School of American Research. Largely as a result of his efforts, federal officials established Bandelier National Monument in 1916. The Dorothy Woodward Award— for advancement of education A dedicated educator throughout a long and distinguished career, Dorothy Woodward earned her Ph.D. at Yale University in 1935. By that time she had already taught history in the Denver Public Schools for several years. Soon after leaving New Haven, she joined the faculty of the University of New Mexico, where she remained a fixture in the history department for the next twenty years. A contemporary of France V. Scholes, Woodward was sometimes called "La Suprema" by her students, who included Myra Ellen Jenkins, Robert W. Delaney and other well-known historians. The Ralph Emerson Twitchell Award— for significant contribution to he field of history by individuals, organizations, or institutions in the area of fine arts, allied professions, unorthodox but significant articles or books, demonstrations, series or events, etc. Born in Ann Arbor in 1859, Twitchell came to New Mexico as an attorney for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Subsequently, he became well known as an attorney, Republican politician, and Santa Fe booster. More importantly, Twitchell also won acclaim as an author and historian, producing the monumental five-volume work, The Leading Facts of New Mexico History, and the invaluable two-volume research source, Spanish Archives of New Mexico (series I and II). In 1916, he became president of the Historical Society of New Mexico. The Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá Award— for an outstanding publication by an individual or individuals (articles, monographs, books, etc) A poet and soldier, Captain Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá (b.ca. 1668) arrived in New Mexico as a member of the expedition of don Juan de Oñate in 1598. Although a "creole" by birth, being a native of the city of Puebla de los Ángeles in New Spain, he went to Spain to study at the famed University of Salamanca before entering military service. His epic poem telling of the travails of the Oñate expedition, La Historia de Nueva España, has been described as the first history published that portrays a part of the future American nation. The Lansing B. Bloom Award— for an outstanding publication or series of publications by a society or institution (books, monographs, newsletter, brochures, guides, etc.) Author, scholar, editor— Lansing Bloom must be regarded as a preeminent figure in the pantheon of New Mexico historians. A graduate of Auburn Theological Seminary, Bloom first became interested in Borderlands history during service as a Presbyterian missionary in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Subsequently, he came to New Mexico and accepted a position on the staff of the School of American Research and the Museum of New Mexico. His interests extended from the colonial era to New Mexico's role in World War I. During the 1920s and 1930s, Bloom made several trips for research in Spain and Mexico, returning with invaluable photographic copies from the national archives. In 1926 he became the first editor of the New Mexico Historical Review and continued in that post until his death twenty years later. All those with an interest in history are deeply indebted to Lansing B. Bloom. The Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez Award— for historic survey and research A distinguished churchman and explorer, Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez was born in Mexico City circa 1740. At the age of seventeen he joined the Franciscan Order. In 1775 his superiors sent him to New Mexico to make an official visitation of the missions in that remote province. A keen observer, Domínguez composed a report that is undoubtedly the most accurate source available for conditions in the northern frontier during the eighteenth century. Together with his colleague, Fray Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, and with New Mexican cartographer and distinguished soldier don Bernardo Miera y Pacheco, Domíguez also led an epic search for a passable route from New Mexico to the Franciscan missions in California. Although unsuccessful, their remarkable journey ranks as one of the great explorations in the southwest. The Bradford Prince Award— for significant work in the field of historic preservation Attorney, author, and politician, L. Bradford Prince was one of New Mexico's preeminent citizens of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A New Yorker, he first came to the territory in 1879 to serve a chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. An ardent student of history, Prince was elected president of the Historical Society of New Mexico in 1883, and he remained active in the organization for many years. In 1889 President Benjamin Harrison appointed Prince Governor of New Mexico. During his four-year term, Prince resided in the Palace of the Governor's on the Santa Fe Plaza, and he subsequently initiated efforts for its preservation. He also worked tirelessly for the preservation of Spanish colonial mission churches and wrote concerning their history. The Pablita Velarde Award—for an outstanding children's publication Pablita Velarde, "Tse Tsan" (Golden Dawn) in the Tewa language of her Santa Clara Pueblo home, was an outstanding artist originally trained as a young student in Dorothy Dunn's Studio Art School at the Santa Fe Indian School. She was also a wonderful storyteller as exhibited in her self-illustrated book, Old Father Storyteller, first published in 1960. Her paintings are held by many museums, with an outstanding collection at the Bandelier National Monument. She received many awards, including the Palmes Académiques excellence in art from the French government.

		Historical Society of New Mexico P. O. Box 1912 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 hsnminfo@hsnm.org