Los Luceros related correspondence, 1952-1953

File — binder: 145

Identifier: 6.1

Scope and Contents Note

From the Collection:

The Maria Chabot Papers contains materials collected by Maria Chabot. Included are personal records; diaries and travel diaries; extensive correspondence dating from 1933 to 2001 with colleagues, family, and friends; interviews with Chabot; photographs, slides, and negatives; notebooks, research notes, writings, brochures, photocopies, and other miscellaneous papers; as well as a small number of materials related to Chabot family history including family albums, histories, photographs and records. The bulk of the materials relate to Maria Chabot's research, writing, and literary work. There are more than 60 drafts or completed short stories, novels, and non-fiction materials that Chabot generated over the years, along with rejection letters she received from publishers; copies of the published articles on Indian arts and crafts that she wrote in the 1930s; and documents, notes, photographs, records and reports she generated when attending conferences, taking courses, and working on various projects. Chabot undertook significant projects in the 1930s and 1940s, including a photographic survey of Southwestern native and traditional arts and crafts with artist Dorothy N. Stewart; stewardship of the Los Luceros hacienda, deeded to her by museum founder Mary Cabot Wheelwright; and an unpublished book on her time as a companion of Georgia O'Keeffe at Ghost Ranch and the renovation of O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu, New Mexico. The collection also contains books, newspaper and magazine clippings, art work, photographs, ephemera, and audiovisual materials of interest to Maria Chabot, which she collected over her lifetime.

Dates

Creation: 1952-1953

Creator

From the Collection: Chabot, Maria, 1913-2001 (Person)

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

Materials predominantly in English.

Access Restrictions

Photographs subseries contains some fragile materials. May require handling by the Archivist.

Extent

From the Collection: 74.4 Linear Feet (62 Full Hollinger boxes (15.25" x 5" x 10.25"): 25.85 Linear feet. 71 Half Hollinger boxes (15.25" x 2.5" x 10.25"): 14.84 Linear feet. 8 11x14 boxes: 9.36 Linear feet. 8 9x12 boxes: 9 Linear feet. 6 16x20 boxes: 10.02 Linear feet. 1 20x24 boxes: 2 Linear feet. 8 5x12 boxes: 3.33 Linear feet. 164 total boxes.)

Additional Description

Overview

In 1952 there are thirty-two letters [five with envelopes], two fragmentary letters, two cards [one with envelope], and a telegram. Within these are eleven letters, one fragmentary letter, one post card and one Christmas card from Mary Cabot Wheelwright to Maria Chabot and five letters from MC to MCW. There are six letters from Josiah Wheelwright to MC and eight letters from MC to JW, two of which are undated drafts in response to his letter of March 23, 1953. MC to JW, July 11, 1952 is typed on the back of a letter of the same date, MC to MCW. There is one letter from JW to MCW, 3-16-52, which is followed by the last two pages only of another letter from JW presumably to MCW because it continues the theme of the previous letter, concerning MCW living beyond her means. There is one letter from Gertrude Chapin to MC, Jan. 1, 1952, and one letter from MC to Gertrude Chapin, Jan. 5, 1952. There is one telegram from J.O. Seth to New Mexico's U.S. congressmen concerning suspension of a channeling project caused by the Los Luceros boundary dispute with Z. Velarde. In 1953 there are twenty-seven letters. These include six letters [several with copies] from January through March concerning the Velarde land dispute. The letter of April 11, 1953 concerns MCW's purchase of land involved in the dispute. There are nine letters from MC to MCW and five letters from MCW to MC. The letter from MC to MCW, March 28, 1953 is accompanied with two Angus cattle certificates. The letter from MC to MCW, Sept. 17, 1953, was found in the accompanying envelope with three notes concerning costs of house repairs. A letter from MC to Oliver Seth, July 28, 1953, states that the purchased land is to be deeded to her, and a letter from Oliver Seth to MC, Aug. 28, 1953, confirms this to be done. A letter from MC to J.O. Seth, Aug. 1, 1953, includes a detailed history of the finances at Los Luceros, 1944– 1952. There are three letters between MC and E. Boyd of the Museum of New Mexico: an exhibition loan receipt from Boyd for a retablo in MCW's collection, Nov. 13, 1953; a letter from MC to EB concerning the loan, Dec. 12, 1953; and a reply from EB to MC, Dec. 31, 1953.