Los Luceros related correspondence, 1959-1960, 1964

File — binder: 148

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N. Stewart; stewardship of the Los Luceros hacienda, deeded to her by museum founder Mary Cabot Wheelwright; and an unpublished book on her time as a companion of Georgia O'Keeffe at Ghost Ranch and the renovation of O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu, New Mexico.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: 1959-1960, 1964

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

Preceding the correspondence for 1959 are undated Maria Chabot notes concerning sale of the Los Luceros land, drafts of sale notices, and a "Classified Style Sheet" from The New Mexican. In 1959 there are twenty-nine letters, four notes and one newspaper clipping. Twenty-two of these letters concern offers, counter offers and many disputes prior to Charles Collier's purchase of MC's Los Luceros property. There is only one letter directly from MC to Collier, Feb. 7, 1959 [with a copy] and only two from Collier to MC: Feb. 7, 1959 and August 5, 1959 [three copies]. There is an exchange of undated notes between them at the end of 1959. Otherwise, the letters are between MC and her lawyers and agents or Collier and his lawyers and agents. MC's letter to Oliver Seth, July 27, 1959 begins discussion of a roadway dispute. This letter is preceded by a note, "Road" and a newspaper clipping. MC's letter to Carl Gilbert, Aug.2, 1959, gives a summary of the conflict to that date. This exchange consists of nine letters continuing through August and ends with two copies of an undated letter from the New Mexico Highway Department. MC's letter, Oct. 24, 1959, to Oliver Seth begins an exchange of six letters about obtaining an abstract of title. This continues through November 25, 1959 with letters between MC, Seth, Americo Romero and Matias Chacon. MC's letter, Nov. 9, 1959, to Father James T. Burke begins an exchange of four letters concerning a fence removal. This ends with a letter from Burke to MC, Nov. 24, 1959. Correspondence on other matters includes two letters, Feb. 2, 1959 and Feb. 16, 1959, from MC to Shippen Goodhue in Boston, and Goodhue's response, Feb. 4, 1959 concerning MCW's estate. Also concerning the estate are a letter from MC to Josiah Wheelwright, Feb. 2, 1957, and his response, Feb. 20, 1959. A letter from MC to Oliver Seth, May 3, 1959, and a letter, June 15, 1959, from Kenneth Foster to MC, along with a note on the back of an envelope concern digging a water line. A letter from Philip Leyendecker to MC, Nov. 23, 1959, concerns purchase of her land. In 1960 there are twelve letters, one with its envelope, one bank deposit receipt and two undated notes. The first three letters: MC to Oliver Seth, Mar. 7, 1960; MC to H.S. Goodhue, Mar. 7, 1960 and April 30, 1960 concern taxes on MCW's estate. The first two letters have copies. Thereafter all letters concern the sale of MC's Los Luceros property to Charles Collier. The first letter, MC to G.H. Denton [real estate agent], July 20, 1960 is with a list of her conditions for sale. The letter, Oliver Seth to MC, July 21, 1960, concludes the title abstract problem of 1959. Five letters, July 24–Aug. 13, 1959, are offers and counter offers to and from MC and Collier for her property. Several letters have copies. There is a summary of the negotiations sent by MC to C. Gilbert [her lawyer], Aug 8, 1960. The letter, MC to Gilbert and White [Carl Gilbert, her lawyer] Aug. 30, 1960, delineates her last offer. [The Sales Agreement and Promissory Note, Sept. 30, 1960, are in Los Luceros: Oversize Box 3.] There is a bank deposit slip for receipt of Collier's Promissory note and mortgage, Oct. 15, 1960 for $50,000 payable to MC. In 1964 there is one letter from Collier to MC, Mar. 29, 1964. There is no correspondence in 1961-1963.