Women of New Mexico
By Maud Hancock Prichard
(Educator. For three years member of New Mexico Normal University Faculty)
New Mexico—the land of "sunshine, silence, and adobe," the land of poco tiempo—is also a land of contrasts, of a happy intermingling of the old and the new. Youngest of the States of the Union—except one—yet within its bounds is found the oldest civilization on the continent, just as it was found when the first white man ventured into the vast unknown regions of New Spain in quest of riches for his Church and his King, and it is the only section of our great country where the Red Man has been left in possession of his lands and homes, and where he worships the gods of his fathers in the same way as for centuries past.
The history of New Mexico is replete with the achievements of this great Territory in the various wars of our Nation—sending more men (many of whom were Red Men) in proportion to its population than any other state or territory, but little or nothing is said of what the women did during those troublous times. No doubt the pioneer woman stood shoulder to shoulder in those times as did the Women's Council of Defense with the Men's Council during the World War.
However, in peace times, and after statehood was attained, is when accomplishments of the women of New Mexico have been outstanding. Almost coincident with the organization of the new State was the organization of the Federation of Women's Clubs by a group of women representing all parts of the State, which soon became a part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Since then other groups have founded other clubs, lodges, sororities, the League of Women Voters and Business and Professional Women's Federation.
New Mexico is exceptionally fortunate in the large number of women within its borders—found not only in cities but also in small towns, on ranches and in isolated places—who have brought to this western environment the training and culture acquired in the older states. With this background, there has developed a group of women of wonderful executive ability, with the foresight to plan and carry out constructive projects that have had much to do with the progress of the new State along lines that mean much for the social welfare of its citizens.
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