NMJHS
Pioneer Video Project Update
by Judy Basen Weinreb |
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Kudos to Society Members
PHIL SALTZ, Society past president, decided to run for Santa
Fe Magistrate Judge in the last election. With great impact he
questioned the fact that Santa Fe magistrates need not be lawyers
nor have legal training.
This issue prompted an editorial in the New Mexican and
caused other public discussion. He deserves a kudo for putting
on the table a much needed rethinking of our political process.
MERIOM AND HOWARD KASTNER, valued longtime
Society and Board members, were honored as Santa Fe Treasures.
This recognition came for all their incredible community service.
We say Kastners well done!
UNM Press has recently published another book
by Board member Henry Tobias. As the first up to date history
of Santa Fe, it covers the years 1880-1990. "In this readable
history, we learn about the essence of Santa Fe: how Hispanos
and Anglos dealt with each other and in the process created
a city that's internationally recognized as 'different' culturally
and socially." Kudos for Henry and SANTA FE: A MODERN HISTORY
1880-1990.
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 uring the past several months, the Pioneer Video Project
has moved ahead in some very exciting ways. A group of more
than a dozen enthusiastic and hard working volunteers underwent
a training program in the early spring led by Drs. Noel Pugach,
Durwood Ball, Henry Tobias, and Rose Diaz. These professors
introduced the volunteers to New Mexico and Jewish history, and
to the techniques of oral history interviews. Armed with this
training, each volunteer began to research an individual family
by visiting archives, interviewing family members, and reading
available materials.
Several family interviews were taped over the summer by
Avista Video Histories. Anita Miller interviewed Sue Warburg,
great-granddaughter of Willi and Flora Spiegelberg. Mrs. Warburg
told of first-hand memories of her remarkable great-grandmother
who lived into her 90's. Paula Schwartz interviewed Dr. Randolph
Seligman, whose family made such enormous contributions to New
Mexico from their home in Bernalillo. Steve Kesselman spoke
with Steve Moise about his family's ranching and retail experiences
in Santa Rosa. Elsa Altshool told Barbara Weinbaum about the
Solomon, Freudenthal, and Lesinsky families of Las Cruces and
southwestern New Mexico. These are only a few of the interviews
that have taken place and more are scheduled. Our remarkable
group of volunteers continues to work with enthu- |
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siasm and dedication.
The NMJHS is truly grateful for their contribution.
Much to everyone's delight, our hard working volunteers
have uncovered a treasure trove of documents and photographs
that contain new information about the Pioneer Jews of the last
part of the 19th century. These records add previously unknown
facets to the state's knowledge of a fascinating time in New
Mexico's history. Families have discovered new connections,
and old family stories have been confirmed. In some cases, family
stories have proven to be not exactly as people remembered them.
The project has been a wonderful experience for the interviewers
and for the subjects of the interviews, and a truly valuable
asset to New Mexico's historians.
This project is an expensive undertaking and there is still
much more to be done. The committee has been successful in raising
funds from the New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities, the New
Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board, the Albuquerque Community
Foundation, and the Herzstein Foundation, as well as many generous
individual donors. The project continues to write grants and
would greatly appreciate donations from those who agree that
it is crucial to preserve our precious historical legacy. Many
of our subjects are elderly and the need to interview them right
now is urgent. If you wish to contribute to this exciting and
worthwhile endeavor, please send your contribution to the NMJHS
office at 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. |
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Fall Conference
Film Highlights
by Sheila Gershen |
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unique treats are in store for attendees at the NMJHS Fall Conference.
The films "One of the Hollywood Ten" (2000) and "Salt
of the Earth" (1953) will be screened, with special in person
appearances. Both brilliantly capture the historical and political
flavor of mid |
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twentieth century New Mexico
and America.
Set at the height of the Cold War in the fifties, "One
of the Hollywood Ten" examines the personal struggle and
triumph of film director Herbert Biberman in his crusade to continue
his career in the face of the McCarthy-led blacklist. At its
most political, it's a conspiracy thriller and ever-relevant
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testament to societal paranoia and hate mongering.
Biberman and his wife, Academy Award winning actress Gale
Sondergaard, refused to name names and stood by their acknowledged
communist beliefs. As a result, Biberman was convicted of contempt
of
Film Highlights -continued on p. 4
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