Luminaria: New Mexico Genealogy and History

An oral history found in a random Google search turned out to be a gold mine of information. I go through the highlights, including life growing up on a ranch in 1920s Union County, leaving home to go to WWII, and coming out to NM from New York on an orphan train. Places mentioned: Des Moines, Clayton, Grenville, Roy, La Union, Santa Fe, Folsom, Trinchera (CO), Mexhoma (OK) Names mentioned: Lujan,...

A younger prima and I chat about the journey to reclaim a connection to our ancestors, including with food and language. Names mentioned: Garcia, Lucero Places mentioned: Chaperito, Anton Chico, Rocky Ford, Maxwell, Sapello The porridge she mentioned was called chaquegue/chaquehue, and it’s prepared a little differently than atole, but both use the blue corn meal. The article she discusses: "...

In this episode, we go down to the South Valley with Blackie Gonzales, an octogenarian with deep roots there. Places mentioned: Downtown Albuquerque, South Valley, Carnuel The song he dedicates to his wife is "Un Rinconcito en el Cielo" by Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte . You can reach out to luminariapod@gmail.com.

A primo and I chat about his family's migration from Costilla to the San Luis Valley to the Upper Huerfano, the founding of the Plaza de los Manzanares, and general Southern Colorado history. Places mentioned: Walsenburg, Trinidad, Cuchara, Garcia, Costilla, Abiquiu, Las Animas, Redwing, Chama, Plaza do los Manzanares, Crestones, Malachite Names mentioned: Manzanares, Deus, Sharp, Bustos, Gall...

Serafina was born in 1927 in Barney, NM. I mistakenly thought Barney was a settlement along the Dry Cimarron River, but it's actual 24 miles SW of Clayton. By 1940, the family had moved to Clayton, perhaps for Dust Bowl reasons. Serafina is a sharp nonagenarian who loves to read, and has lived in Clayton most of her life. Names mentioned: Mares, Sanchez Places mentioned: Barney, Clayton, Raton

What a conversation! We cover so much ground with Dr. Maria Dolores Gonzales - her time at the Northern New Mexico Normal School in El Rito, the journey she went on to write her memoir and encourage other Hispanos to do the same, and her advocacy to preserve and celebrate our language. We also go through some words that are specific to our Northern New Mexican/Southern Colorado language, and where...

We visit El Pueblo de Abiquiu Library & Cultural Center to learn more about what makes this place unique and its diverse and vibrant culture. Places mentioned: Abiquiu, El Rito, Ojo Caliente, Alcalde Check out the Library and consider a donation here . Watch the recent documentary The Genizaro Experience and see some of the dancing mentioned here. Email Kat at luminariapod@gmail.com.

The delightful Allen Sanchez, petitioner of the cause for the beatification and canonization of Sister Blandina Segale, shares about the myriad ways she contributed to New Mexico (and Southern Colorado). Servant of God Sr. Blandina founded public schools and hospitals for our people, and writes about them with warmth, compassion, and humor in At the End of the Santa Fe Trail. Find prayer cards, th...

Beleaguered genealogists will understand the thrill of finding an ancestor who has been hiding in the records for years. One of our primos braved the wilderness of the films to locate a record that had been missing from the transcribed books. I interview him to inspire all of us with adobe brick walls to keep trying. Names mentioned: Pacheco, Martinez, Martin, Madrid, Sena Places mentioned: Santa...

Kat finally ventures into the Rio Abajo with Jose Jaramillo. Names mentioned: Garcia, Rivera, Ribera, Jaramillo, Madrid, Abeyta Places mentioned: Encino, Vaughn, Socorro, Palma, Villanueva, Ribera You can reach Kat at luminariapod@gmail.com.

Ron and Sylvia are doing a great job highlighting and documenting our ancestors through the Founding Families of Huerfano project. They discuss all things Huerfano, and even help Kat finally figure out where "Piedras Amarillas" was! Places mentioned: Huerfano, Cuchara, Badito, Pueblo, San Luis Valley, Yellowstone (duh) Rocky Mountain PBS did a story on the project here . The Facebook group for des...

Dr. Erlinda Gonzales-Berry shares how she brought her childhood in eastern New Mexico to life, her journey in the early days of Chicano studies, and how she likes to prepare quelites. Her delightful book, Rosebud: Population 7 , is full of rich stories and elements of our culture that jump off the page. Names mentioned: Gonzales, Vigil Places mentioned: Roy, Bueyeros, Rosebud, Mosquero, Clayton, M...

This topic was one of my first ideas when dreaming up this podcast - the Spanish language specific to Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. What makes it unique? More importantly, why don't I and so many of my generation speak it? We delve into these questions and more with author-librarian Charlene Garcia Simms and April Bojorquez, Interim Director of The Aztlán Research Center in Pueblo. Th...

This was an unexpected treat! Not only does Weston share about his family's longtime Santa Fe presence, but he also shared details about Native Bound Unbound, a project seeking to document the impact of slavery upon the Indigenous people of the Americas. Names mentioned: Archuleta, Ortega Places mentioned: Santa Fe, Antonito, Mora Follow the progress of Native Bound Unbound here or on socials. Go...

Virginia Sanchez returns to talk about migration into Southern Colorado, life for our ancestors in that area, and rare documentation of enslaved people in Hispano communities there. Places mentioned: Huerfano, Cucharas, San Luis Valley You can order the book Nacion Genizara here. For a complete list of Virginia's work, visit her LinkedIn profile . Virginia shared lyrics to a comanchero song - "If...

J de la Cruz Archuleta shares about his ancestors' migration into Southern Colorado and growing up with Manito traditions. Kat learns she'll probably never be able to grow her own osha. Names mentioned: Archuleta, Vallejos, Vigil, Sandoval, Martinez Places mentioned: Cucharas, Crestones, Badito, Pueblo, Huerfano, SLV Email us at luminariapod@gmail.com.

Trinidad needed its own episode! Millie Duren from the Trinidad History Museum walks us through so much rich history, from the original tribes in the area to Felipe Baca to the POW camp during WWII. Names mentioned: Casimiro Barela, Felipe Baca, Rafael Chacon, Sister Blandina Places mentioned: Trinidad, Segundo, Valdez, Trinchera Make sure to visit the Trinidad History Museum ; tours of the Baca H...

Sandra Dolak of the Huajatolla Heritage Foundation shares about several of her passions, including sheepherding traditions in Southern Colorado. You can get a copy of The Woolly West: Colorado's Hidden History of Sheepscapes by Andrew Gulliford here . Follow the Huajatolla Heritage Foundation on Facebook for upcoming arts and cultural events in Huerfano County. You can get a copy of the Huerfa...

George shares the extraordinary life of his ancestor, Charles Autobees, and his role in key moments of Northern NM and Southern CO history. Names mentioned: Autobees/Ortivis/Otterby, Avila, Olguin, Alires, Romero Places mentioned: Avondale, Pueblo, Salt Creek, Taos, Fort Garland Find The Life and Times of Charles Autobees book at local bookstores. There are several profiles on Charles with photos,...

Kat took a solo road trip following the journey of her people into Southern Colorado. Stay tuned for many interviews to come with locals to flesh out the experiences of our adventurous antepasados in this new frontier. Places mentioned: Pueblo, Walsenburg, La Veta, Fort Garland, San Luis, Trinidad You can reach us at luminariapod@gmail.com.

Dr. Robert Con Davis-Undiano tells us all about the practice of casta paintings in 18th century New Spain, the product of a complex history with race and ethnicity that would evidently outlast colonialism by centuries. You can find plenty of images of casta paintings online. You can find a copy of Mestizos Come Home here.

Virginia Sanchez is an independent scholar researching those who were enslaved in Hispano communities. She shares some of their stories in Mora County, as well as touching on those in southern Colorado (more to come on that!). You can find a list of Virginia's books and articles here . You can email Virginia at virginia.sanchez [at] comcast [dot] net. You can order Pleas and Petitions from the...

Annette Gutierrez-Turk shares about the tradition of colcha embroidery - how it came to New Mexico, how our ancestors would have done it and why, and how you can learn this beautiful art form. Sign up for monthly classes on colcha embroidery on the National Hispanic Cultural Center website under Events The Brown Sheep Company mentioned as a source for yarn for those who cannot source it locally Ch...

I learned so much in this conversation with Nicolas Martinez! Among other things, I got some good tips on finding certain records, and how to track down family photos. Names mentioned: Martinez, Maes, Barcelona (Barcelo), Sandoval, Torres, Branch, Luna, Chaves Places mentioned: Mora, Las Vegas, Los Golondrinas (Mora County), Chacon, Abiquiu, Albuquerque Find Presbyterian records at the Menual Hist...

Bernardino Cisneros shares some of his memories growing up with his grandparents in Questa, as well as some great Norteno Spanish. SURNAMES MENTIONED: Rael, LaForette (La Foret, LaFore), Cisneros PLACES MENTIONED: Questa, Tres Piedras, Dixon, Penasco, Vietnam War Memorial Check out Frank's Eats & Sweets in Questa! If you haven't ridden the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad yet, add...