MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
January 31 – February 7, 2008 Edition
Santa Fe Historical
Task Force Calls
For Manuscripts
SANTA FE, NM/1/29/08–A Santa Fe, New Mexico historical group is seeking manuscripts for publication as part of the 400th Commemoration on the Founding of Santa Fe, New Mexico, which will take place in 2010. The History Task Force Committee for the celebration is now searching worldwide for manuscripts on the following subjects:
Native American habitation and uses of the area during the contact period Founding Euro-American exploration and settlement in the area from Spanish exploration through 1820 Mexican period activities in New Mexico, 1821-1846 Transition to American occupancy, especially ranching and homesteading relationships/influences 1846 to early twentieth century Early twentieth century ranching The importance and activities of individuals Impact of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Santa Fe Trail, old Spanish Trail and the Railroad Santa Fe: Literature, Music and the Arts Syncretism: Religion, Culture, Ethnicity, Beliefs Gender Agriculture
The celebration will follow the theme, "All Trails Lead to Santa Fe" and will chronicle the evolution of how Santa Fe became the great southwestern city that it is, connecting historical and cultural values from prehistoric to modern times with the many stories about the people whose lives shaped the epical history of Santa Fe.
As part of the event, the Committee will publish "ALL TRAILS LEAD TO SANTA FE: AN ANTHOLOGY."
Those interested in submitting manuscripts can send material to 112 W. San Francisco St. #309, Santa Fe, NM 87501, Phone (505) 986.1610. E-mail:
The people of Santa Fe have been working long and hard to capture the city’s spirit, imagination, and pride in advance of the commemoration of Santa Fe’s 400th Anniversary. As the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi there is extensive ground to cover prior to this milestone.
Starting in 2008 plans call for an in-depth review of the city’s history to uncover more of Santa Fe’s remarkable past. The year will be spent educating the public about all that has taken place in the last 400 years in Santa Fe.
March, 1609 will be recognized as the date the Spanish Viceroy ordered the settling of the city during an event on March 30, 2009. the rest of 2009 will focus on the people of Santa Fe and their connections to the city. Then, everyone will be invited to Santa Fe in 2010 for a year’s worth of events to commemorate the 400th Anniversary.
Yet, the founding date for Santa Fe has been questioned since some detail was lost to time after 400 years. In search of a true date for Santa Fe’s 400th Anniversary, city and state historians were asked to determine when exactly America’s second oldest city sprang to life.
North America had been visited by explorers more that 400 years ago but 1607 was the start of a land rush to settle the New World. The founding of Jamestown by the British in 1607 was quickly followed by the French establishing Quebec in 1608 and the Spanish settling Santa Fe in 1609.
Some put forth 1608 as the time Spanish Conquistadors relocated from farther north in the region to what would become La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis. Former New Mexico State Historian Tom Chavez uncovered documents in Spain indicating a European settlement near Santa Fe existed as early as 1607. Of course Native Americans made the area home for thousands of years prior but the Spanish Viceroy gave orders to Don Pedro de Peralta in 1609 to settle the villa. Then there is the date "1610" on the city’s seal, the date of the city charter.
Discussions of a founding date lingered even as plans progressed for the commemoration. Finally, in the genuine spirit of "The City Different," it was determined that some initial events would be planned for 2008, a founding day event would take place in 2009, and the big party would be thrown in 2010.
In a town that cherishes its history and has implemented rules, covenants, and review boards aimed at preserving as many authentic links to the past as possible, it may take 3 years to cover all that needs to be remembered and recognized from the last 400, according to the Visitor’s Bureau web site.
