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Interviews conducted by the Oral History Program are based on a standardized list of questions (called a protocol) arranged in major interview categories. Select a category to see interviews and the interview protocol for that category.

Rural Lifeways

Alpers, Audrey

Alpers and Rupert family history. Regional and Cimarron history. Subjects include: Chase family history, the Maxwell Land Grant, Colfax County War, the coming of the railroad to Cimarron, the 1908 fire in Cimarron, the 1922 fire at the Springer mansion on the Chase Ranch, balls and parties held at the Springer mansion. Additional family history, the race track at Raton, the history of Gladys England Smith and Marjery England Sutcliffe. A discussion and description of artifacts donated by Audrey Alpers to the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.

Austin, Armon T.

Early rural living in the Estancia Valley area of New Mexico.

Avery, Keith Willett

Details life history of Western artist, Keith Avery.

Bailey, Annie

Rural living in area of Taiban, N.M.

Baker, Wayne

The history of the Sunland Corporation, discusses the various types of peanuts, particularly the Valencia, which is grown in New Mexico, how they are processed and used, and some of the diseases which plague peanut growers. They also talk about the business aspects of the peanut industry and the affect of NAFTA and GATT.

Bean, Johnny

The consultant discusses his WWII experiences and growing up during the Great Depression. He also discusses his work with race track horses, the tack shop at the racetrack, saddle making, and his farm in El Paso, Tex.

Bernal, Hilario

Early Tortugas and Las Cruces history.

Birmingham, H.B.

Life on a ranch in western New Mexico. Also working for the forest service.

Birmingham, Margaret "Peggy"

Life on a ranch in western New Mexico. Also working for the forest service.

Brown, Maxine Pounds

Life in rural Cedarvale, N.M.

Burdick, B. H. "Tex"

The necessity for windmills in assuring a good water supply--working with drillers, determining size of mill required, how it was erected, how much they cost and how they were maintained. Also told stories about John Prather, Oliver Lee, a wandering cowboy and a widow's effort to get a gas line.

Campbell, Evelyn

Rural life in Cedarvale, N.M.

Davidson, Alvin

Technological innovations in agriculture and changes in agricultural production in eastern Kansas and the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico; farmers' organizations and cooperatives; farm life in the Midwest during the Depression through World War II including cooperative labor among local farmers.

Duey, Fern

Rural living in area of Taiban, N.M.

Eichholtz, Lucille

Her early life and memories of Mesilla and Las Cruces.

Eldridge, Suzanne

Rural living in Ft. Sumner, N.M., and family grocery business.

Gard, Wanda

Ranching in the Clayton area during the Dust Bowl era.

Gottwald, Allie Sue

The interview details the consultant's career with the New Mexico Extension Service.

Gracie, Jack

New Mexico mining camps with an emphasis on Dawson.

Green, Austin "Slim"

Early data concerns Green's parents and their settlement in Texas. Chronological report of Green's life, service in Army during World War II, progress and work as a saddlemaker, demonstrations on his techniques, specific information regarding the "Pony Track" saddle design.

Hamilton, Judge

Brief history of arrival and life in Cedarvale, N.M., area.

Hogg, James R.

Rural life in New Mexico, homesteads, schoolhouses and interesting stories about West Central New Mexico.

Isaacs, Elizabeth

Rural life in Clayton, N.M. during Dust Bowl era.

Jones, Tiny Faye

Briefly details childhood years on a farm near Floyd, New Mexico. Discusses her career with the New Mexico Extension Service.

Lackey, Archie

Rural life in Cedarvale community.

Meier, Maydelle

Meier discusses her work as a Victory Farm Volunteer in Portales, N.M. during World War II. She recounts work for the Red Cross doing recreational activities for American soldiers in the U.S., and for about five years overseas. She discusses her teaching career and the operation of a small farm near Bosque Farms, N.M.

Morris, James

Saddle making in New Mexico from the 1960s to 2009.

Moyers, William (Bill) Taylor

Details the consultant's life and his career as a Western artist.

Muñoz, Ricardo

Boyhood in the copper mining town of Santa Rita, N.M., during World War II. Discusses his work as a teacher with the Home Education Livelihood Program, a program aimed at migrant farm workers. Discusses farming families in Doña Ana County.

Perez, Hipolita

Perez' life as a child in Durango, Mexico during the time of Pancho Villa. How she came to New Mexico, and her life here in Las Cruces.

Pounds, Lonnie Courtney "Buck"

Covers consultant's life as a farmer, grocery store owner, butcher, and horse trader.

Riley, Michael

Operation of the Elephant Butte Irrigation District with emphasis on delivery of irrigation water to Mesilla Valley farmers.

Sais, James R. "Jim"

Overview of Sais' life. Received a degree in Agriculture and Extension Education and worked for Extension Service 1959-1992.

Sanders, Bobbie

Touches on childhood in Arizona and the return to New Mexico after involvement in a dispute between homesteaders and cattlemen. Relates childhood experiences on the family farm in Portales and helping with harvest of sorghum and broomcorn. Relates experiences as a teacher in rural New Mexico schools between 1937 and 1979. Mentions her husband's Civilian Conservation Corps work and her experience as wife of a serviceman during World War II.

Schickedanz, Jerry

The consultant discusses his thirty-one year career in the Cooperative Extension Service, his years as the Dean and Chief Administrative Officer of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics at New Mexico State University, and his involvement with the People For Preserving Our Western Heritage.

Shalles, WanaBeth

Rural life in Cedarvale community.

Shearer, Jimmie

The history of the Sunland Corporation, discusses the various types of peanuts, particularly the Valencia, which is grown in New Mexico, how they are processed and used, and some of the diseases which plague peanut growers. They also talk about the business aspects of the peanut industry and the affect of NAFTA and GATT.

Tharp, Claud

The cotton business in Las Cruces from 1927-1997.

Toney, Bertha

Rural living as a schoolteacher and mother through hard times in Indiana. [An active volunteer at the Museum until she "retired" at age 99, this interview was conducted as an assignment for an oral history class at New Mexico State University.]

Vick, Austin

Rural living in the community of Cedarvale, N.M.

Whittles, Eloise

Life as a minister's wife during World War II. Rural living in Claunch and Las Cruces.

Wright, John E.

Rural life in Mountainair, N.M.