The Baca / Douglas Genealogy and Family History Blog

21 June 2010

Special Collections Material Now At Main Library

I know that I'm behind the times, but I wanted to let you know that the Albuquerque Special Collections material has moved to the second floor of the Albuquerque Main Public Library. Not everything is there: for instance, they didn't have have the paper copies of the Albuquerque City Directories - but they did have the microfilm of those directories. However, almost everything is there.

They have about a dozen computers on the second floor that are useable for genealogical research. These computers have free access to the library editions of Ancestry.com, Footnote.com, and other paid websites. Most of the microfilms are there, including the Archives of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. And I found that it appears that all of the genealogical periodicals and books are on the shelves.

Come visit the library! They are open

Mondays 10 AM - 6 PM
Tuesdays 10 AM - 7 PM
Wednesdays 10 AM - 7PM
Thursdays 10 AM - 6 PM
Friday 10 AM - 6 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM
Closed Sunday.

As always, if you are coming from far away, you may wish to call before you leave just in case it is closed for hoidays or unforeseen reasons. You may call the Albuquerque Main Library at 505-768-5141. Their website is at http://www.cabq.gov/library/main.htm#ongoing.

I'll be going over to the library today!

R. Baca

20 June 2010

The Mayors of Socorro, New Mexico

I love reading the El Defensor Chieftain Online. This oddly named newspaper came about when two Socorro newspapers merged circa 1960: the "El Defensor" and the "Socorro Chieftain". Historically, the "El Defensor" had orginally been a Spanish language newspaper, while the
"Chieftain" was written in English. However, by the 1950s most of the articles in the "El Defensor" were in English.

The online version of the El Defensor Chieftain apparently has all the issues from the past decade or so, which include some good local history articles. I have linked to some of those in articles in the past. Today, I would like to take note of another article, one titled "The Mayors of Socorro". This piece lists and gives a short bio of all the mayors of Socorro beginning with incorporation in 1879.

Please take note of the mayor from 1899-1900, Jose E. Torres. This is my 2nd great-grandfather, my maternal grandmother's maternal grandfather. Juan Jose Baca is another interesting one - I've profiled him before. He's actually related to Jose E. Torres' wife - he was her uncle (or more precise, her half uncle.) Anyhow, read the article and enjoy (click here to read it!)

04 June 2010

Mary Penner to Speak at June 19, 2010 NMGS Program

Saturday, June 19, 2010, 10:30 AM
The Auditorium, basement floor
Albuquerque Main Library
501 Copper NW, Albuquerque NM


Important Notice : Due to the closure of the Albuquerque Special Collections Library for renovations, our programs will be presented in different locations throughout the year. Please check the New Mexico Genealogical Society website for program locations at http://www.nmgs.org/workshop.htm. Our programs are usually presented at 10:30 AM on the third Saturday of each month.

The New Mexico Genealogical Society presents

Mary Penner
Professional Genealogist

Will present a workshop on

Online Public Library Resources for Genealogists

Local public libraries hold many valuable resources for family history researchers, but we can’t visit every library near where our far-flung ancestors lived. Fortunately, many public libraries have online resources useful for genealogists. Find out how to conduct research in libraries far and wide from your home computer.

Tijeras resident and NMGS member Mary Penner began documenting her family history at the age of ten and still continues to pursue her passion for genealogy. A former college and high school English teacher, she now works as a professional genealogist, writer, and speaker. An award winning author, her articles have appeared in numerous genealogy journals and magazines, and she contributes frequently to the “Ancestry Weekly Discovery,” a digital newsletter for Ancestry.com. Her recent webinar on Ancestry.com has been viewed by over 3,000 people. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Genealogists and has been awarded research grants from both the Kansas and Missouri State Historical Societies.

For more information about Mary Penner, check out her Penner Research Services website at http://www.marypenner.com/.


This program is free and open to the public.

03 June 2010

Another Candelaria Family

One of my readers, Lorraine, recently commented on my March 2008 post Native American Genealogy. My post had to do with my 5th great grandfather Jose Tomas Candelaria. In her comment, she requested some information about another Candelaria family:

I am interested in your Candelaria line, my line thre me a screw ball when a gr gr gr grandfather decided to change name from Candelaria.I discovered a birth record that showed he was born to a Juan Candelaria...Ygncaio would have been born around 1800 so I placing Juan about 1780

Hard to find info, Juan married to Tomasa Sanchez (Teresa chaves name also noted on record I found).

Does this sound familiar...we have also been told we have Native blood (apache) Gr aunts and uncles sent to indian school.

From ATrisco area of NM..

would appreciate any thoughts


I searched the 1790 and 1802 census records in Virginia Langham Olmsted's "New Mexico Spanish & Mexican Colonial Censues 1790, 1823, 1845" and "Spanish and Mexican Censuses of New Mexico 1750 to 1830" for Atrisco and surrounding areas, including Alburquerque, to no avail. I also searched the Internet, and found Lydia Urbie's site that has a database that includes Ynacio Candelaria and his parents Juan Candelaria and Tomasa Sanchez. The following information was found on that database:

Ygnacio CANDELARIA
____ - AFT 17 JUN 1833

DEATH: AFT 17 JUN 1833

Father: Juan CANDELARIA
Mother: Tomasa SÁNCHEZ

Family 1 : María Manuela ANAYA

MARRIAGE: BEF 20 AUG 1826

1. María Bernarda CANDELARIA
2. José de los Dolores CANDELARIA

Click on this link to view the database.

At this time, I have no other information about this family. If anyone reading this knows more about this family, please either email me at abqbobcat@nmia.com or post a comment to this article.