Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico Celebrates Women's History Month

This March, celebrate Women’s History Month with the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico! In honor of area writers and historians, the HSSNM celebrates the likes of Eve Ball, Ernestine Chesser Williams, Esther Goddard, Lou Tomlinson White, Amelia Bolton Church, and other women who preserved our local history.

Topic: The Legacy of Eve Ball, Woman Among Men |1890-1984

“An Archaeological Adventure Exploring the Files of Eve Ball.” by Lynda A. Sánchez

In 1983 the United States Congress, in a Joint Congressional Resolution, honored Eve Ball with special recognition for her work in preserving the history of our region. NM US Senator Pete Domenici presented the award to her in person at her Ruidoso home that year. This included ranching heritage (the Jones Boys of 7 Rivers and Carlsbad area, & World Champion Cowboy Bob Crosby) to early day Hispanic pioneers to the violent Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid era to Apache warriors fighting for their land as they struggled, and finally surrendered in 1886. It was a great honor. She won many awards over the years. Perhaps the one of which she was the proudest was the Levi Strauss Golden Saddleman Award of the Western Writers of America presented to her in 1982. It is the bronze cowboy displayed in the Eve Ball exhibit in the Archive Center.

There was no generation gap with Eve…she was admired, respected and a go to person for history no matter the time or place. During a Writer’s Conference in the 1970’s in Roswell organized by historian Clarence Adams, Eve was invited to speak. That day a seventh grader was in attendance—he had taken the day off from class and wanted to meet this author who had written his favorite books about Ma’am Jones of the Pecos, and In the Days of Victorio. Both were noted classics in Oral History as was her final book, co-authored with Lynda Sánchez, Indeh, An Apache Odyssey. She gave that young man a big hug and we introduced him to the audience. A rousing applause was given. 

Diversity and trust were part of her talent…she knew some of her sources rode the “outlaw” trail in earlier disputes; knew of buried money from the Mexican Revolution; and was trusted by Apache Warriors who fought so hard for their freedom.  (see youtube video “Apache Warriors Tell Their Side to Eve Ball. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center: https://www.oldpueblo.org) Medicine women and men came to her with their stories. One Apache brought gold bars for her to keep until he returned to claim them. Eve Suspected they were from Victorio Peak!

Eve was a teacher by training. Education was always at the center of what she wrote, spoke about or tried to accomplish no matter the subject or place. She was raised on a cattle ranch in Kansas, worked in the oil business with her brother in Hobbs, operated an antique store and finally she began to write about her experiences and the many folks she had interviewed. She moved to Ruidoso. Eve rode fence to get the Jones family story or at least at first until Sam Jones felt he could trust her with their exciting ranch life in Rocky Arroyo. She interviewed over 75 Apaches and planned several future books. She wrote dozens of articles in between as well.

Today we honor Eve Ball with this exhibit, and the program: “An Archaeological Adventure Exploring Through the Files of Eve Ball” presented by author/historian and friend, Lynda Sánchez. Show and Tell items courtesy of Ms. Sánchez.

Ernestine Chesser Williams was a leading historian at the HSSNM alongside Elvis E.

Fleming. Williams was born in the area, and worked for many years as a school-teacher. She

co-authored several entries in the Treasures of History series with Fleming, and authored

several books on her own, such as Echoes Break the Silence and Chaves County Schools

among others.

Eve Ball was a renowned Ruidoso-area historian who was the first Anglo whom the

Mescalero Apache sat down and shared their histories with, resulting in award winning

books like Indeh: Apache Odyssey and In the Days of Victorio. Ball also chronicled the

history of the Jones family of Seven Rivers, resulting in the much-loved book Ma’am Jones

of the Pecos.

Peggy Stokes found her niche at the HSSNM in the area of Historic Preservation and

historic homes of Roswell, writing numerous articles for the Roswell Daily Record on

historic homes. She often oversaw the Archives in the absence of Elvis E. Fleming, with

Elvis taking Mondays and Fridays, and Peggy taking Wednesdays.

Linda Stockley Weiler was the author of popular local history books on Roswell

buildings including Lost Landmarks of Roswell, Old Places with New Faces (Changing

Facades of Roswell), Relocated Houses of Roswell, and A Few More Places to Remember in

Roswell, NM.

Lou Tomlinson White was much more than just the wife to James Phelps White when

it came to local history and historical preservation. Lou served as President of the HSSNM,

then called the Chaves County Historical Society, from 1945 until 1952.

In the larger scheme of things, Esther Goddard, wife to Dr. Robert H. Goddard,

collected and organized her late husband’s papers, secured patents for his inventions, and

worked with various museums and organizations to establish exhibits and awards. Esther

was also a prominent fixture of many local Roswell clubs and organizations during her time

here as well, such as being a founding member of one of Roswell’s first book clubs.

Amelia Bolton Church was part of the earliest iteration of the Historical Society for

SENM, then called the Chaves County Archeological and Historical Society. In the 1930s,

Church was one of the main forces behind the renovation of the Torreon in Lincoln, NM.

This, among other things, is why a bust of Church was created and installed in the original

Roswell Museum and Art Center.

Dorothy Cave was a historian and author living in Roswell, who penned works such as

God’s Warrior: Father Albert Braun, OFM 1889-1983 and Beyond Courage: One Regiment

Against Japan, 1941-1945 to name only a few.