George Amos Godfrey Papers,

As a leader in the cattle industry, George Godfrey's papers reflect the concerns of New Mexico cattlemen in the 1940s and 1950s. Problems with the federal government over administration of the public lands, particularly Forest Service lands, are discussed, as to the general fear of extensive federal regulation of the livestock industry. Another real problem faced by New Mexico cattlemen during this era was the threat of foot and mouth disease being brought into this county from Mexico. Consequently, Godfrey, as an active member and officer of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, was frequently in communication with the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, and State, as well as with numerous local and state agencies, and cattlemen's associations in other states. As a result, this collection provides an excellent picture of the relationship between the federal government and ranchers.

Not only is this collection a good source for agricultural history, but it provides an interesting look at some national legislation introduced by important political figures. One example of this is the extensive correspondence Godfrey carried on with political figures concerning John F. Kennedy's labor bill introduced in 1958. The cattlemen opposed this legislation but were more supportive of the forestry bill sponsored by Lyndon Johnson during the same time period. Among Godfrey's political correspondents were Representatives Thomas G. Morris, John J. Dempsey and Antonio Fernandez; Senators E. L. Mechem, Dennis Chavez, Clinton P. Anderson and Carl Hatch; as well as Governors Jack M. Campbell, Ed Mechem and Thomas Mabry.

A strength of the Godfrey Papers is the wealth of information it provides on the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association since only minimal records of the organization are extant. Not only did the association provide a forum for the state's leading cattlemen to express their viewpoints, but the correspondence, speeches, reports, programs, newsletters and press releases document the uncertainty and economic problems faced by New Mexico ranchers following World War II (one of which was the military takeover of grazing lands). As an officer of this organization, Godfrey corresponded with many prominent New Mexicans, including A. D. Brownfield, Roger B. Corbett, Floyd W. Lee, Hugh M. Milton III, Albert K. Mitchell and W. P. Thorpe.

Godfrey also was active in the American National Cattlemen's Association (formerly the American National Live Stock Association), and frequently corresponded with members of the New Mexico Wool Growers Association. Other organizations in which he took an active part (as shown by the materials in the collection) include the Border States Foot and Mouth Disease Board, Cattle Sanitary Board of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau.

In addition to this organizational information, the collection also contains some ranch records. The oldest of these is an account book dating from 1914 and there are a few records dated as late as 1974; however the bulk of the ranch records are from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

The collection has been divided into two sub-groups, "Godfrey Ranch" and "Ranching Organizations." The first sub-group, Godfrey Ranch, contains Godfrey's personal and business papers, and is further divided into eight series: Correspondence, Legal documents, Financial documents, Reports, Speeches, Maps, Printed materials, and Miscellany. The other sub-group, Ranching Organizations, is divided by organization. There is necessarily a great deal of overlap in the subject matter of the two sub-groups, since the issues with which the organizations were dealing were the same issues which concerned Godfrey in the management of his own ranch. Therefore a researcher would be well advised to use a wide approach.