Gustav L. Seligmann family papers
Scope andContent
The Gustav L. Seligmann Family Papers span the years 1848-1984. Thecollection has been divided into three series: May Family, Seligmann Family, and Photographs.
The May Family series consists of the papers of John L. and Elizabeth Rohman May,and their children. These materials are largely legal documents concerning land and businessmatters in Las Cruces and surrounding area. Included also is a small amount of memorabilia.
The Seligmann Family series is comprised of the papers of Dirk E. Seligmann and hisson Gustav L. Seligmann. The series is divided into three subseries: Dirk E. Seligmann, GeneralMiscellany, and Gustav L. Seligmann.
Dirk E. Seligmann's materials includecorrespondence in the German language, store records from his Las Cruces dry goods businessand a small amount of papers of his wife, Mary May, and their second son, Dirk E. Seligmann,Jr.
The Gustav L. Seligmann's Papers comprise the bulk of the collection. Includedamong his papers are military, professional and organizational records. Also included aremiscellany artifacts, memorabilia and publications. There are extensive materials from his yearsas an engineer with the Farm Service Administration, Soil Conservation Service and the Bureauof Reclamation. These materials include field notes, maps, charts, blueprints and significantamounts of work-related correspondence. There are no records from the years 1932-1936,representing Seligmann's work in Las Angeles, California, in the collection.
The militaryrecords span the years 1921-1955, encompassing Seligmann's service in the New MexicoNational Guards (1921-1924), and his later service in the United States Army (1942-1955).There are considerable materials from 1942-1946, though Seligmann's postwar activities aresparsely represented.
The final series, Photographs, contains family portraits from boththe May and Seligmann families, scenes and snapshots, as well as an album and loose printsfrom Seligmann's work with the Baja California Canal Company. Also included is a panoramaof the Chicago Cubs from 1915.
Dates
- Creation: 1848-1984
Language of Materials
English.
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may beexamined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for researchpurposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.
The copyrights possessed in this collection have not been transferred to New Mexico StateUniversity.
Biographical Sketch
Gustav L.Seligmann was born September 18, 1900, in Las Cruces, New Mexico Territory, to Dirk E. andMary May Seligmann. Mary Seligmann was the daughter of John L. May and ElizabethRohman, German immigrants who settled in New Mexico in the 1850s. The Mays owned theRio Grande Hotel in Las Cruces, and also operated a general store and brewery. Mary MaySeligmann's siblings include, Annie May Andreas, Vincent B. May, Amelia May Forward, JohnH. May and Ormeda May.
Gustav L. Seligmann received his childhood education in LasCruces and attended high school at the New Mexico Military Institute, in Roswell. He graduatedfrom New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1924 with a degree in civilengineering. Seligmann also served in the New Mexico National Guard while attending NMCAand M.
From 1924-1936, Seligmann was employed in various engineering positions inCalifornia and Mexico. He first worked for the Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial Valley,California, then for the Baja California Canal Co. as their chief field engineer. Seligmann heldseveral engineering jobs in Los Angeles before moving to Amarillo, Texas, in 1936. He wasemployed by the Farm Service Administration and the Soil Conservation Service, as associateengineer for both organizations. From 1940-1942, Seligmann served as an engineer with theBureau of Reclamation in Buffalo, Wyoming. He headed investigations of Powder River Basinin Wyoming and Montana, and the Tongue River in Wyoming.
In 1942, Seligmannjoined the United States Army. During World War II he served as an officer for the CoastArtillery Corps and for several Engineer Aviation Battalions. During the postwar years heserved in Germany and Norway in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. At the time of hisretirement, Col. Seligmann was post engineer at White Sands Proving Ground.
Seligmann was appointed Chairman and Federal Representative of the Arkansas River CompactAdministration by President Richard Nixon in 1972. He resigned from the position thefollowing year due to health concerns
Seligmann was involved in various organizations,including the Retired Officers Association, the Mesilla Valley Iris Society, the Greater LasCruces Property Owners Association, and the Las Cruces Metropolitan Arroyo Flood ControlAuthority.
Seligmann married Edith Potter in 1928, and they had two children: G. L.Seligmann, Jr. and Victoria May Holmes.
Extent
9.5 linear feet (26 Boxes)
Abstract
Graduate of New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts,civil engineer, and a colonel in the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers. Materials include militaryrecords, engineering papers, correspondence, awards and certificates, land deeds, family papers,and personal memorabilia.
Acquisition
- A57 Col. Gustav L. Seligmann, 1974
- RG85-114 G. L. Seligmann, Jr.
- Title
- Register of the Gustav L. Seligmann Family Papers, 1848-1984
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Kelly R. Hays, revised by Marah deMeule and Christine Moreland-Bruhnke
- Date
- © 2001
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//New Mexico State University::Archives and Special Collections//TEXT(US::NmLcU::Ms 256::Gustav L. Seligmann Family Papers)//EN" "nmlcu1ms256.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository