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Finding Aid of the Alfonso Sanchez papers, 1856-2004University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest ResearchEmail: cswrref@unm.eduURL: http://elibrary.unm.edu/cswr/ © 2008 The University of New Mexico
Biography / History
Alfonso Sanchez was born on February 23, 1928 in Belen, New Mexico. He was one of ten children. His mother died in 1937 and his father remarried soon afterwards. Sanchez joined the military the day after he graduated from high school, serving as a volunteer for two years. With the help of the GI Bill, Sanchez began college and joined the enlisted reserves. He was activated and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War for another two years. Upon his return from the war, Sanchez completed his law degree at the University of New Mexico (1957). He then became the Assistant District Attorney in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He resigned after several years in this position and began private practice. On May 12, 1962, Sanchez married his wife, Cecilia. In November of the same year, he was elected as New Mexico State Representative. In 1963, Governor Jack Campbell appointed Sanchez District Attorney of the First Judicial District consisting of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos Counties. Sanchez served as the District Attorney in Tierra Amarilla during the time of La Alianza Federal de las Mercedes' raid of the Rio Arriba County courthouse. Sanchez knew many members of La Alianza and its leader, Reies Lopez Tijerina prior to the raid which occurred after Sanchez prohibited a scheduled meeting of La Alianza and several group members were arrested. In response, La Alianza issued an arrest warrant for Sanchez and intended to fulfill their citizen's arrest against Sanchez at the Rio Arriba Courthouse when the raid occurred. Sanchez prosecuted members of La Alianza. He collected legal documents and research detailing the Tierra Amarilla land struggle. Beginning in law school, when he became friends with Vicente Ximenes and Hector P. Garcia, Sanchez became active with the GI Forum and numerous other community organizations. He helped to organize De Vargas Savings and Loan Association and Charter Bank of Santa Fe as a response to what he felt were discriminatory loan practices in local banks. He also helped to organize the SER Jobs for Progress project, which helps train young Chicanos and matches them with employers on a national level. In the early 1960s, Sanchez implemented an in-school program to try to motivate children to grow up with respect for the law. Sanchez has continued to practice law privately since the Rio Arriba Courthouse raid. In 2007, he received an award from the University of New Mexico, marking his 50 years of practicing law. As of April 2008, Sanchez continues to be involved in his community and local church. He also enjoys working on a Civil War memorial on his property near Glorieta, New Mexico. Alfonso and Cecilia Sanchez reside in Santa Fe, they have three daughters, a son, and several grandchildren. Source: Interviews with Misty Ring, 2007 Arrangement3 series: Alfonso Sanchez Life Narrative; Tierra Amarilla/Land Grant/Court Documents; Reies Lopez Tijerina Scope and ContentThe first part of the Alfonso Sanchez papers consists of biographical information about Alfonso Sanchez, including his own life narratives, news clippings, photographs, and various documents and certificates. The second half of the collection concerns the Tierra Amarilla Grant in Rio Arriba County, N.M. as well as Reies Lopez Tijerina, and the Alianza Federal de las Mercedes. These legal/court documents, news clippings, photographs, and large posters and maps chronicle the land grant struggle in Rio Arriba County. The collection is arranged in three series: Alfonso Sanchez Life Narrative includes Sanchez's written recollections, prepared in anticipation of writing his life story. The narrative is episodic and photographs and news clippings are attached to many entries. Audio of three oral interviews with Sanchez, conducted by Misty Ring in 2007 is also included in this series. Tierra Amarilla/Land Grant/Court Documents is comprised largely of legal and court documents regarding the Tierra Amarilla land grant. This series includes documentation of Alfonso Sanchez's tenure as an attorney for the Tierra Amarilla Mutual Domestic Water Consumer Association, as well as Sanchez's research on the land grant, case notes, and correspondence. Reies Lopez Tijerina series consists of collected documents on Alianza Federal de las Mercedes leader, Reies Lopez Tijerina, including legal documents originating during the Rio Arriba County Courthouse investigation. A number of documents collected by Sanchez pre-date the Tierra Amarilla land grant struggle and detail Reies Lopez Tijerina's family history and early adulthood. In addition, this series contains news clippings documenting Tijerina's capture, trial, and life after the 1960s. RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThe collection is open for research. Copy RestrictionsLimited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. Duplication of recordings permitted only with written permission from artist, performer, interviewer and interviewee, tribal authority, or current holder of intellectual property rights. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Preferred CitationAlfonso Sanchez papers (MSS 803). Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Separated MaterialOriginal reel to reels stored in B3. Related MaterialReies Tijerina papers. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Peter Nabokov papers. Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. David Correia Research papers.Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Access TermsAlianza Federal de Pueblos Libres (U.S.) Alianza Federal de las Mercedes. Hispanic Americans -- New Mexico -- Land tenure -- History -- 20th century. Land grants -- New Mexico -- Tierra Amarilla -- History -- 20th century. Land grants -- New Mexico -- Tierra Amarilla -- Sources. Land titles -- New Mexico -- Tierra Amarilla Region -- History. Mexican Americans -- Civil rights. Mexico. Treaties, etc. United States, 1848 Feb. 2. New Mexico -- Politics and government -- 1951- Political activists -- New Mexico. Protest movements -- New Mexico -- History -- 20th century. Trials (Political crimes and offenses) -- New Mexico Contents ListLife Narrative, 1949-2004
Tierra Amarilla/Land Grant/Court Documents, 1856-2002
Reies Lopez Tijerina, 1964-2002
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