Biography

Concha Ortiz y Pino was born on 23 May 1910 at the family Hacienda de Ganado in Galisteo, New Mexico. Childhood was a formative period for Concha under the guardianship of her grand-mother, who served as village doctor, nurse, counselor, and social worker all in one. Thus, she was very early on exposed to social, economic and political problems of disadvantaged people - mainly of Hispanic origin - in poverty-striken New Mexico. Her formal education began at Loretto Academy and was continued at the University of New Mexico and for some time at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

In the thirties, during the depression, she began to revive New Mexican folklore, arts and crafts, to renew the interest in it as well as to give some artisans the possibility to earn some money. In 1937, Concha was elected to the New Mexico State Legislature where she stayed on until 1942. She was appointed to various House committees and in 1940 was the first woman to become the "Majority Whip" in a State Legislature. During her tenure in office, she was interested in bilingual education for children (which cost her bitter fights with the League of United Latin American Citizens [LULAC]) and in better relations to New Mexico's neighbors to the south.

Marriage to Victor Kleven in 1943 and defeat in her third attempt to become reelected did not slow down her social, political, and economic activities. Besides being involved in numerous social affairs and having served in many social and political associations, committees, and commissions, she ran the family ranch for several years in Agua Verde, until 1956 when her husband died and she returned to Albuquerque.

Back in Albuquerque, she became heavily involved in community work and ever since then has served on civic boards, committees, councils, and/or commissions. Mrs. Kleven has received many honors for her engagements in political and social affairs.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of photographs of Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, New Mexican Hispanic-American cultural and policitcal leader, her family, friends, and events in her life. Included are: portraits from childhood, showing first communion and graduation from a Catholic elementary school; family and family gatherings; friends and political leaders such as Speaker of the House George Armijo, Adj. Gen. Osborne Wood, Govs. Miles, Tingley, Carruthers, and Dewey (of N.Y.), Senators Chavez, Montoya, Anderson, and Dominici, President Kennedy and King Juan Carlos of Spain. Also depicted are Bishop Robert Sanchez, photographer Ansel Adams, Indian artist Pop Chalee, writer Erna Fergusson, and Hillary Rodham Clinton

Events include her induction into the New Mexico Women's Hall of Fame and ceremonies related to the restoration of the altarpiece in the Cathedral at Santa Fe. Some photos bear the stamp of the Coronado Cuarto Centennial in 1940 and depict events associated with that celebration

An interesting photo shows a trailer used during the Roosevelt/ Garner Presidential campaign which bears their portraits and the legend "Roosevelt Caravan." Other photos show Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven working on the family ranch, with Frank Baca, Victor Kleven, and scenes of Galisteo, N.M., including the church.

An addition to the collection was processed in April 2016.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for copyright compliance. For more information see the Photographs and Images Research Guide and contact the Pictorial Archivist.

Preferred Citation

Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven Photograph Collection (PICT 000-457), Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico

Separated Material

Photos were separated from the Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven Papers.

Access Terms

Chalee, Pop -- Pictorial works

Chavez, Dennis, 1888-1962 -- Pictorial works

Dominici, Pete -- Pictorial works

Montoya, Joseph M., 1915-1978 -- Pictorial works

Adams, Ansel, 1902-

Artists -- New Mexico -- Pictorial works

Cathedrals -- New Mexico -- Santa Fe -- Pictorial works

Coronado Cuarto Centennial Commission -- Pictorial works

Galisteo (N.M.) -- Pictorial works

Hispanic American women -- Pictorial works

Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910- -- Pictorial works

Pictorial works

Politicians -- New Mexico -- Pictorial works

Women political activists -- New Mexico -- Pictorial works

Contents List