Join our neighbors, the El Paso County Historical Society in celebrating Women's History Month with a local flair! *Update EPCHS closed until further notice as of 3/18/2020, but you can visit their online exhibit

Visit the Online Exhibit of Women as Social Agents of Change: El Paso Social Housekeepers, 1880-1930

On March 7, 2020 at 12:00 pm, the El Paso County Historical Society welcomes the public to the grand opening of “Women as Social Agents of Change: El Paso Social Housekeepers, 1880-1930,” an exhibit about El Paso suffragettes who advanced women’s involvement in society through activism in the late 19^th and 20^th centuries. The event, which will take place at the Burges House (603 W. Yandell), will be followed at 2:30 pm by a talk by archivist Susan Novick titled “Charity Work and Civic Improvement: Jewish Women’s Activism in El Paso from 1889-1930.” Later in the month, on March 28, 2020 at 11:00 am, UTEP professor Dr. Elisabeth Sommer and local researcher Kathy Pepper will present a talk titled “Modern Woman: Historical Trends in Fashion, 1880-1920” at the Burges House.

Women’s History Month began in Santa Rosa, California in 1978 as a week-long observance. Today, it is celebrated nationally throughout the month of March and is established by presidential proclamation. Women’s History Month is meant to honor the women who transformed the United States through their vision, perseverance, and actions.

“The events to be held at the historical society underscore the local roots of Women’s History Month. So many important local women of different backgrounds have made El Paso and the Southwest better because of their efforts to further the suffrage movement and promote charity work,” says Joseph Longo, curator at the El Paso County Historical Society.

Each event is family friendly, free, and open to the public. Individuals who cannot attend the opening of the exhibit can visit the Burges House (603 W. Yandell), headquarters of the El Paso County Historical Society, Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm. The exhibit will run throughout March 2020.

Please call 915-533-3603 or email epchs@elpasohistory.com for more information.

Renovation Awareness *Updated 3/17/2020

Changes are coming to Main Library.

*UPDATED March 17, 2020

In an effort to offer a longer notice period for patrons who have not been made aware of availability changes, the final date of availability for any reference resources located in the Perrenot Room including Southwest Reference Books, Architectural Drawing, Archives, Photos, and Postcards will be available through Friday March 20, 2020. 

Saturday March 21, 2020, there will be no materials accessible for reference or patron usage.

Please be aware that due to current public health guidelines established by the CDC, the patron capacity for library facilities has been greatly reduced. Patrons may experience wait times to enter the facility and computer usage is limited to one hour sessions per person a day.  

In anticipation of the City's Mexican American Cultural Center co-location project, Main Library will undergo a renovation creating new collection/service/work spaces. The renovation will affect Border Heritage's collection availability throughout its duration since Border Heritage will be moved temporarily to Main Library's Mezzanine. As space will be limited, only a small portion of Border Heritage materials will be available throughout the renovation.

This selection is expected to include:

• The El Paso Times, Lone Star, and Herald Post microfilm
• The library's newspaper indexes
• The El Paso Vertical Files, the Citizens Vertical Files, and the Mexico Vertical Files
• A selection of circulating materials
• Historical Maps
• A portion of the El Paso City Directory Collection  

Border Heritage will continue to offer reference services and research assistance (in a limited capacity) as well.

Unfortunately, Border Heritage's archival materials and special collections will be unavailable throughout the renovation. These include:

• The Reference Southwest Collection
• The Reference RAZA Collection
• The Reference Genealogy Collection
• The Southwest/RAZA/Genealogy Periodicals
• The microfilm/fiche collection with the exception of the El Paso Times, El Paso Herald Post, and Lone Star
• Photograph Collections
• Architectural Drawing Collections
• Yearbook Collection
• Postcard Collections
• The great majority of the El Paso City Directory Collection
• The Southwest Vertical Files, El Paso Municipal Files, and El Paso Public Library Files
• All archival papers, records, and collections

Beginning February 24, 2020 access to Border Heritage's Reference Southwest Collection and archival materials will be limited as work to reorganize and shift materials in Border Heritage's Perrenot Room will begin.

On March 2, 2020, the Perrenot Room and all of its contents (Reference Southwest, archival materials, etc.) will be inaccessible until Main Library reopens after the renovation.

We thank you for your past patronage, and look forward to your continued visits throughout the renovation! Please contact Border Heritage with any questions or concerns and for additional information.

El Paso at Sea: USS El Paso

USS El Paso

Photo from the El Paso Times

The USS El Paso was in fact named after the city and county of El Paso. Her initial launch was on May 17, 1969 and she was later decommissioned April 21, 1994. The USS El Paso was not the only vessel from the fleet to bear the namesake of the Sun City. Previously, a patrol frigate built in 1943 had taken the name of El Paso.

The commissioning of the ship was a major historical event, which can been seen through the plans made for El Pasoans to be in attendance. American Airlines chartered a jet to deliver El Pasoans to the commissioning in Norfolk, Virginia for a fee of $121.24 at a 53% discount. The commissioning took place January 17, 1970.

For More Information Visit These Resources:

• El Paso Vertical File USS El Paso
• El Paso Times Microfilm
• El Paso Herald Post Microfilm

Mount Cristo Rey

Mount Cristo Rey is an iconic monument for three states: Chihuahua, Texas, and New Mexico. The establishment of a local pilgrimage began with the parishioners and leader, Monsignor Lourdes F. Costa, of the Smeltertown Church of San Jose. Even before the statue and path up the mountain had been erected, small groups endured the treacherous journey up the mountain on their pilgrimage. The idea of establishing a pilgrimage and building such a monument is credited to Father Costa.

One of the earliest changes that occurred in this project was the name. Before, the area was known as Cerros de los Muleros or Mule Drivers Mountain. It was through a petition that the pariush submitted to the government that the mountain would forever be known as Mount Cristo Rey or Sierra de Cristo Rey. Not only did the community of Smeltertown pave the way for easier travels by serving as the main voluntary workforce, they also helped raise a large sum of financial donations to fund the project.

Costa turned to fellow Spaniard Urbici Soler, an accomplished sculptor, when it came time to design and build the monument for the top of Mount Cristo Rey. The limestone which makes up the 29 foot statue came from a quarry in Austin, Texas. The commitment of Soler to his project was notable through his daily schedule when working on the sculpture. Every day he would begin work at 4 a.m. and continue working until sundown through the project's completion.

The project was a success as it has served as a pilgrimage location since 1939. The pilgrimage continues every October.

To Learn More Seek these Sources:

• To view more images of Cristo Rey past and present day see the Cristo Rey Picture File or the DIGIE.
• El Paso Vertical File - Cristo Rey
• El Paso Vertical File - Priests
• Calleros Collection
•  More library materials.
• http://mtcristorey.com/

Family Day: DIGIE 2020

El Paso Museum of HistoryDIGIE

The El Paso Museum of History is celebrating the five year anniversary of their Digital Wall. It serves as a digital archive accessible online, but more notably through their interactive wall on the Hunt Family Pavilion. The DIGIE can also be accessed through a travelling Mini DIGIE which is placed at various locations throughout the city. This digital wall is the only one of its kind in the United States. To learn more follow the link here.

Thank you to the El Paso Museum of History for inviting Border Heritage Center to participate in their celebration.