Altar (Ofrenda)
These altars are made to honor loved ones who have died.
On Halloween night, children that have passed are believed to return and stay
through November 1st, while adults who have passed visit November 2nd.
It has been said that the animals will come and visit on October 27 if you put out an ofrenda for them
Our ofrenda is dedicated to some of those that have made an impact on the El
Paso Public Library, Border Heritage Center, and the El Paso Community.
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| Front of Ofrenda |
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| Back of Ofrenda |
Decoative cut paper used that also represents the element 'air.'
Butterflies (Mariposas)
Symbolic icon representing the belief in some areas of Mexico that when the deceased leaves this world and passes to eternal life their souls return as butterfies.
Cempasúchitl (Flor de Muerto)
This flower, also known as the marigold, is used to decorate graves and altars
as the odor is said to attract and guide the spirits who come to visit their
mortal loved ones. Can also represent the element 'earth.'
Candles & Copal
To help guide the way for the spirits and also represent the element 'fire.'
Tapestries (Tapete de Arena)
Sand sculptures, or tapestries, are a vital part of the celebration in some
regions of Mexico. These tapestries can be created with sand, pigment,
flowers, etc.
Ours depicts the El Paso Public Library logo drawn
with colored sand, puffy paint, and various flowers and petals.
Water
There is a jar of water to quench the thirst of the spirits who visit and
also symbolizes the element 'water.'
Offerings
On the ofrenda are various offerings to the dearly departed and are
generally items they enjoyed in life. Food can also represent the
element 'earth'.
Our offerings included copal, tea, coffee, flowers (to represent gardening), cat
statue (to represent animals), and a fake ice cream scoop to represent pan
de muerto.
⭐Check out the video of our ofrenda on Facebook⭐
Those on the Ofrenda / Ellos en la ofrenda:
Mark Pumphrey 2010-2019
Mark was a native of Carlisle, Kentucky and made El Paso his home since
2010.
He was the deputy director and later, the director of the El Paso Public
Library for several years until his retirement in 2019. During his
tenure in his various directorial positions, Pumphrey had been instrumental
in the growth of adult education services and continuing literacy programs
that also supported economic development in the City of El Paso.
Instituted the Career Online High School Program in 2014 to offer El Paso
residents a way to obtain their high school diploma with a career
certification.
Helped create the Literacy Centers career and entrepreneurial program
WorkPLACE (Public Literacy Access to Careers and Entrepreneurship) in 2018
While serving as interim public library director he was influential in the
library receiving the 2017 Excellence in Library Award from the Texas
Municipal Library Directors Association
Mark era un native de Carlisle, Kentucky y llegó a El Paso desde
2010.
Trabajó como director de la biblioteca pública de El Paso por varios años
hasta su retiro en 2019. Pumphrey fué clave instrumental en la
educación para adultos y programas de alfabetización, los cuales
contribuyeron para el desarrollo económico de la ciudad de El Paso.
En 2014 creó el programa de preparatoria en línea
En 2018, ayudó a crear el Centro de Alfabetización y Carreras, conocido
en inglés como WorkPLACE (Public Literacy Access to Careers and
Entrepreneurship)
En 2017, mientras servía como director interino de las bibliotecas,
gracias a él y a otros factores, la Biblioteca Pública de El Paso
recibió el premio 2017 de Excelencia Bibliotecaria por parte de la
Asociación Municipal de Directores Bibliotecarios de Texas
James "Jim" Prezepasniak 2001-2009
Served as Main Library Administrator and as a Deputy Director of Library Services
He was instrumental in overseeing Main Library’s expansion in 2004
In 2002, under his direction, the library introduced its first online catalog, SOS (Service-On-Line
Active member of multiple organizations such as the American Library Association (ALA), Texas Library Association (TLA), Border Regional Library Association (BRLA), Border Regional Archives Group (BRAG), REFORMA, Library Leadership and Management Association, OCLC Cataloguing Advisory Committee, Northwest Interlibrary Cooperative of Pennsylvania, Northwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Library Association, and Illinois Library Association
He also received multiple certificates to include Archives & Records Management, Paper Preservation, Ethnic Studies, Ethnography, and Performer’s.
Jim past away in 2009
Administrador de la biblioteca principal. Director de servicios bibliotecarios
Influencial en la expasión de la biblioteca principal en 2004
En el 2002, bajo su dirección, la bilbioteca introdujo su primer catálogo in línea - SOS (Service-On-Line)
Miembro activo de la Sociedad Americana de Bibliotecas, La Asociación de Bibliotecas de Texas (TLA), Associación (BRLA), Grupo Regional de Archivos de la Frontera (BRAG), REFORMA, Asociación de Administración de Bibliotecas, OCLC Comité de Consejo para Catálogos
Se certificó en Control de Archivos y Preservación de Papel y más
Jim falleció en 2009
Mary A. Sarber 1975-1997
Collector of Southwest fiction
Managed the Southwest collection development
Southwest Section Librarian
Served as an Interim Director of The El Paso Public Library for several years
Member of the Border Regional Library Association
Book editor and writer
Border Books columnist for The El Paso Times newspaper
Member of the El Paso County Historical Commission
Created the Border Heritage Center by combining the Southwest, RAZA, and Genealogy collections
Initiated the Border Regional Library Association Southwest Book Awards
Advocated for buildings designed by Architect Henry Trost in downtown El Paso, to be added to the National Register of Historical Places
Author of “Photographs from the Border” book published by The El Paso Library Association in 1977
Retired from the library in 1997
Coleccionaba libros de ficción relacionados a el suroeste de Texas
Coordinaba la colección de el suroeste de la biblioteca
Sirvió como directora interina de la biblioteca pública de El Paso por varios años
Miembra active de la Asociación Fronteriza Regional de las Bibliotecas
Editora y escritora
Columnista para el periódico de El Paso Times en la sección Border Books
Miembra active de la Comisión Histórica de el condado de El Paso
Creó el Centro de la Herencia Fronteriza
Inició los premios literarios de Asociación Fronteriza Regional de las Bibliotecas
Abogó porque se reconocieran los edificios diseñados por el arquitecto Henry Trost en el centro de El Paso, como parte de el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Autora de el libro “Photographs from the Border” publicado por La Asociación de Bibliotecas en 1977 Se retiró de la biblioteca en 1997
Se retiró de la biblioteca en 1997
Mrs. Helen Seymour Farrington 1945-1955
First curator of the El Paso Historical Society
Formerly assistant librarian of The Los Angeles Library Association
Head of the Regional Division embracing five states of the Southwest
Director of the El Paso Public Library in 1945
Interested in a new building with a Southwest architecture
Campaigned to get bond for new building, other services, and book mobile
Conducted historical research for scholars and researchers
Served as President of the Southwest and American Library Association
Retired in 1955
Primera curadora de la Sociedad Histórica de El Paso
Líder de la Division Regional de los estados de la región suroeste
Directora de la biblioteca pública de El Paso en 1945
Mobilizó campañas por fondos para construir una nueva biblioteca con semblanza suroeste, otros programas, y la biblioteca rodante
Asistió a historiadores y estudiantes
Presidenta de la Asociación de el Suroeste y de la Asociación Bibliotecaria Americana
Se retiró en 1955
Miss Mary Irene Stanton 1894-1946
Came to El Paso in 1884
Teacher at El Paso public schools for 32 years; resigned in 1916
Founder of El Paso Public Library
In 1894, with @ 600-800 books from her own personal collection, opened a Boys Reading Club for her students in room 127 of the old Sheldon Hotel in Downtown El Paso
El Paso First president of the El Paso Library Association
Applied for grants
In 1904, she received a $35,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist and philanthropist to build the library’s first independent building at 500 N. Oregon St
Died in 1946
Llegó a El Paso en 1884
Maestra de las escuelas públicas por 32 years; renunció en 1916
Fundadora de la Biblioteca Pública de El Paso
En 1894, con aproximadamente de 600-800 libros de su colección personal, inició un club de lectura para sus estudiantes varones en un cuarto del el Hotel Sheldon en el centro de El Paso
Fué la primera presidenta de la Asociación de Bibliotecas de El Paso
Aplicó para becas de apoyo financiero para mejorar y expander la biblioteca
En 1904, se le otorgó una beca de $35,000 dólares de parte de Andrew Carnegie, un industrialista y filántropo, para ayudar a la construcción de un edificio independiente y propio de la biblioteca
Murió en 1946
Mrs. Maud Durlin Sullivan 1870-1943
Collected mining books to create the Mining Reference Section
Expanded the library’s Art, Archeology, and History Collections
Increased library’s Music collection
Classification of United States Public Documents
Initiated the Mexican/Latin-American history and heritage collection
Learned to speak Spanish language
Expanded the Southwest collection
Received the Carnegie Art Reference set
President of the Texas Library Association from 1923-1925
In 1927 & 1932, traveled to Mexico City and Puerto Rico to study their libraries
Early recognized artists Tom Lea and Jose Cisneros
In 1935, represented the US at the International Congress of Librarians and Biographers in Spain
Wrote various articles, lectures, and speeches throughout her career
Wrote for The El Paso Times and El Paso Herald Post articles on libraries
Lectured art classes at the Art Study Club of the Woman’s Club of El Paso
Died in December 28, 1943
In 1962, inducted into the El Paso Historical Society’s Hall of Honor
Collectó materiales de minería para la sección metalúrgica
Extendió las colecciones de arte, arqueología, música, e historia de la biblioteca
Clasificó los documentos públicos y federales de la nación
Inició la colección Historia y Herencia México/Latino-Americana
Aprendió a hablar en español
Extendió la colección de libros y materiales de el suroeste
Recibió el equipo de referencia Carnegie
Presidenta de la Asociación de Bibliotecas de Texas de 1923-1925
En 1927 & 1932, viajó a la ciudad de México y Puerto Rico para estudiar sus respectivas bibliotecas
Reconoció a los artistas Tom Lea y José Cisneros
En 1935, representó a los Estados Unidos en el Congreso Internacional de Bibliotecarios y Biógrafos en España
Escribió para El Paso Times y El Paso Herald Post sobre bibliotecas
Dió clases de arte en el Club de Estudio de Arte de El Club de Mujeres de El Paso
Murió en Diciembre 28, 1943
En 1962, fué inducida en el salón de la fama de la Sociedad Histórica de El Paso
1887-1902
Mandy was a veteran of the San Antonio street car system
Mandy was known for her stubborn streak than her timeliness
Mandy pulled a trolley across a wooden international bridge into Juárez
Mandy never failed to haul the sole street car of the Village of El Paso
Women stopped Mandy to feed her; children played tag under and around her legs and pulled her tail
Mandy was slow to walk and trot
After riding and waiting for an hour or two, while still hauling passengers, Mandy felt asleep and took sound naps
Mandy was retired in 1902 when the new electric trolley was introduced
Mandy was sent to an irrigated pasture where she spent her last days
Mandy era una veterana de el sistema de transporte en San Antonio
Mandy era famosa por ser testaruda y lenta
Mandy transportó pasajeros en un camioncito de El Paso a Cd. Juárez
Mandy nunca falló en su cabalgata por la Villa de El Paso
Las mujeres la paraban para darle de comer mientras los niños corrían y jubaban por en medio de sus patas
Después de cabalgar por una hora ó dos, Mandy tomaba una siesta mientras transportaba pasajeros
Mandy se retiró en 1902 cuando comenzó a operar el primer tranvía eléctrico
Mandy pasó sus últimos días en un campo de pastura
Digital Ofrenda
from the Nation Museum of the American Latino to honor and celebrate the
lives lost tragically in the Texas communities of Uvalde, San Antonio and El
Paso.
Events and Programing in El Paso
El Paso Museum of Art
The theme for El Paso’s 2024 Día de los Muertos celebrations is Raíces
Ancestrales/Ancestral Roots: a celebration of the diversity of our region’s
cultural heritage that transcends past and present, as well as geography.
The City of El Paso’s Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD)
presents Indigenous influences (both pre- and post-Columbian contact) of Día
de Los Muertos in our programming. MCAD programs, including those at the El
Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Museum of History, El Paso Museum of
Archaeology, and the Mexican American Cultural Center encourage the
community to reflect on their own ancestral roots by honoring the lives,
food, spirits, and traditions of their loved ones who have passed on.
Visit El Paso
Celebrate the heritage of the Borderland! Join us for Día de los Muertos
(Day of the Dead) on November 2, 2024, from 10 am to 2 pm. A vibrant
celebration honoring the lives of loved ones who have passed, Día de los
Muertos is celebrated by families throughout Mexico and Latin America and is
a chance to reflect on the delicate bridge between life and death.
More Information
Dia de los Muertos: Symbols and Traditions
Sugar Skull Instructions
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