Old Spain in Our Southwest: Facsimile of the Original 1936 Edition

Nina Otero-Warren's Spanish conquistador ancestors dramatically altered the social and political landscape in Santa Fe, New Mexico more than three hundred years before she herself made waves as a twentieth-century suffragist, educator, political leader, and businesswoman. She became one of New Mexico's first female government officials when she served as Santa Fe Superintendent of Instruction from 1917 to 1929, repairing school buildings and increasing teacher salaries. She was the first Latina to run for Congress, running in 1922 as the Republican Candidate to represent the state of New Mexico. She was appointed as state director of the federal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) by President Franklin Roosevelt. In 1930 she became the Director of Literacy Education for the CCC and worked to increase bilingual education.But Otero-Warren's contributions to her community were not just in the political realm. She headed efforts to preserve historic structures in Santa Fe and Taos and built close ties with the artists, writers, and intellectuals who congregated in the area during the 1930s and 1940s. She was instrumental in renewing interest in and respect for Hispanic and Indian culture, which had for a time faced scorn and ridicule. Her book, "Old Spain in Our Southwest" (1936), recorded her memories of the family hacienda in Las Lunas. She continued her life at Las Dos as a businesswoman, educator, writer, and political activist until her death in 1965.In 2021, the United States Mint announced that Otero-Warren would be among the first women depicted on the reverse of the quarter as part of the American Women quarters series. She is the first Hispanic American to appear on US currency.