Adelina otero warren biography of george michael
In , Otero-Warren was appointed superintendent of public schools in Santa Fe. She defeated a male opponent to win reelection to the position in and remained in the role until As superintendent, Otero-Warren focused on promoting adult education programs, setting up a county high school, raising teacher standards as well as their salaries, and improving the physical conditions of schools.
She encouraged bicultural education and fought to preserve the study of Hispano arts and crafts. In that role, she criticized the federal government for the poor condition of the schools and argued that the boarding schools threatened Indian family life and cultural stability.
Otero-Warren, known in the state as a dedicated and skilled public servant, also took part in numerous commissions and boards devoted to public health and welfare during this time. Meadors died in , but Otero-Warren ran the ranch and the business until her death in In , Otero-Warren was featured on a U. Sus padres, Manuel B. Cahill, Cathleen D.
Accessed November, 24, August 20, At a time when many Progressive activists sought the integration of industrial education into the curriculum, Otero-Warren's approach emphasized doing this in a way that infused local culture into artisan training e. Increased literacy, she argued, would help residents be better citizens.
She aimed to merge and create a transcultural bridge to better civic circumstances. She also created a program at Borinquen Field for sailors, soldiers, Air Force, and marines in the United States to familiarize them with the Spanish language. In the s and s, she also worked preserve historic structures in Santa Fe and Taos.
During this time she made connections with a variety of artists, writers, and intellectuals in this area of New Mexico.
Adelina otero warren biography of george michael wikipedia
Throughout her life, she continued to promote and celebrate Hispanic and Native cultures, arts, and languages. During the mids, Otero-Warren focused on writing. In Otero-Warren expressed her view on education as well as her cultural awareness in the printed May issue of Survey Graphic published as Otero-Warren Otero.
She discussed her youth on the ranch, where she formed her self-sufficient and independent character. This record along with her less political works with the communities in Santa Fe and Taos to protect historic landmarks and art as well as more modern efforts in artistic communities, show her versatile appreciation for politics, education, art, and business.
In her writing, Mexicans in Our Midst: Newest and Oldest Settlers of the Southwest , she illustrated the beauty of her homeland and culture to a vast audience. In the s, she developed a relationship with Mamie Meadors. Meadors, seeking relief from tuberculosis, moved to Santa Fe in She joined Otero-Warren's campaign in as a volunteer, and later was hired as Otero-Warren's assistant to help with her work as inspector of Native American schools.
While they lived in different homes on the same homestead, they spent much of their time together, and were known as "Las Dos" "The Two". She remained focused on selling homes and did so until her death at the age of eighty-three. Even in her old age she was always a financial support for those around her. Her legacy continued after her death on January 3, It remains a symbol and tribute to Otero-Warren.
In , the United States Mint announced that Otero-Warren would be among the first women depicted on the reverse of the quarter as a part of the American Women quarters series. Contents move to sidebar hide.
Adelina Otero-Warren - Wikipedia: María Adelina Isabel Emilia "Nina" Otero-Warren (October 23, – January 3, ) was an American woman's suffragist, educator, and politician. Otero-Warren created a legacy of civil service through her work in education, politics, and public health.
Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. There had been some woman-suffrage legislation introduced to New Mexico's congressmen in , , and , but without success. When New Mexico became in the forty-seventh state in , women were still disfranchised.
In fact, in , with the advent of American laws in New Mexico, all married women lost the community property rights they had had under Spanish and Mexican laws. Nina was a minority in the primarily Anglo National Association of Women's Clubs when they decided to join forces with the more militant Congressional Union in the pursuit of votes for women.
Nina was not always on board with some of the views of liberal-leaning CU members, but she was one of six key Hispanas chosen to encourage Hispanic women to join the movement in New Mexico. Nina employed persuasive arguments and was not above a bit of arm-twisting, but did not antagonize men needlessly. Thanks to her family's political background, she knew her way around governmental bureaucracy.
It wasn't easy to keep the voting issue in people's minds after the United States entered WWI in , but the Nineteenth Amendment was passed by the U. Congress in Nina and her comrades hoped New Mexico would be one of the first states to ratify the amendment. It was not to be. But, when New Mexico became the thirty-second state to approve the Nineteenth Amendment in , Nina received a personal telegram from vocal women's rights activist Alice Paul: "Congratulations on New Mexico's victory All women in the country are indebted to you on your splendid leadership We have deepest admiration for your campaign.
In , New Mexico passed an amendment to the state constitution granting women the right to hold office. Nina, fresh off her voting rights campaign and victories in securing legislation to improve education in the state, was chosen by Republican women to run for a seat in the U. House of Representatives. She announced her candidacy, despite already serving as the Santa Fe County school superintendent, chairman of the state board of public welfare of the State Federation of Women's clubs, and executive committee member of the New Mexico Teacher's Association.
Her platform included better education, finding solutions to labor problems, and enforcing Prohibition. She easily beat the Republican incumbent, but her Democratic opponent defeated her by less than 9 percent. Nina accepted her loss graciously. She still had many business and social commitments, including the Santa Fe County School system.
Her superintendency involved visits to neighboring communities and bookkeeping, and she decided she needed assistance. She found two women to work as her assistants but who became lifelong friends - Alice Corbin Henderson, co-founder of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse , who introduced Nina to the leading artists and writers of Santa Fe in the twenties, and Mamie Meadors, an efficient and trustworthy woman who became Nina's most faithful confidante.
Mamie's help became critical when Nina was appointed the first female inspector of Indian schools in Santa Fe County during a period when Native Americans were being threatened by the Bursum Bill. Nina retained this office only two years. It is thought that her vocal criticisms of the federal system of Native American education and the shocking state of the facilities children were housed in irritated members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Though her beliefs included a somewhat biased view of early Spain's legacy to the Indians, throughout the rest of her life she continued to associate with and be influenced by those who championed Native American rights. It was during this period that Nina's involvement with literary circles in Santa Fe increased. Her social life included legendary birthday parties and Santa Fe Fiesta Eve celebrations as well as helping to stage a parade that poked fun at local dignitaries as part of the amusement committee of the Santa Fe Fiesta.
However, it was the civic-minded aspect of the art colony that really attracted her, such as author Mary Austin's commitment to the growing community of Santa Fe, including working for innovative public school curricula.. She told everyone in Santa Fe she was a widow when she returned to living there; keeping her hyphenated married name to keep up appearances.
Adelina otero warren biography of george michael
Adelina was successful because she fought for suffrage literature to be published in both English and Spanish, in order for the message to reach the largest audience possible. Adelina immediately launched a campaign to be the Republican Party Nominee for the House of Representatives in becoming the first Latina to run for national office.
She secured the nomination but ended up losing the election by less than nine percent.