Ralph E. Twitchell

Ralph Emerson Twitchell (1859–1925) was an American attorney, historian, and politician who served as the mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico and chairman of the Rio Grande Commission, which drafted a treaty between the United States and Mexico leading to the building of the Elephant Butte Dam. Twitchell helped organize the first National Irrigation Congress in 1891. He is credited with rescuing the Spanish Archives from the territorial capitol building when it caught fire on May 12, 1892, and also designing the first Flag of New Mexico in 1915.[1]

For the modernist architect, see Ralph Twitchell.

Ralph E. Twitchell
3rd Mayor of Santa Fe
In office
1893–1894
Preceded byManuel Valdez
Succeeded byJ.H. Sloan
Personal details
Born(1859-11-29)November 29, 1859
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Died(1925-08-26)August 26, 1925
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican Party (United States)
Spouse(s)Margaret Olivia Collins
Estelle Bennett Burton
EducationUniversity of Kansas (BA)
University of Michigan (LLB)

Early life and education

Ralph Emerson Twitchell was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to David Sawin and Delia Scott Twitchell.[2] He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and his L.L.B. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Career

He first moved to New Mexico Territory in 1882, settling in Las Vegas, New Mexico to work in the law office of Henry L. Waldo.[2] In 1897, Governor Miguel Otero appointed him judge advocate of the New Mexico militia and granted him the title of colonel. For the remainder of his life, Twitchell was always addressed respectfully as "colonel."[3]

From 1889 to 1892 he was District Attorney for the First Judicial District.[2] For forty-three years Twitchell worked in the legal department of the Santa Fe Railroad. In 1921, he was appointed special counsel for the United States Attorney General,[2] specializing in Native American and water rights cases.[4]

Twitchell was involved with numerous organizations in Santa Fe. He sat on the Board of Regents of the Museum of New Mexico. He founded and edited a historical quarterly called Old Santa Fe: A Magazine of History, Archaeology, Genealogy and Biography, which covered the activities of the Museum of New Mexico, Historical Society of New Mexico, and the Santa Fe branch of the School of American Archaeology. As President of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce from 1920-1922 he helped revive the Santa Fe Fiesta.[2]

Personal life

In 1885, he married Margaret Olivia Collins.[5][6] He died August 25, 1925, at the age of 68 in Los Angeles, California.[4][7][8]

Bibliography
  • Twitchell, Ralph Emerson (1912). Leading Facts of New Mexico's History. Vol. 2. Cedar Rapids, Ia.: The Torch Press. OCLC 14987171.
  • Twitchell, Ralph Emerson (1914). The Spanish Archives of New Mexico. New York: Arno Press. OCLC 2188907.
  • Old Santa Fe
  • Twitchell, Ralph Emerson (1929). Genealogy of the Twitchell Family. New York, N.Y.: H.K. Twitchell. OCLC 260076039.

References
  1. "The meaning of our state flag | Roswell Daily Record | Roswell Area News". Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  2. Jenkins, Myra Ellen (1966). "A Dedication to the Memory of Ralph Emerson Twitchell 1859-1925". Arizona and the West. 8 (2): 103–106. JSTOR 40167196. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  3. Simmons, Marc (August 30, 2008). "The story behind N.M. history author". Santa Fe New Mexican. ProQuest 331750486. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  4. "Former Mayor of Santa Fe Called," Los Angeles Times, August 27, 1925, page A-1 Access to this link may require the use of a library card.
  5. "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V287-35P : 18 January 2020), Ralph E. Twitchell, 1885.
  6. "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ7-KLS2 : 2 October 2019), Ralph E Twitchell and Margaret Olivia Collins, 09 Dec 1885; citing Marriage, Buchanan, Missouri, United States, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City; FHL microfilm 007424541.
  7. "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQW-SGRQ : 26 September 2019), Ralph Emerson Twitchell, 1925.
  8. "California Death Index, 1905-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKSM-NQ94 : 8 November 2017), Ralph E Twitchell, 26 Aug 1925; citing 37335, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento; FHL microfilm 1,686,047.


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