The Questa Public Library is proud to present our September show, entitled Our Historical Images. Twenty-five locally photographed historical images by WPA artists John Collier, Jr. and Russell Lee will be hung on permanent display at our library. The opening for this display will take place September 7, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The event will be introduced by former New Mexico state historian and native son of Questa, Dr. Estevan Rael-Gálvez, along with Robin Collier, John Collier Jr’s. son and president of Cultural Energy radio, KCEI, in Taos.

During the opening we will have a multitude of activities that focus on the rich cultural significance of the Questa area. Displayed images will be showcased and identified, and the entire Questa WPA collection will continuously play, as a photo loop slideshow.

Community historians will be sharing many archival items, including documents, photos, and objects. The Questa story boxes will be on hand, as well as the Community Memory Lab story collection center. Our youth will be involved by showing their “Who Am I Now?” cyanotype student quilts. Finally, traditional food bites will be shared by local historian and previous history teacher in Questa schools, Flavio Cisneros.
Calling all community historians—the library needs your help! People and places depicted in these historic photographs need community input to help us further identify them. Come share your stories and memories associated with the photographs. What could be better to illuminate history than sharing a poignant memory or a hilarious story?

Join us to help bring the photos to life and deepen our collective understanding of the history and community of the Questa area. We hope to see you at the library on September 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy some traditional snacks and share in our collection of images, voices, and memories from the past.

What was the WPA Program?

In 1929, the stock market crashed and the United States entered the Great Depression. The tourism market in New Mexico crashed as well, and a period of prosperity for artists ended. In the wake of this, educational and vocational programs were developed to promote artistic and economic development in the state.

The Spanish Colonial Arts Society and the Colonial Hispanic Crafts School in Galisteo were both formed in 1929, with the goal of encouraging and promoting traditional Hispanic arts. Traditional arts such as weaving, furniture-making, tinwork, colcha embroidery, and wood carving were taught and promoted. Taos and the smaller villages of northern New Mexico were the centers for these activities, and both traditional and modern artists, philanthropists, intellectuals, and writers were involved in promoting interest in Hispanic arts. Romero de Romero became the best known Hispanic painter from New Mexico during this time.

The Farm Security Administration hired photographers to document rural American lives during the Depression. John Collier, Jr. and Russell Lee took photographs in farming and ranching communities, small villages, and along the highways crossing the state. Their documentary work has inspired many photographers who focus on the vernacular—the everyday life of distinct American cultures and communities.

—from the New Mexico Museum of Art