Taos County Historical Society
The Taos County Historical Society’s August program, “B. C. Hernandez: From Taos to Washington, D. C.,” by Virginia Dodier is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, in the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Boardroom, 118 Cruz Alta Rd., Taos. The talk is free for Taos County Historical Society members with a suggested donation of $5 for non-members.
Born in Taos in 1862, Benigno Cardenas (B.C.) Hernandez spent his long life adhering to the principle of the family motto: ”While resting, make adobes.” The son of an adobe mason from Chihuahua, Mexico, B.C. worked at the Ojo Caliente springs, was a sheriff and county clerk, a sheep man, a politico, a U.S. Congressman, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in New Mexico, and an organizer for the League of United Latin American Citizens. The town of Hernandez, made famous by Ansel Adams, was named for him. He instilled in his devoted family — who called him “Daddy Dear” — a reverence for public service and a fierce pride in their heritage.
Virginia Dodier, his great-granddaughter, will draw from family stories as well as public records, in her presentation. Virginia Dodier is a retired libraries, archives and museums professional. She has lived in Taos since 2018 and serves on the Archival Committee and Program Committee of the Taos County Historical Society.
The Taos County Historical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1953. Its mission is to “preserve the history of the Taos area.” Membership is open to anyone upon the payment of annual dues. Visit the Society’s website www.taoscountyhistoricalsociety.org for additional information.
