HOUSE MEMORIAL 34

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Ben Lujan

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO AND REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 19, 2009 AS "MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO CENTENNIAL DAY" IN RECOGNITION OF THE CENTENNIAL OF THE MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, February 19, 2009 marks one hundred years since the passage by the 1909 territorial legislature and approval by acting Governor Nathan Jaffe of 1909 House Bill 100, "An Act to Establish a Museum of New Mexico"; and

     WHEREAS, the museum of New Mexico now includes the palace of the governors, dedicated to the museum of New Mexico in 1909; the New Mexico museum of art, opened in 1917; the laboratory of anthropology, opened in 1931; the museum of international folk art, opened in 1953; the museum of Indian arts and culture, opened in 1987; the New Mexico history museum, to be opened Memorial day weekend, 2009; six state monuments, including Jemez, Coronado, Lincoln, Bosque Redondo memorial at Fort Sumner, Fort Selden and El Camino Real international heritage center; two state monuments to be opened in the future, Fort Stanton and Taylor-Barela-Reynolds-Mesilla; and the office of archaeological studies; and

     WHEREAS, the units of the museum of New Mexico formed the beginning of the cultural affairs department, what is now widely considered to be the nation's largest system of state-run museums, historic monuments and other arts and cultural programs; and

     WHEREAS, in 1909, House Bill 100 also established the palace of the governors as the home of the school of American archaeology, which over time became the independent school for advanced research, one of the most important institutional centers for anthropological studies in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, as stated by the first director of the museum of New Mexico, Edgar Lee Hewett, "In no other state of this union is the trend of life so clearly shaped by art as in New Mexico," and "... in restoring our heritage of history, tradition, poetry, folk life, a priceless service is rendered to our state and its people"; and

     WHEREAS, the museum of New Mexico, its constituent units and its extended family in the cultural affairs department protect the enormous and unique cultural heritage of New Mexico, provide outstanding opportunities for learning and education and a better quality of life for all New Mexicans and contribute to a state arts and culture economy that is proportionately larger than in any other state; and

     WHEREAS, on February 19, 2009, the museum of New Mexico, the founding core of the cultural affairs department, celebrates its one hundredth anniversary;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that this anniversary be recognized as a milestone that marks the outstanding commitment of the people and the legislatures of the territory and the state to protect and present New Mexico's cultural heritage; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the past and present employees of the museum of New Mexico and the cultural affairs department be commended for their dedication and contributions in building the finest state museum and cultural programs system in the United States; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to designate February 19, 2009 as "Museum of New Mexico Centennial Day" in recognition of the one hundredth anniversary of the museum of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the one hundredth anniversary of the museum of New Mexico be observed in 2009 throughout New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of cultural affairs, the secretary of tourism, the secretary of public education, the director of the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department and the president of the museum of New Mexico board of regents.

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