Wilson
designates Political Archives repository of record
By Carolyn
Gonzales
Congresswoman
Heather Wilson (R-NM) recently toured the UNM Political Archives
where her archival papers will be housed.
We
are pleased to announce that Representative Heather Wilson has
chosen the UNM Political Archives as her repository of record,
UNM President F. Chris Garcia said.
We
look forward to working with Congresswoman Wilson and her staff
in the years to come as the Political Archives grow in strength
and research potential in fields of legislative and public policy
issues, said Rose Díaz, research historian for
the UNM General Library.
At the
close of the tour Wilson signed documents designating UNM Political
Archives as the repository of her archive.
New
Mexico has only elected two women to Congress out of a total
185 individuals who have served, Díaz said.
Georgia
Lusk was the first, elected to a two-year term in 1947-1948.
She also continued in service to the federal government on the
War Claims Commission. Her archival papers, part of the collection,
are unique in federal government service.
To Díaz
and the staff of the UNM Political Archives Wilson said, I
envy you the opportunity to work with original historical documents.
It must be incredible to read through the original Watergate
materials. The Watergate files are part of United States
Senator Joseph M. Montoyas archive.
Wilson,
a Rhodes Scholar, earned both a masters and Ph.D. in philosophy
at Oxford University. She served in the U.S. Air Force for 11
years before becoming cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Children,
Youth and Families Department. She was director for European
Defense Policy and Arms Control, National Security Council,
from 1989-1991.
Wilson
was first elected to Congress by special election, to fill the
vacancy from the death of Rep. Steven Schiff (whose collection
is also a part of UNM Political Archives). Wilson was the first
woman veteran in the nations history to serve in Congress.
She also became the first woman from New Mexico to serve more
than one term in Congress. She has been reelected twice.