Albuquerque Journal

NMSU To Archive Domenici’s Papers, Memorabilia
The Associated Press

Sen. Pete Domenici has chosen New Mexico State University over his alma mater, the University of New Mexico, to archive his papers and memorabilia.

“They (NMSU) were more committed to what they would do with them and what they would do with them after they got them there — in terms of trying to make some annual events built around it,” Domenici said.

“Without question, they were enthusiastic about providing facilities over time to house them and keep them in perpetuity,” he said.

The New Mexico Republican, who graduated from UNM in 1954, is retiring in January because of a degenerative brain disease after 36 years in the Senate.

Steve Bell, Domenici’s chief of staff, said last October that Domenici would equally divide his collection of papers between the two universities.

But Domenici said last week that NMSU had a better proposal “and a better way of doing it than UNM.”
Hannah VanderBush, a Domenici spokeswoman, said Thursday that Domenici and his wife want to share “some material” with UNM, but details are still being worked out.

UNM’s media relations division declined to answer questions related to Domenici’s papers.

N MSU of f icia ls have prom ised to bu i ld a n archive facility dedicated to Domenici and have committed to writing a book about him. NMSU also is hosting an annual Domenici policy conference.

Bob Gallagher, chairman of the NMSU Board of Regents, said university officials first floated the idea of becoming the repository for Domenici’s records about two years ago.

But it was not until Domenici announced his retirement last year that “it got serious,” Gallagher said.

“We had a plan in place, and I think we expressed to the senator that plan,” he said. “The plan showed just how important we thought it was to house his papers.”

“It was certainly something we saw as an opportunity to enhance the university and broaden our appeal nationwide,” Gallagher said.

NMSU received part of Domenici’s records last November — about 2,900 boxes of papers, plaques, photographs and other memorabilia.

Material that has yet to be delivered could fill as many as eight tractor-trailers, NMSU officials said.
NMSU plans to seek funding from the federal government for the archive building, Gallagher said.

“That’s our first priority for federal funding this year, and I believe we’ll be successful at it,” he said.