Contact: Rose Díaz 277-3570 Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920

January 17, 2003 WILSON DESIGNATES UNM POLITICAL ARCHIVES REPOSITORY OF RECORD Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM) recently toured the University of New Mexico 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," said Garcia. "We look forward to working with Congresswoman Wilson and her staff in the years to come as the Political Archives grows 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 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 To Díaz and the staff of the UNM Political Archives Wilson said, "I envy you the opportunity to work with original historical documents.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. Montoya's archive. Wilson, a Rhodes Scholar, earned both a master's and Ph.D. in philosophy at Oxford University. She served in the United States 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 United States Representative Steven Schiff (whose collection is also a part of UNM Political Archives). Wilson was the first woman veteran in the nation's 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. # # #

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