1946 Stedman Pictorial Historical Map of New Mexico

An action-packed historical pictorial map of New Mexico, prepared in 1946 by Wilfred Stedman for the New Mexico State Tourist Bureau. From the Conquistadores to Pancho Villa, the map covers the history of conflict in New Mexico.

A Closer Look

The state of New Mexico is depicted with cities, rivers, lakes, and some mountains illustrated and labeled. However, the main focus is on major military engagements in the state's history and its predecessor territories. Beginning with Coronado's route in 1540 - 1541, some four hundred years of military history are packed onto the map, with many of the events dating from the U.S. Civil War and the period of the Indian Wars. The locations of forts, mining towns, and trails taken by military columns, Native Americans, and Mormons are noted. Some of the battles recorded were mere skirmishes, while others were sizable engagements. Several were one-sided massacres, often with only scant reliable details left to history. One of the most notable inclusions is the Lincoln County War (1878 - 1881), a fierce feud between two groups battling for business profits, most famous for involving the young outlaw gunslinger William H. Bonney, better known as 'Billy the Kid.' The verso provides an overview of the 'romance' of New Mexico's history, recounting many of the bloody events referred to on the recto.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by Wilfred Stedman and printed by the McCormick-Armstrong Company for the New Mexico State Tourist Bureau in 1946. It is one of several maps Stedman drew for the Tourist Bureau, which proved popular and were reprinted in multiple editions (and later reproductions). Though stylistically similar, the present map differs from his more common 'Recreational Map' of New Mexico and is distinct from the conceptually and stylistically similar 'Historical Trails through New Mexico.' This is the rarest of the Stedman New Mexico pictorial maps and was printed in only two editions, 1942 and 1946. The present 1946 edition is noted in the OCLC among the holdings of four institutions: the University of New Mexico, Brigham Young University, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the University of Chicago.