Trinidad, August 28th, 1907; Vice President Charles Warren Fairbanks, serving under President Theodore Roosevelt, came to Trinidad for a two
day stop while on his way to California to attend the National Irrigation Convention. Fairbanks is the tall man to the right of center below the open
window. Almeron Newman photographed Fairbanks and his entourage in Hoehne, which included many of Trinidad’s most prominent business people. Almeron
Newman is the last person at the far right.
During this time of year you can be certain that temperatures drop, leaves fall, days get shorter and the First National
Bank in Trinidad, along with its branch facilities, is busy making final preparations for its open house reception and calendar distribution scheduled
for Wednesday, December 3rd, from 9am to 3pm. Separate receptions will be held in Trinidad, Walsenburg, and for the very first time in Raton, New
Mexico at the First National Loan Production Office at 1247 S. 2nd Street. The 2004 calendar includes subject matter from Colfax County, New Mexico in
addition to Las Animas and Huerfano Counties.
As the 18th annual calendar in this historic collectors’ series, it is a departure from previous subject matter. It is
only the third time since the calendar’s inception it has explored the career of an individual whose craftsmanship left a nationally recognized
imprint on his adopted towns of Trinidad and Raton. Almeron Newman was a photographer who was considered a master craftsman for his splendid panoramic
photography. With a Cirkut camera, Almeron captured images that measured one foot high by seven to nine feet wide, that oftentimes included thousands
of precisely arranged people in unbelievable portrait style photography. Most of his work in this area was taken between 1903 and 1955.
Remnants of Newman's photographs are scattered across the country. One can find small collections of his work at the
Library of Congress in Washington, DC, the George Eastman House- International Museum of Photography & Film in Rochester, NY, the Colorado
Historical Society in Denver, the Raton History Museum in Raton, New Mexico, the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe, the Marriott Library at the
University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, California. But by far, the largest known collection of Newman's
panoramics reside at the the A.R. Mitchell Memorial Museum in Trinidad. The extensive collection consists of more than 390 panoramic negatives plus an
assortment of glass plate negatives and hundreds of large format photographs. The Mitchell is coordinating an exhibition of Newman work, open to the
public on Friday, December 5th from 4-6pm to coincide with the calendar distribution.
All area residents and visitors are encouraged to attend and receive a complimentary calendar. During the reception in
Trinidad, visit with this year's author Ken Fletcher as he signs copies and discusses our land’s enduring legacy. Mark your calendar and plan to
attend the festivities.
18th Annual Collectors’ Series Calendar
Open House Reception and Calendar Distribution
Wednesday, December 3rd , from 9am - 3pm
Trinidad
The First National Bank, 100 E. Main Street
Walsenburg
Huerfano County Branch Bank, 135 W. 6th
Raton, NM
First National Loan Production Office, 1247 S. 2nd St.
The A. R. Mitchell Museum will hold an exhibition
of Almeron Newman’s photography, open to the
public on Friday, December 5th, from 4-6pm |
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