About

The enchantment highlights people and places served by New Mexico’s cooperatives and focuses on the issues facing rural Ame

ABOVE: From left, Beverly Duran, Barbara Richardson, Patricia French and Alexis Girard were instrumental in starting the New Mexico Historic Marker Initiative. BACKGROUND: Workers complete installation of the roadside marker honoring Cathay Williams. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NEW MEXICO HISTORIC WOMEN MARKER INITIATIVE
Cover Story

Recognizing Changemakers

Since 1935, New Mexico has recognized the history of our state by erecting brown, log-hewn roadside markers informing passersby of the people, geological features and historical events that have shaped the state.

In the late 1990s, three New Mexico women realized only one of the more than 500 markers was in recognition of a woman. Determined to honor the remarkable women who are an integral part of our state’s history, Patricia French, Beverly Duran and Alexis Girard established the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative.

As members of the New Mexico chapter of the International Women’s Forum—an organization that advocates for women in leadership positions— they decided to act. In 2005, they met with then- Gov.

Related Issue:
Subscribe to