The Woman's Improvement Association (WIA) of Las Cruces, New Mexico (later known as the W.I.A. Las Cruces Woman's Club) was the first woman's club in Las Cruces and the second established in New Mexico. The group was active in Las Cruces until it was dissolved in 2000. WIA was responsible for creating the first park, first swimming pool, and first library in the city. Members worked to improve community life around the city.
The Woman's Improvement Association (WIA) of Las Cruces, New Mexico was established in 1894. [1] It was the first woman's club in the city and the second oldest woman's club in the state. [2] [3] Several women worked together articles of incorporation for WIA, including Mary S. McFie, Kate Reymond, Emma E. Dawson, Ida Llewellyn and Emelia Ascarate. [4] WIA became affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC). [3] Members of the organization worked to improve the community in tangible ways, as well as advocating for social change, such as in their support of women's suffrage. [5] By 1902, there were 11 members. [6]
WIA bought the city's first hearse so that the dead could "go to the grave site with dignity." [2] The group also bought a sprinkler to fight the dust on dirt roads and installed drinking fountains for animals. [7] WIA obtained the title to land in 1896 that they would later make into a park. [8] In 1898 WIA created Union Park, which was later known as Pioneer Women's Park. [9] WIA maintained the park and provided for various improvements, such as fences and shade trees. [10] The park was also known as City Park and was later donated to the City of Las Cruces in 1924. [11] [2]
WIA was involved in establishing the first Las Cruces library and the city's first swimming pool. [7] The first library, started in 1924, was the forerunner to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. [12] It was located in WIA's clubhouse in the east section of Pioneer Woman's Park and was a subscription library. [13] [12] The WIA library closed in 1935 and the collection was donated to Branigan Library. [12] WIA was involved in aiding the work of various health institutions in Las Cruces. [12] Members of WIA also taught and worked to learn Spanish and taught citizenship classes. [14] [12]
The group changed their name to the W.I.A. Las Cruces Woman's Club in 1938. [12] The group decided to dissolve WIA through a decision made by officers and members in 1998. [12] WIA was disestablished in July 2000. [15]
Las Cruces is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the largest city in both Doña Ana County and southern New Mexico. The Las Cruces metropolitan area had an estimated population of 213,849 in 2017. It is the principal city of a metropolitan statistical area which encompasses all of Doña Ana County and is part of the larger El Paso–Las Cruces combined statistical area.
KRWG-TV is a PBS member television station in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. The station is owned by the Regents of New Mexico State University. KRWG-TV's studios are located at Milton Hall on the NMSU campus in Las Cruces, and its transmitter is located atop Tortugas Mountain in central Doña Ana County. KRWG-TV's signal is relayed on low-power translator stations across southern New Mexico.
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library; often referred to as simply "Branigan", is the public library serving Las Cruces, New Mexico and is part of Las Cruces Public Libraries.
Las Cruces Sun-News, founded in 1881, is a daily newspaper published in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Stella Yvette Herrell is an American politician and realtor who served as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she served four terms as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for the 51st district from 2011 to 2019.
The 1961 New Mexico State Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. In their fourth year under head coach Warren B. Woodson, the Aggies compiled a 5–4–1 record and finished in third place in the Border Conference.
The 1959 New Mexico A&M Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University in the Border Conference during the 1959 NCAA University Division football season. In their second year under head coach Warren B. Woodson, the Aggies compiled an 8–3 record, finished in third place in the conference, and defeated North Texas State in the 1959 Sun Bowl.
Laura Eppelsheimer Frenger (1873-1961) was active in club affairs, the first woman in New Mexico to be listed in Who's Who.
The 1965 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team representing New Mexico State University as an independent during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. Led by head coach Warren B. Woodson in his eighth year, the Aggies achieved an impressive 8–2 record and outscored their opponents with a total score of 236 to 153. The team played its four home games at Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The 1966 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University as an independent during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In their ninth year under head coach Warren B. Woodson, the Aggies compiled a 7–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 321 to 159. The team played its four home games at Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The 1967 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University as an independent during the 1967 NCAA University Division football season. In their tenth year under head coach Warren B. Woodson, the Aggies compiled a 7–2–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 346 to 145. The team played its six home games at Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Otto H. Thorman was an American architect. He designed many houses in the Manhattan Heights neighborhood of El Paso, Texas, as well as several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places like the Woman's Club of El Paso and Goddard Hall on the campus of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The 1946 New Mexico A&M Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts as a member of the Border Conference during the 1946 college football season. In its first year under head coach Raymond A. Curfman, the team compiled a 4–5 record and outscored opponents by a total of 155 to 154. The team played its home games at Quesenberry Field in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The 1968 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University as an independent during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. In their first year under head coach Jim Wood, the Aggies compiled a 5–5 record and were outscored by a total of 244 to 228. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium.
Albert Norris Johnson was an American politician who served as the mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Johnson also received multiple gubernatorial appointments to state commissions. He was the first black person to serve as a mayor in New Mexico.
The 1972 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth year under head coach Jim Wood, the Aggies compiled a 2–9 record. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The 1974 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their second year under head coach Jim Bradley, the Aggies compiled a 5–6 record. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The 1975 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. In their third year under head coach Jim Bradley, the Aggies compiled a 5–6 record. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Mary Barr Munroe was a Scottish-born American clubwoman and conservationist, based in Miami, Florida. Munroe founded the Coconut Grove Audubon Society and library, and worked for the establishment of a state park that became part of the Everglades National Park.