Caption: Adela (Quintana) & Ramon Gallegos Wedding, 1912, Rosa, NM. Courtesy Raymond Gallegos
The Southwest Colorado Genealogical Society (SWCGS) will host a workshop on “Tracing Your Hispanic Family History,” with an emphasis on ancestors who migrated to Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado from the Chama River Valley. This workshop will be presented by Henrietta Martinez Christmas on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Southern Ute Cultural Center & Museum, 303 Ouray Drive, Ignacio, Colorado. Henrietta is a native New Mexican and a highly regarded genealogical and historical researcher. A descendant of eleven soldiers who accompanied Juan de Oñate in 1598, she has dedicated her career to preserving and sharing the stories of New Mexico’s colonial past. Henrietta is the author of several books on New Mexico’s small towns and history and has published over 150 articles focusing on the region’s colonial families. In recognition of her decades-long contributions to historical research and cultural preservation, King Felipe VI of Spain awarded her the prestigious Encomienda de la Orden de Isabel la Católica in 2021.
The workshop fee is $10 (free to members of SWCGS) with advanced registration required. To register, please send a $10 check to SWCGS, P.O. Box 332, Bayfield, CO 81122. Please put Workshop, August 22 in the check memo field. Attendees are asked to bring notetaking materials and own sack lunch – water and coffee will be provided. If you have any questions, contact Patty Tharp at (202) 538-2102.