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During the twentieth century, New Mexico women of diverse ethnicities, backgrounds, beliefs, and persuasions have distinguished themselves in wide-ranging fields of interests and attainment. Groundbreaking women in New Mexico have included scientists, explorers, educators, entertainers, healers, politicians, activists, artists, musicians, and writers. Names like Mary Austin, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Willa Cather spring readily to mind. Lesser-known names such as Frances Nunnery or Ida Jackson have equally compelling stories. Jenny Vincent performed with Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and was still entertaining fellow retirement home residents at age 102. Agnes Martin's paintings sold for millions as she entered her nineties. Who could resist her stricture to "live life as a verb, not as a noun?"
About the author
Ron Hamm had previously written only about men. Now he has attempted to address that oversight by exploring the contributions of women in his home state of New Mexico. In the process of researching this project he discovered far more notable New Mexico women than he originally imagined. Hamm began working life in high school as a journalist, then after a career in public relations and a stint in teaching, transitioned to writing biographies. He received a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Florida State University, a Master's degree in English from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University, and an honorary Master's degree in Business Administration from the "Escuela Internacional de Negocios de América Latina" in Mendoza, Argentina. He is also the author of "Ross Calvin, Interpreter of the American Southwest," "Tales from the Range: Stories from the Saddle," and "New Mexico Territorial Era Caricatures," all from Sunstone Press.
