William & Mae Keleher

The people of New Mexico may have heard of an individual named William A. Keleher. But I highly doubt if they know the real Keleher, because you can only know this truly amazing person with deep contemplation. In this article, I will try my level best to tell you about William Keleher, at least as much as I have learned about him after extensive research and study. Please read on.William Aloysius Keleher (1886-1972), was the offspring of David and Mary Ann Gorry Keleher. Three years after his birth, the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he enrolled at St. Mary’s Parochial School. Unfortunately, he could not complete the eighth grade when family needs forced him to drop out of school in 1900. Poor William had to work in order to help support his beloved family. He began his working life as a messenger for the Western Union telegraph company. He was promoted from a counter clerk to a telegraph operator, owing to his merit and skills. The following years saw him trying various jobs, never settling in a particular field. In this period of time, he worked in Bluewater Development Company and the board of education situated locally. A few years later, he was accepted by Washington and Lee University as a special student. He studied law and graduated in an impressive two years’ time (1915). The same year, he returned to Albuquerque to practice law. Eventually, he founded one of the largest law firms in the state (Keleher & McLeod) that would be named after him and his partner, A. Howard McLeod.

The firm (Keleher & McLeod), where Keleher devoted himself fully in the practice of law still runs strong today after so many years. As a matter of fact, it is perceived as one of the oldest and reliable law firms in New Mexico. Three of Keleher’s sons, William, Michael and Thomas are still affiliated with the firm.

William Keleher’s collection, not surprisingly, is situated in UNM since all of his children attended UNM for their degree. Moreover, many of Keleher’s grandchildren are studying or have studied there. It was in 1968 when this University offered Keleher an honorary degree. He gave an emotional birthday speech at its Alumni Chapel in 1962.
The family papers of Kelehers contain information on his wife and four sons. Information about Keleher’s family and siblings were also divulged by these papers. Also found was the Kelehers’ involvement in the fundraisers’ community and their ownership of different Albuquerque properties (most notably Altura Addition, Altura Shopping Center, Buena Vista Heights Addition, Huning Castle Addition, Mandell Business and Residence Addition).

In my opinion, Keleher lived his life to the fullest. Strictly speaking from Maslow’s theory of needs concept, Keleher reached the pinnacle as a human being which may sound really fascinating owing to the fact that he was a high school dropout. His accomplishments are sky-high and I can assure you, very few individuals soared to such heights in their span of life. The New Mexico Bar Association named Keleher one of the outstanding lawyers of the century in the year of 2000. He was also a news reporter, widely known author and a historian. University of New Mexico awarded him two honorary degrees. It is still not known to many that he was the attorney of Elfego Baca, a popular figure in New Mexico in the 1900s. Some of the most high-quality works on the Southwest were engendered by him. Books like “Maxwell Land Grant,”, “Fabulous Frontier”, “Turmoil in New Mexico”, “Violence in Lincoln County” and “Memoirs” are more than enough to prove his excellence in the fields he worked in. Zimmerman Library received the whole collection of William Keleher’s books and archive of papers/manuscripts, which would someday divulge more amazing works of the great man. William A. Keheler lived in Albuquerque for eighty four years and passed away at the age of eighty six in 1972, but he left his memories, achievements and most importantly, inspiration to his descendants and the people of New Mexico. Men of such league do not grace the earth very often. It is an honor to have someone like W.A. Keleher in New Mexico.
Keleher authored some of the premier works on the Southwest:Purchase the Books of William Keleher in .pdf format online at http://www.williamkeleher.com

William A. Keleher (born in 1886, died in 1972) was a well-known figure in Albuquerque, New Mexico. By profession, he was a lawyer. His law firm (Keleher & McLeod) was among the best in the business. Even after almost hundred years of establishment, Keleher & McLeod is still driven by the same passion and dedication that their founders showed initially. As a result, the firm is considered as one of the oldest and most efficient law firms in New Mexico today. He was a New Mexico Hall of Famer. Not only that, many important private sector positions were held by him. William A. Keleher was also a prominent writer. He had avid interest in history and his books reflect how well he has managed to write from historical perspective. William Keleher was also involved in copious social functions and events. That is why it is not surprising to know how he got in touch with so many high profile individuals.William A. Keleher had an intimate relationship with Elfego Baca (born in 1865, died in 1945), a legendary lawyer, lawman and politician in the closing days of American wild-west. Keleher met him during his reporter-days. The colorful New Mexican figure had something very common with Keleher – They were both versatile and multi-faceted individuals. Baca was born when the American civil war was about to be finished. His father was a marshal. Baca, at the tender age of 19, declared himself deputy sheriff in Sorocco County after he stole some guns and managed a sheriff-badge. He wanted to put an end to the anarchy in his local territory. He also operated a detective agency and theorized in real estate among other activities. William Keleher was his attorney and good friend. One day, Baca came to Keleher’s house and demanded to see him. Her wife, Loretta responded by saying that he was sick in bed. Elfego Baca insisted to see him by saying that it was about his wife (Ms. Baca). Loretta was pretty curious. She said it is unusual for him to be so intimidated since Mr. Baca is a bold character, even killing many men without much trouble. In reply, Baca just shook his head and said Loretta did not know Ms. Baca! This is just one of the innumerable stories involving Keleher and Baca. The Kelehers’ personal archive has Elfego Baca’s briefcase and five postcards that were signed by him.One of the most important developments in Albuquerque in Keleher’s times was the Hilton Hotel by the great Conrad Nicholson Hilton who believed that the place was destined for great things. The ten-story building was completed in 1939. Conrad was an American hotelier who founded the Hilton-Hotel chain. Coincidentally, he belonged to the same place as Elfego Baca (Sorocco County). Conrad N. Hilton, too, was known to William Keleher. It is believed they met in one of the countless social events that both of them used to attend.

William A. Keleher, was a prominent figure in New Mexico. Due to his diverse work and philanthropic activities, he met many people in his life. Among them, there were legendary people like Elfego Baca, Conrad N. Hilton and some others, who played an important role in history. Like Keleher, their names are also remembered even today with great respect.

One may wonder how these friendships became known to the world today. The answer is pretty simply actually. The Kelehers recently donated the entire William Keleher collection to the University of New Mexico (UNM). Such magnanimity is unequivocally praiseworthy since many unknown things about William Keleher have been divulged to the world lately. Among them was the tale of friendship that you just learnt about. One of the family members said that the children and the grandchildren are less likely to find any interest in them at the moment; however, in the future, they will certainly be. The Keleher family and their connections to the prominent figures of the society would have not been revealed to the world if these materials were not found in the first place. As historians use the documents to develop a greater understanding, more information regarding William A. Keleher’s influential friends will be divulged.
Keleher authored some of the premier works on the Southwest:Purchase the Books of William Keleher in .pdf format online at http://www.williamkeleher.com

William Aloysius Keleher was born in 1886 in Lawrence, Kansas. His parents, David Keleher and Mary Ann Keleher moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1889. There, William enrolled at Saint Mary’s Parochial School and studied until 1900 when he started working as a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Company. His initial position was that of a counter clerk. However, he was promoted to the post of telegraph operator within a short time. William tried different alternatives career after that. For a brief period, he worked for the board of education and a development company called Bluewater (both situated locally). His praiseworthy writing skills caught the attention of local newspapermen who instantly appointed him as a newspaper reporter in the year of 1908. Meanwhile, he also wrote for the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Evening Herald. Later on, he would act as the city editor for both newspapers. He came in touch with many prominent New Mexicans while working as a reporter. This was the time when he got interested in law while observing contemporary events. William enrolled in the Law School at Washington and Lee University in September, 1913 and after merely two years, graduated successfully in 1915. He was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in that same year. After returning to Albuquerque, he commenced working as city attorney. He, then, joined a legal practice with George Downer which lasted till 1930. The next year, he founded another practice with A.H. McLeod. It should be noted that the firm still exists after so many years. Moreover, it is considered one of the best law firms in that zone.Outside the professional life, William was also a diligently active New Mexican citizen. For several years, he acted as the chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee of New Mexico. He served under the State Board of Finance from 1932 to 1949. When the first national bank of Albuquerque failed miserably in 1933, he served as its conservator. In 1933, Governor appointed William to investigate the labor altercation in the coal fields It was then when the “Mechem-Keleher” report on the Gallup coal strike was engendered that forced the federal government to settle the strike.William’s service on the New Mexico State University (previously known as the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts), the Museum of New Mexico, the Old Lincoln County Memorial Commission was greatly appreciated. He also held a few private sector positions carrying tremendous importance. He was the director of the US Equitable Life Assurance Society and the legal counsel for the New Mexico Public Service Company.

It will not be an exaggeration to opine that William’s most significant non-professional activities were his writings. He was an eager scholar of New Mexico history and he officially became an authoritative author on the topic in 1929 when he delivered a speech on the Maxwell Land Grant in a conference held in Amarillo, Texas. Interestingly, it resulted in his first book which was entitled “The Maxwell Land Grant” (1942). He went on to write more books after publishing that work. It is truly a praiseworthy fact that William never neglected his law firm’s regular hours despite the demands of writing books like The Fabulous Frontier, Turmoil in New Mexico, Violence in Lincoln Country, New Mexicans I Knew, and Memoirs. His last book came out in 1969.

William was honored by innumerable groups for his impressive accomplishments. Among them, the Immaculate Conception Church, Tucker Chapter of Phi-Delta-Phi, and the Phi Beta Kappa were considered the most elite ones. In addition, William was also honored by few educational institutes. He received an honorary Master of Arts and an honorary LL.D in 1946 and 1968, respectively from the same university (University of New Mexico). He received another LL.D from the University of Albuquerque in 1968. Eventually, he was included in the prestigious New Mexico Hall of Fame, in the year of 1964.

William Aloysius Keleher was a multifaceted individual who lived in Albuquerque for eighty four of his eighty six years. Besides his profession of law, he also succeeded in becoming a internationally acclaimed author, historian and newspaperman. He died on December 18th, 1972 leaving behind his legacy and achievements. He will always be remembered and venerated.
Keleher authored some of the premier works on the Southwest:Purchase the Books of William Keleher in .pdf format online at http://www.williamkeleher.com

William Aloysius Keleher was a lawyer by profession. However, he did many other things besides practicing law since he did not want to limit himself to homogenous work. Instead, he chose to be different and versatile. He was a telegraph operator, newspaper reporter, city editor, even a counter clerk in his vivid life. Perhaps, the most significant extra-legal activity where he indulged himself was writing. There was no denying that he was an effective writer. Keleher’s expertise as a writer was first unearthed in 1908 when he was appointed by a local newspaper’s authorities to work as a news reporter. They were very impressed by his writing abilities which were re-furnished while he was writing for the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Evening Herald. Later on, he got the job of the city editor in both of them. One will be mistaken if he reckons that Keleher showed his full potential as a writer in those newspapers.An avid scholar of the New Mexico history, William Keleher formally became an authoritative writer on the subject in the year of 1929 when he delivered a speech in a conference (arranged by The Texas Bar Association) that took place in Amarillo, Texas. The date was July 29th; the topic was Maxwell Land Grant (The largest grant ever made in the State of New Mexico that engendered more than its share of controversy and disputes over the years). After thirteen years, it would turn into his first book entitled “The Maxwell Land Grant”. The book consisted over an hundred and sixty pages and came out in hardcover binding. University of New Mexico Press, the publisher, brought out a revised version of the book in the year of 1964. Even today, one can avail this seventeen-chaptered book from online stores and libraries with an extensive collection.

Violence in Lincoln County: 1869-1881, written in the year of 1957, is considered to be a masterpiece by William Keleher. In this book, he described the 1870s scenario in details. The book tells the readers that the Lincoln Country War was an outcome of the conflict between partisan politics and business. Regarding the issue of land ownership, the cattle barons and the corrupt mercantilists clashed with each other. Big names like McSween, Turnstall, Chisum, Murphy, Riley and Dolan were mentioned. As a result of the clash, power was being threatened and people were being killed. However, peace was declared in the territory after the demise of Billy the Kid, an infamous outlaw, in the year of 1881. William Keleher provided sufficient information and first-hand reports in his book, for which it was perceived as a invaluable masterpiece on the western history.

In 1969, Rydal press published “Memoirs 1892 1969”, another book by William Keleher. In this book, he told readers about the events he witnessed in his lifetime. Mainly, the book contained biographical information. The authoer called the book a combination of autobiography, biography, narrative and memoir. He also said that this book was written especially for New Mexicans of good heart. The book was republished after several years.

In 1945, came The Fabulous Frontier, another quality work by Keleher. University of New Mexico Press brought out this 338-page book. In 1962, there was a re-print of The Fabulous Frontier.

William Keleher encountered enormous challenges in finishing “Turmoil in New Mexico, 1846-1868”, a study of truly professional quality. The book which was written in 1952 reflected the investigative skills he obtained through legal practice, sophisticated techniques and sheer love of the subject matter.

Keleher’s expertise in literary works was also seen in his short writings. They mainly dealt with New Mexico history and included longer essays and newspaper articles.

What is most impressive about the writer William Keleher is that he did not show any negligence to either of his two most demanding tasks (practicing law and writing). William Keleher’s law practice required regular office hours which he was always faithful. The research and writing of each of his books needed a discrete set of hours as he was careful not to let his literary work breach into his first profession.

William A. Keleher was not only a great lawyer but also an effective writer. His books are considered invaluable from historical perspective.
Keleher authored some of the premier works on the Southwest:Purchase the Books of William Keleher in .pdf format online at http://www.williamkeleher.com

William A. Keleher was unequivocally a multi-faceted individual. While other great people focused on a single field of expertise, Keleher begged to differ. Yes, it is true that he was essentially a lawyer and he did excel in his field, no doubt. However, he did not want to restrain his potential to merely a single field. Instead, he chose to be versatile, something many of us cannot be in our entire life. Besides being a successful lawyer, William A. Keleher was also a newspaperman, historian and most importantly - an effective writer. Keleher’s knack for writing is first discovered when he was appointed as a newspaper reporter in 1908 by local newspaper authorities who were duly impressed by his skills. His writing skills were further honed as he went on to write in papers like the Albuquerque Evening Herald and Albuquerque Journal. It came to nobody’s surprise when he occupied the post of a city editor in those newspapers.Despite such noteworthy writing experiences, Keleher’s brilliance remained unnoticed until the Texas Bar Association and the New Mexico Bar Association Meeting at Amarillo, Texas on July 5, 1929. It was a pivotal moment which made him an authoritative author on the New Mexico history topic. Interestingly, he talked there about the Maxwell Land Grant, the same title of his first ever book. “Maxell Land Grant” was published in 1942 and was revised after twenty two years (1964).

Violence in Lincoln County: 1869-1881 is perhaps one of the most intriguing books written by William A. Keleher. Like an adept artist, he described the 1870s scenario in a smooth manner. According to the book, the alleged Lincoln Country War during the 1870s resulted from partisan politics and business disputes. There was a major clash between the corrupt mercantilists and cattle kings in the issue of land acquisition. Well known cattle barons like Chisum, Turnstall and McSween formed faction to counter the alliance of mercantilists and small-scale ranchers led by Dolan, Riley and Murphy. Santa Fe’s partisan politics prevented additional violence and turmoil with the aid of the law enforcement agencies. Consequently, rights were being violated, cattle were being stolen and power was being threatened. If it was not bad enough already – incidents of homicides started to take place. Billy the Kid was said to be fueling all this and it was not until his death (1881) that L. Wallace (then-governor, better known as the author of “Ben Hur”) declared peace in the territory. Although superseded by recent studies, Keleher’s findings are still regarded as valuable. He would often give reference to the leading stories and contemporary news-reports in his drama. Keleher’s book on this topic boasts first-hand reports and adequate information, making it a must-have book for people interested in discovering this period in western history. The book was written in the year of 1957.

“Memoirs”, another book by Keleher, was published in the year of 1969. It was republished after several years under a different title. It mainly had biographical information of Keleher and the events witnessed by him.

The Fabulous Frontier (1945), Turmoil in New Mexico, 1846-1868 (1952) are some of his other well-known books. Keleher also showcased his expertise in numerous short writings and speeches. Throughout the state, he spoke for groups in a regular basis. The topics included in the discourse were mainly historical subjects and patriotism, identical to his full-length works. The short writings, however, include longer essays and newspaper articles, dealing mostly with New Mexico history.

William Keleher’s last book came out in 1969. It is very surprising to know that he was able to keep his regular hours at the law firm (Keleher & McLeod) despite the demands of writing these books. One must ponder how was he able to keep a balance between two entirely different yet equally responsibility-demanding tasks since he was not only a successful lawyer, but also a well-known writer for the books.

William A. Keleher is the burning proof that one can successfully leap into different realms if he has the diversity and talent. His contribution as an author is undeniable. It will not be an exaggeration to say that he will always live in people’s mind as a great writer who engendered amazing masterpieces.
Keleher authored some of the premier works on the Southwest:Purchase the Books of William Keleher in .pdf format online at http://www.williamkeleher.com

William Aloysius Keleher was a multifaceted individual. No, it is no exaggeration, not an over-stretched truth either. It is a completely unadulterated fact. Why would one say that? That is because Mr. Keleher was a unique person who stood out among many with his exceptional work and achievement. The way he struggled his way out to success and fame is truly remarkable. In this article, readers will re-discover the multifaceted William A. Keleher.Born in Lawrence (Kansas) in 1886, William Aloysius Keleher resided in Albuquerque (New Mexico) from his early childhood where his family (David and Mary Ann Keleher) moved in 1889. He studied in Saint Mary’s Parochial School for some time but ironically, he had to put a brake to studying at one stage. It was the year of 1900 when his family could no longer support his education expenses. The magnanimous juvenile chose to work in order to help his family survive the difficult times. William Keleher’s first job ever was that of a messenger. He worked for the prestigious Western Union Telegraph Company. Thanks to his skills and hard-work, he was promoted to telegraph operator from counter clerk in fairly quick time. However, he was always looking to do new things. As a result, he worked in different places for a short time, most notably the Board of Education and BlueWater Development Company. He even managed to attract local newspapermen with his exceptionally good writing skills who appointed him as a reporter in the year of 1908. Furthermore, he got a writing job in Albuquerque Evening Herald and Albuquerque Journal.It was during this time that he showed a newfound interest in law while observing contemporary events at a country courthouse. Within five years, he joined the Washington and Lee University’s law school and successfully graduated within two years in 1915. He wasted almost no time to start practicing law in the New Mexico Bar. Shortly after that, he went back to Albuquerque to work as the city attorney. Afterwards, he joined a legal practice with G. Downer which did not last too long. In 1931, he founded a law firm with A. Howard McLeod which was named ‘Keleher & McLeod’. This firm, even after more than ninety years, continues to serve its clients successfully. Today, it is perceived as one of the most prestigious law firms in New Mexico. Keleher also worked as the city editor for the two magazines he previously worked for.

The versatile individual did not stop just there. He was an active citizen of New Mexico and acted as the chairman of its Democratic State Central Committee. The State Board of Finance also got his service for seventeen years. Mr. Keleher acted as a conservator for the first Albuquerque national bank when it was in dire straits. He was also involved in preparing the “MECHEM-KELEHER” report in the year of 1933 which convinced the government to start negotiating with the coal field labors after a strike of great magnitude.

Keleher was the legal counsel for the New Mexico Public Service Company and the director of Equitable Life Assurance Society. His contribution to the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now known as the New Mexico State University), the Old Lincoln County Memorial Commission and the Museum of New Mexico also signifies his pro-active character.

This article will be incomplete if it does not mention the other side of William A. Keleher – the writer persona. Keleher always had a knack for writing and he first showed it as a newspaper reporter. Years later, in 1942, his first book (The Maxwell Land Grant) came out. Following that, he wrote great books like The Fabulous Frontier, Turmoil in New Mexico, Violence in Lincoln Country, New Mexicans I Knew, and Memoirs. It should be mentioned that he always kept a balance between the author life and lawyer life, giving adequate time to both. As a result, William A. Keleher not only succeeded as a great lawyer, but also excelled as an effective writer.

This multi-talented individual passed away in 1972 but he is still remembered today for his outstanding achievements. He was truly a man of unique traits.

Keleher authored some of the premier works on the Southwest:Purchase the Books of William Keleher in .pdf format online at http://www.williamkeleher.com

The William Aloysisus Keleher Papers have, more or less, covered almost all the memorable events and celebrations of William Aloysius Keleher and his family, ranging from 1914 to 1999. The main source of this information was William himself. Therefore, it is pretty safe to opine that the papers are authentic, and does not contain any false information whatsoever.The collection contained different kind of materials belonging to the history of New Mexico. William A. Keleher, a historian himself, conducted extensive research on the territorial era of the state and came up with impressive findings. As a high profile citizen of the state in his time, William A. Keleher’s sincere efforts and deeds helped shape the modern condition of the particular area. A big chunk of the documents pertaining to his research, career and various interests have been included in this impressive collection. The collection is tagged as MSS 742 BC and it comes in 40 boxes that are just over twenty five cubic feet. The languages used were English and Spanish.Regarding the restrictions, it has been mentioned that the collection is open to all for research purposes. However, the copy restrictions are a little stringent. Only limited duplication of the manuscript and print materials are permitted for research. The Keleher family still owns every right to the writings of W.A. Keleher and his successors. For all copyright compliance, the user and researcher will be held responsible.

The collection mainly includes documents engendered or gathered by William A. Keleher and his predecessors/successors. A big chunk of the material belongs to his business and civil activities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The W.A. Keleher collection is categorized into two series, 1) W.A. Keleher papers and 2) Keleher Family Papers.

The literary works within the William A. Keleher papers include edited manuscripts, related materials, drafts/revisions and correspondence with publishers regarding editing tasks. The sub-series include documents like scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, drafts, invoice etc. that were related to William A. Keleher’s literary works. The files have important information from the highly acclaimed Keleher books (Violence in Lincoln County, Memoirs, The Fabulous Frontier etc).

There are also miscellaneous short writings and speeches in the collection: William A. Keleher not only made his point of view known through his full length manuscripts, but also through the short writings and speeches. Being the golden son of New Mexico, he used to speak for groups throughout the state on a regular basis. The topics that were involved in the discourse ranged from historical issues to patriotism. His short-length writings included lengthier essays and newspaper articles, several of which were directly related to New Mexico history.

The Keleher Family Papers divulge information about Loretta Barrett (William A. Keleher’s second wife) and their four sons (Thomas, John, Michael and Will). Furthermore, information about William A. Keleher’s parents, siblings and other relatives are also found there. The materials include clippings, correspondence and genealogy information on the Keleher and Barrett families. Special invitation cards give us a brief idea about the social lifestyle in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Kelehers’ level of participation in the community and affiliation with elite citizens from 1950 to 1990 are also known from there. The Keleher Family Papers confirm that the family owns several properties in the Albuquerque area, most notably – Mandell Business Addition, Buena Vista Addition and Huning Castle Addition.

The William A. Keleher papers are indeed an asset. Not only to the family members, researchers or historians, but also to the state since William A. Keleher was inextricably related to Albuquerque, New Mexico all his life. The papers have opened new dimensions to the historian, who will now be able to unearth invaluable information regarding Keleher and early 1900s history, social culture, lifestyle etc. The papers have faithfully served as a solid proof of W.A. Keleher’s outstanding deeds and achievements. Not only that, they have revealed many interesting facts about New Mexico, hundred years back. In a nutshell, the William Aloysius Keleher Papers have been a resourceful collection that helped researchers to get a better understanding of the person, his family and New Mexico about a hundred years ago. It is really a matter of great surprise how the papers have managed to remain intact after hundreds of years.
Keleher authored some of the premier works on the Southwest:Purchase the Books of William Keleher in .pdf format online at http://www.williamkeleher.com