María "Concha" Concepción Ortiz y Pino de Kleven (1910-2006)

Her whip title came on top of other firsts. Elected to the House in 1936 at twenty-six, she was the sixth generation of her family in the legislature and then the youngest woman elected to state office in the country; she sponsored the bill letting women serve on juries and is credited with the state law requiring public buildings to be accessible to the disabled. In the 1950s she ran the family's 100,000-acre ranch at Agua Verde, moving into a two-room ranch house, drilling a deep well and bringing in the first telephone and power lines.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker María "Concha" Concepción Ortiz y Pino de Kleven (1910-2006) In 1941, Doña Concha became the first female majority whip of a state legislature in the United States. She championed legislation for women's rights, the disabled, and bilingual education. Previously, she founded the first state vocational school in Galisteo and taught traditional Hispanic arts, woodworking, and weaving. Five U.S. presidents appointed her to boards, including for the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Institutes of Health; altogether, she served on 60 national and local committees. A humanitarian, rancher, and advocate for preserving Spanish culture, Vista Magazine honored her as "Latina of the Century" in 1999. Official Scenic Historic Marker New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative The New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative was founded in 2005 by members of the New Mexico Women's Forum in a statewide effort to recognize women's contributions to New Mexico history on the state's Official Scenic Historic Markers. The Initiative ensures that women's diverse histories will be remembered and told, and will inspire and provide a guide for future generations. The 2006 Legislature funded the project.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

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• Villanueva State Park — 24 mi
• Estancia — 29 mi
• Estancia — 30 mi