Santa Fe Living Treasures – Elder Stories

Anita hadn't thought about teaching, but when she was offered a job in CaiXoncito, she taught there for two years; then she returned to Santa Fe to teach fourth and fifth grades at Manderfield School.

Her future husband, Tommy Thomas, came to Santa Fe as a lieutenant in the Army Reserve. At the time, "President Roosevelt had started the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression," Anita said, "and there were two CCC camps in Santa Fe. I met Tommy when Father Jerome from St. Francis Cathedral went to say mass at one of the camps. I was in the cathedral choir, and Father Jerome thought it would be nice if we sang some of the Spanish songs. We were married by Father Jerome, who introduced us, on August 16, 1936."

Please see Volume 1 for complete text.
Photo ©1997 by Joanne Rijmes