El Rito History
History
- Background of the Community of El Rito. Excerpts from an interview with Fr. Jerome Martínez recorded at the Parish Rectory in El Rito, New Mexico, on September 17, 1983.
- El Rito Oral History Project is underway, collecting oral histories from area residents.
Films
- Celebración del Matrimonio. This short (29 minute) film starts with an historical overview of Hispanic marriage customs, which mirror customs in Spain, Mexico, and North Africa that were brought to the Southwest by the region's first colonists in 1598. Then in the village of El Rito the film follows the entire nuptial sequence, from betrothal through the grand celebration, and shows how it incorporates forms of cultural, artistic, and religious expression unique to the region.
- Library Stories: Books on the Backroads is a short (55 minute) film about New Mexico's rural libraries, about villages and Pueblo communities, their histories and their people, where the libraries are and what their libraries mean. El Rito Library is one of the featured libraries.
Genealogy
- Albuquerque Library Genealogy Center
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe has a microfilm archive dating back to 1678 that includes New Mexico baptismal, marriage, and death records. Due to staff cutbacks, access is limited; see the Archdiocese Archive Office site for more information. The New Mexico Genealogical Society (below) has an online index of the records available at the archdiocese.
- FamilySearch centers in Espanola and Santa Fe (limited hours, check web sites)
- Hispanic Genealogical Resource Center of New Mexico
- New Mexico Genealogical Society
