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PLEASE NOTE:

We do NOT have the resources to assist with genealogical research.

For GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH please contact:
 
*El Paso Genealogical Society

*UTEP Special Collections Dept

* El Paso County Historical Society

*El Paso Public Library Border Heritage Center

For GENERAL RESEARCH  assistance contact Rachel Murphree at murphree@
elp.rr.com
 
For REPRINTS of Borderlands issues please contact Ruth Vise at  rvise@
epcc.edu.

The Editor's Column: El Paso Grows Up

By Ruth E. Vise

[Photo of Ruth E. Vise] Ruth E. Vise Faculty Editor & Adviser
El Paso rapidly grew in population and diversity when the  railroads arrived. Chinese railroad workers settled here along with Anglos and Mexicans. Families and wealthier individuals who came here saw the need for schools, churches and public services. Students in my English 3112 classes (Research and Critical Writing) explored a wide range of topics relating to El Paso, Northern Mexico and Southern New Mexico during the years 1880-1920.

They wrote on the first schools, churches and hospitals, the development of the fire department, library and cemetery. Others researched the influence of several Catholic orders and traced the history of the Mormons and Mennonites, who fled to Mexico to escape persecution. This issue also looks at El Paso's first theaters, the building of Scenic Drive and the effects of Prohibition. We purposely saved papers on gunfighters and other notorious characters of this era for another issue.

I sincerely thank my colleagues Daryl Troyer and Joe Old who cheerfully edited each story. Hearty thanks also go to artist Gabby Guzman and photographer Danny Martinez for their hard work. The EPCC and public librarians did a great job of helping my students and me find research materials. I am grateful to Aurora Rivera, who helped research, proofread and type the articles. Thanks to Joyce Ritchey, Dean of Communications and Fine Arts, for her enthusiastic and generous support of Borderlands. April, thanks for being a terrific daughter and promoter of this project. 

Next fall I begin a new year at Northwest Center, leaving the Valle Verde campus after 15 years. Students will continue to research the history of this wonderful place we call home. We hope you enjoy this issue of Borderlands that traces some "civilizing" elements that made El Paso unique. 

Ruth E. Vise

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Cite: Vise, Ruth E.  "The Editor's Column: El Paso Grows Up." Borderlands 19 (2000-2001): 2.  Borderlands. EPCC Libraries. <http://www.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands>

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Borderlands is published annually by El Paso Community College, P.O. Box 20500, El Paso, TX 79998.

It is a collection of student written articles on the history & culture of the El Paso, Juárez, Las Cruces border region, comprising the states of Texas, New Mexico, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.   This site was created with seed money from the Integrating Technical Contexts into Academic Courses (ITAC) Project, and maintained by the Northwest Community Library staff. 

Funds for the program were provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under the auspices of the federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998.  

Ruth Vise, English Professor and Borderlands Project Director, EPCC
Monica Wong, Website Project Coordinator, Head Librarian,  Northwest Community Library,  EPCC
Joe Old, Technical Consultant, ITAC Project
Mary Sarber,  Lorely Ambriz, and Library Staff.
Rachel Murphree, web weaver

Copyright  2001-2009 El Paso Community College.