I am a French American living in Santa Fe, researching elements for a book, “New Mexico: The French since the 1500s”, on the history of the French, French-Canadians and other French-speaking people in New Mexico. It will follow the pioneering journeys, struggles and triumphs of these immigrants, some famous as well as many other individuals and families, a few of whose descendents still maintain vibrant links with their relatives in France and other countries.
There are hundreds families with French ancestry in New Mexico and the American West. If you happen to belong to one of them, if you have knowledge about French people or places in New Mexico, if you have family memorabilia, photographs or letters related to your ancestors, or simply memories from oral history, I would be delighted if you would share them with me for my book.
If you wish to be notified when my book comes out, hopefully in 2013, please let me know at fmpatorni@earthlink.net . I will keep your name and e-mail address confidential.
François-Marie Patorni
804 Ojo de la Vaca Road
Santa Fe, NM 87508
fmpatorni@earthlink.net
505-984-9125