Richard Melzer,
The Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico

This Fireside Chat is on Sunday September 10th, 2023, at the Internation District Library in Albuquerque New Mexico. The address is 7601 Central Ave NE.

Richard Melzer, Ph.D., is a retired history professor who taught at The University of New Mexico–Valencia campus for more than 35 years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Valencia County Historical Society for 30 years; he has served as the Society’s president several times. He has also been a Board Member of NNDPA-NM.

Dr Melzer’s talk was on “Coming of Age in the Great Depression: The Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico, 1933-1942”
Based on archival material and interviews with former enrollees, Dr. Melzer (history, U. of New Mexico-Valencia) tells the story of some 50,000 young men who worked in the Corps, an initiative of the New Deal program, to support their families and learn skills when the private sector failed them. Great pains were taken, he notes, to keep the Corp from becoming a paramilitary organization, but when World War II broke out, military recruiters plundered it to acquire well disciplined and highly skilled soldiers. He also describes the enduring contributions the program made to the state.

Richard Melzer is also a guest columnist for the Valencia County New-Bulletin. He has written several columns. One of which is "Eleanor Roosevelt: The first First Lady to visit Valencia County" published on Jan 19th, 2023.
https://news-bulletin.com/eleanor-roosevelt-the-first-first-lady-to-visit-valencia-county/

He has written many books and articles about New Mexico history, including many works on Valencia County, his favorite topic.

Books by Dr. Richard Melzer

Fred Harvey Houses of the Southwest — published 2008.
Ernie Pyle in the American Southwest — published 1996.
A History of New Mexico Since Statehood* — published 2011.
New Mexico: A Celebration of the Land of Enchantment — published 2011.
Sanatoriums of New Mexico — published 2014.
Coming of Age in the Great Depression: The Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico, 1933-1942 — published 2000.
Sunshine and Shadows in New Mexico's Past, Volume 3: The Statehood Period, 1912-Present — published 2012.
Catholics Along the Rio Grande* — published 2011.
Madrid Revisited: Life and Labor in a New Mexican Mining Camp in the Years of the Great Depression — published 1998.
When We Were Young in the West: True Histories of Childhood — published 2001.
Fred Harvey Houses of the Southwest
Buried Treasures: Famous and Unusual Gravesites in New Mexico History — published 2007.
Captain Maximiliano Luna: A New Mexico Rough Rider
Murder, Mystery & Mayhem in the Rio Abajo — published 2013.
The Jewish Legacy in New Mexico History
Sunshine & Shadows In New Mexico's Past — published 2010.
Legendary Locals of Albuquerque — published 2015.
Casey Luna: A Colorful Life in Business, Politics, and Motor Sports Championships
A History of New Mexico Since Statehood, Teacher Guide Book* — published 2011
Sunshine & Shadows Vol II: The Us Territorial Period* — published 2011.
Sunshine and Shadows in New Mexico's Past, Volume 2: The U.S. Territorial Period, 1848-1912
New Mexico in World War II*
Breakdown — published 1999.
Don Perkins: A Champion's Life
The New Mexico Journey
From Where I Stand; Contrasting Views of New Mexico History
Years Gone by in the Rio Abajo
A River Runs Through Us: True Tales of the Rio Abajo* — published 2015.
Valencia County, New Mexico: History Through The Photographer's Lens* — published 2002.
Pioneer Jewish Families in New Mexico*
Mountains, Mesas & Memories*

Note: The * indicates other authors, in addition to Dr. Melzer