by Maria DeBlassie
Daily Lobo
Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven is living history.
Ana Pacheco, editor and publisher of Concha! Matriarch of a Three Hundred-Year-Old New Mexico Legacy, said Kleven, at the age of 95, symbolizes all that is important to Hispanic New Mexicans.
"She radiates the pride she has in being Hispanic," Pacheco said.
Both Kleven and Pacheco will be at the reading of Kleven's biography as part of the "Open Doors Tricentennial Lecture Series."
Pacheco said the book gives the full background and history of one of New Mexico's oldest families. Kleven's family legacy goes back 300 years, she said.
She said she first met Kleven in 1991 and they became fast friends.
"She was telling me all these incredible stories of her past," Pacheco said. "She's shown me this entire scrapbook of all these articles that have been published about her and her family."
It was these stories that inspired Pacheco to publish Kleven's biography.
Teresa Marquez, senior librarian at the Center for Southwest Research, created the lecture series. She said Kleven is considered the cultural Grand Dame of New Mexico because of her involvement in politics and art. In her lifetime, she did many things that were considered men's work, including running a ranch and serving in the state Legislature in the '40s, Marquez said.
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"She's an icon," she said. "And I think this book will reinforce her place in New Mexico."
There is so little written about women in New Mexican history, especially Hispanic women, Marquez said. She said the book is important because it helps to rectify that.
"The men would not have been able to do what they did without the women's support," she said. "It's important to give women their place in history."
Pacheco said Kleven's accomplishments are inspirational for women because they prove that even back then women could overcome all sorts of obstacles.
"She is a tremendous example of what somebody can do if they're dedicated and how they can impact society," Pacheco said.
Marquez said she created the series in order to bring writers and scholars to Zimmerman Library. She said she wanted to make the library a hub of intellectual activity for students.
"The library is not just about books and computers," she said. "It's also about cultural events."
She said her goal was to inform students about the history, traditions and culture of New Mexico.
Marquez said the book is a tool that preserves the history and traditions of this state for future generations. New Mexico is different from other states because many of the people here still practice rituals and traditions that are hundreds of years old.
"People who have roots way back in New Mexican history take pride in their ancestry," she said.
Marquez also said the Land of Enchantment attracts many people, from artists to writers, and that is part of what she hopes to make audiences of the series understand.
Pacheco said Kleven is a dynamic woman and she intimidates a lot of people.
"She's got a heart of gold," Pacheco said. "But you know, you don't push her around."
