The Santa Fe Trail Association has performed outstanding work for a quarter century in informing and educating about the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. In particular, this has been accomplished through our quarterly, Wagon Tracks,
edited twenty-five years by editor and historian-author Dr. Leo E. Oliva. A number of members have contributed excellent articles, speeches, and other writings on a wide variety of subjects pertaining to the Trail and its history. Such works have added greatly to the wealth of historical knowledge.
The Scholarly Research Committee, approved by the Board of Directors and established in 2001, has been providing grants to individuals who carry out research and write articles or reports for publication in Wagon Tracks. These grants have been funded through the Scholarly Research Fund, which began in 2002 with an initial amount of $10,000. The purpose of this fund, which is administered by the committee, is to promote and assist scholarly research by providing grants up to $1,500 for worthy research projects. These grants are open to anyone whose application fulfills the procedures required. The committee reviews applications and selects grantees. An example of the use of a grant for research and writing is the series by Doyle Daves about Euroamerican traders on the Trail who married Hispanic women in New Mexico. This series has appeared in recent issues of Wagon Tracks.
We are asking each of you to help in replenishing the Scholarly Research Fund, which has become increasingly difficult to fund in the last few years because of budget constraints. We want to be able to continue the important work carried out by the committee in assisting researchers and writers. Our members are greatly appreciated for their generous support of programs and projects, including our Hall of Fame project. We hope you will help us to rebuild the Scholarly Research Fund. Please send your donation to Linda Revello, SFTA Office Administrator, Santa Fe Trail Center, 1349 K 156 Hwy, Larned, KS 67550. Checks should be made payable to the Santa Fe Trail Association. You may also pay by credit card through the Last Chance Store at the website, www.santafetrail.org. Your donation is tax deductible.
With sincere gratitude for your support,
Phyllis Morgan and Davy Mitchell
Funding/Special Appeals Committee
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION IN SEPTEMBER!