Otero-Warren, Nina, 1881-1965

She became active in New Mexico politics, and worked towards women’s suffrage. In 1912 she moved to New York City to keep house for her younger half-brother, Luna Bergere, who was studying at Columbia University. While in New York City, Nina volunteered at a settlement house in the city.[3] When Nina’s mother died in 1914, she -- the eldest daughter -- moved back to Santa Fe, and as was expected of her, took over the household duties, which she took up as well as her activist work. Her suffrage work caught the attention of Alice Paul, who tapped Nina in 1917 to head the New Mexico chapter of the Congressional Union (precursor to the National Woman’s Party). Paul and other suffragists had realized that the support of Hispano’s in New Mexico was crucial to winning suffrage; Nina was an ideal choice. She insisted that suffrage literature be published in both English and Spanish, in order to reach the widest audience.

Maria Adelina Isabel Emilia Luna Otero b. Oct. 23, 1881, Los Lunas, NM; descendant of the Lunas, one of the first settlers in New Mexico; older brother, Eduardo, younger brother, Manuel; attended Maryville University in Saint Louis, Missouri, 1892-1894; married Lieutenant Rawson D. Warren in 1908, dovprced after 2 years; began real estate business in 1947; worked with the women's suffrage campaign in New Mexico with Congressional Union (later National Woman's Party), 1914; ran for House of Representatives, 1922, but lost; 1917-1929; served as one of New Mexico's first female government officials: Santa Fe Superintendent of Instruction (1923-1929), and chair of the State Board of Health, Inspector of Indian Schools in Santa Fe County in 1923, ppointed as state director of the federal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, elected by Governor Larrazolo to the first Board of Public Health, 1930, she became the Director of Literacy Education, Maria Adelina Isabel Emilia Luna Otero b. Oct. 23, 1881, Los Lunas, NM; descendant of the Lunas, one of the first settlers in New Mexico; older brother, Eduardo, younger brother, Manuel; attended Maryville University in Saint Louis, Missouri, 1892-1894; married Lieutenant Rawson D. Warren in 1908, dovprced after 2 years; began real estate business in 1947; worked with the women's suffrage campaign in New Mexico with Congressional Union (later National Woman's Party), 1914; ran for House of Representatives, 1922, but lost; 1917-1929; served as one of New Mexico's first female government officials: Santa Fe Superintendent of Instruction (1923-1929), and chair of the State Board of Health, Inspector of Indian Schools in Santa Fe County in 1923, ppointed as state director of the federal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, elected by Governor Larrazolo to the first Board of Public Health, 1930, she became the Director of Literacy Education, Director of the Work Conference for Adult Teachers in Puerto Rico

Adelina “Nina” Otero-Warren’s enthusiasm for suffrage proved crucial to the movement in New Mexico, where she became a leader in the efforts of the National Woman’s Party to organize the state. Descended from elite Hispanos, or settlers of Spanish-speaking origins, she garnered support for women’s suffrage among Spanish- and English-speaking communities. She later served as New Mexico’s first female government official and made an unsuccessful congressional bid in 1922.