Wilson, John P. (John Pasley), 1933-

John P. Wilson is a professional historian who has authored books and numerous articles on New Mexico and the West.

From the guide to the "Missing Records from the Civil War in the Southwest, 1861-1862, " manuscript, 1999, (Museum of New Mexico. Fray Angélico Chávez History Library.)

John P. Wilson was born on December 24, 1935, at Galesburg, Illinois, the son of Zora and Phillip Wilson. He grew up in nearby Knoxville, and graduated from high school there in 1953. Wilson went on to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1958 and a M.A. in Anthropology in 1961. He continued on to Harvard University, where he was awarded a Ph.D in Anthropology in 1965. At Harvard, Wilson initially studied Maya cultures in Guatamela, then later turned his research focus on prehistoric cultures in northern Arizona.

Wilson found work with the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe in 1963. He later served as Curator of Historical Archaeology under his tenure, during which the state of New Mexico moved forward with many projects relating to the frontier military history of the New Mexico Territory. These included projects that involved Forts Selden, Cummings and Fillmore in southern New Mexico. He later worked for Parks Canada at Fort George, near Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Upon completion of that project, he moved back to New Mexico, eventually settling in the city of Las Cruces.

In 1976, Wilson established his own independent consulting business, specializing in archaeological and historical research. He provided professional services to several different entities, including utility and mining companies, construction contractors, American Indian tribes, as well as other federal and state agencies. Wilson_s research focus has gradually shifted from archaeological-based projects to historical research from his initial ventures in consulting in the 1970s.

Dr. Wilson is noted for his research and writing on 19th Century New Mexico, as well as frontier military activity in both Arizona and New Mexico. Some of his publications include Islands in the Desert: A History of the Uplands of Southeastern Arizona (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1995) and Military Campaigns in the Navajo Country, Northwestern New Mexico, 1800-1846 (Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico, 1966). Dr. Wilson has also participated in the compilation, translation, and editing of the following publications: When the Texans Came: Missing Records from the Civil War in the Southwest, 1861-1862 (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2001) and The Navajos in 1705 : Roque Madrid's Campaign Journal (Albuquerque: UNM Press, 1996), as well as Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid as I Knew Them: Reminiscences of John P. Meadows (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 2004). Wilson has also written several archaeological monographs pertaining to the cultural resources of New Mexico pueblos and other historical sites in the southwest United States.

Though "retired" from his business venture, Dr. Wilson currently lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico with his wife Cheryl, and continues research and publish work relating to New Mexico and the southwest United States of the 19th century.

From the guide to the John P. Wilson research files, 1859-1993, 1859-1993, (Archives and Special Collections. New Mexico State University Library.)