Bullock, Alice, 1904-1986

Alice Bullock was a well-known amateur historian and author who spent much of her life writing about the legends and folklore of rural New Mexico. She was born July 4, 1904 in Oklahoma. Her family moved to New Mexico in 1912. A graduate of Highlands University, she moved to Santa Fe in 1941, and taught school. In the 1950s she wrote hundreds of fictional stories. In the 1960s, she began writing about New Mexico people and places. She visited the small towns of New Mexico and recorded the old-timers' stories. She published these stories in the Santa Fe New Mexican and books such as Living Legends of Santa Fe, Mountain Villages, The Squaw Tree and Monumental Ghosts .

From the guide to the Alice Bullock Collection, 1951-1975, (Museum of New Mexico. Fray Angélico Chávez History Library.)

Alice Bullock, writer and educator, born in Buck, Indian Territory, 1904, died, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1986. Public school teacher, author of fictional short stories, some published under the name Bill Bullock, writer of feature articles, collections of folklore, local history and book reviews.

From the guide to the Alice Bullock Pictorial Collection, 1880-1979, (University of New Mexico, Center for Southwest Research)

Alice Bullock, writer and educator, born in Buck, Indian Territory, 1904, died, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1986.

Public school teacher, author of fictional short stories, some published under the name Bill Bullock, writer of feature articles, collections of folklore, local history and book reviews.

From the description of Papers, 1951-1984. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 23234617

Alice Bullock. Part of the Alice Bullock Pictorial Collection PICT 000-478 (Box 1, Folder 1).

Alice Bullock, born Alice Lowe in 1904, lived in Buck, Indian Territory until 1912. At that time her family moved to the mining town of Gardiner, New Mexico. After the eighth grade, she went to Raton to attend high school, as Gardiner didn't have one. Following high school graduation, she attended New Mexico Normal University in Las Vegas and earned a teaching certificate. She taught school in Union, Mora, Colfax and Santa Fe counties. Many of her later writings were based on her teaching experiences.

Bullock moved to Santa Fe in 1941 with her husband, Dale Bullock, whom she married in 1935. She lived at 812 Gildersleeve in Santa Fe until her death in 1986. Her first story was published in 1952. During the 1950s she sold hundreds of stories--mostly fiction. Some of those stories were submitted and published under the pen name Bill Bullock, because she felt that the editors of most western magazines would be reluctant to consider stories written by a woman.

It wasn't until the late 1960s that Bullock began the writing career she is now known for. About that time she began writing her familiar features on New Mexico people and places, often illustrated with her own photography. She traveled around Northern New Mexico collecting folklore, local history and photographs to accompany her articles. Her features frequently appeared in The New Mexican and New Mexico Magazine. Her first book, Living Legends of the Santa Fe Country, was published in 1970, followed by a revised edition in 1972 and a later edition in 1978. Her other published books include Mountain Villages, 1973, The Squaw Tree, 1978 and Monumental Ghosts, 1987. A voracious reader, she also wrote many book reviews and served as book review editor for The New Mexican and El Palacio.

From the guide to the Alice Bullock Papers, 1951-1984, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)