Chavez, Dennis, 1888-1962

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Dionisio "Dennis" Chávez (April 8, 1888 – November 18, 1962) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1931 to 1935, and in the United States Senate from 1935 to 1962. He was the first Hispanic person elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate and the first U.S. Senator to be born in New Mexico.

Born in Los Chavez in the New Mexico Territory, his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1895; Chávez attended school until 7th grade when financial hardships necessitated that he work. After spending time as a delivery boy and engineer, Chávez became active in state politics, eventually being offered a legislative clerkship in Senator Andreius Jones’s Washington office. In 1917 Chavez moved his young family to Washington, D.C., and enrolled in night classes at Georgetown University Law School. After graduating in 1920, he returned home to Albuquerque, where he began practicing law.

In 1922, Chávez won a seat in the New Mexico house of representatives. In 1930, he was elected to New Mexico's one at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1932. Chávez served as chairman of the House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation. He did not seek re-election to the House in 1934, becoming a candidate for the United States Senate, narrowly losing to Republican incumbent Bronson M. Cutting. After Cutting's death in May 1935, Chávez was appointed to fill the vacancy pending a special election. In 1936, Chávez was elected to the remaining four years of Cutting's term, and then won a full term of his own in 1940, becoming the first person of Hispanic descent to be elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate. Chávez was re-elected three more times. He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Works from 1949 to 1953, and again from 1955 until his death.

Dennis Chávez died of cancer, attributed to his being a lifelong smoker, in Washington, D.C., and was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1939-1942 : Miles). Governor John E. Miles papers, 1939-1942. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Donald Lee Parman Papers, 1883-1994, 1933-1944 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Governor John E. Miles Papers, 1939-1942 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn Denton, Winfield K. (Winfield Kirkpatrick), 1896-1971. Papers, 1894-1970 (bulk 1946-1967). Indiana Historical Society Library
referencedIn Frederick Hale Papers, 1917-1940 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn William Zimmerman, Jr. Papers, 1933-1965 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Committee Papers, 1871 - 1946 Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn Thomas J. Dodd Papers, undated, 1919-1971. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Congressional Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Collier, John, 1884-1968. John Collier papers, 1910-1987 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Chavez, Dennis, 1888-1962. Dennis Chavez papers, 1954-1962. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Quevedo, Eduardo, 1929-1968. Eduardo Quevedo papers, 1929-1968. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Gerald Cassidy Collection, 1922-1949 Fray Angélico Chávez History Library, New Mexico History Museum.
referencedIn Governor Arthur Seligman Papers, 1931-1933 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven photograph collection, 1914-1987 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
creatorOf Chavez, Dennis, 1888-1962. Papers, 1921-1963 (bulk 1930-1962). University of New Mexico-Main Campus
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1935-1938 : Tingley). Governor Clyde K. Tingley papers, 1935-1938. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Vigil, Maurilio E., 1941-. Parallels in the careers of two Hispanic U.S. senators / by Maurilio Vigil and Roy Lujan. New Mexico Highlands University, Donnelly Library
referencedIn Records of the Subcommittee on Privileges and Elections, 1946 - 1968 Center for Legislative Archives
creatorOf Dennis Chavez letter, 1938 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Clinton Presba Anderson Papers, 1938-1973, (bulk 1948-1973) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Jackson, William Henry. Anderson, Clinton P. (Collection) [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1931-1933 : Seligman). Governor Arthur Seligman papers, 1931-1933. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Richard Lowitt Papers on Bronson M. Cutting, 1899-1993 (bulk 1910-1936, 1982-1988) The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1933-1934 : Hockenhull). Governor Andrew W. Hockenhull papers, 1933-1934. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Witter Bynner papers, 1829-1965. Houghton Library
referencedIn Bachrach Studio. Dennis Chávez pictorial collection [Picture] University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Dennis Chávez Papers, 1921-1963, 1930-1962 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
creatorOf Dennis Chávez Papers, 1921-1963, 1930-1962 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Governor Andrew W. Hockenhull Papers, 1933-1934 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn Committee Papers of the Committee on Privileges and Elections During the 74th Congress Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn John Collier papers, 1910-1987 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Robert Watts Hudgens Papers, 1925-1973 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Governor Clyde K. Tingley Papers, 1935-1938 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
creatorOf Cassidy, Gerald, 1869-1934. Gerald Cassidy collection, 1922-1949. Museum of New Mexico Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GEN. LEMAY'S SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AT WHITE HOUSE National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Central Council of District Clubs (Saint Paul, Minn.). Organization records, 1928-1940. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn New Mexico postage stamp collection 1946-2006 Museum of New Mexico Library
referencedIn Clinton P. Anderson Photographs, 1946-1975 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn John Collier papers Yale University Library
creatorOf Dennis Chávez Papers, 1921-1963, 1930-1962 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Parman, Donald Lee 1932-. Donald L. Parman papers, 1883-1994 (bulk 1933-1944) University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Dennis Chávez Pictorial Collection, 1866-1991 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910-2006. Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven photograph collection [Picture] University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. BIG SLAM/PUERTO PINE, MARCH 1960 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Bronson M. Cutting Papers, 1890-1950, (bulk 1910-1935) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1959-1960 : Burroughs). Governor John Burroughs papers, 1959-1960. New Mexico State Library
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1947-1950 : Mabry). Governor Thomas J. Mabry papers, 1946-1950. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Lowitt, Richard, 1922-. Papers on Bronson M. Cutting, 1899-1993, (bulk 1910-1936, 1982-1988). University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Anderson, Clinton Presba, 1895- person
associatedWith Bachrach (Studio) corporateBody
associatedWith Bingman, Jeff person
associatedWith Bowles, Chester, 1901-1986. person
correspondedWith Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968 person
associatedWith Cassidy, Gerald, 1869-1934. person
associatedWith Central Council of District Clubs (Saint Paul, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith Chavez family. family
associatedWith Chávez family family
associatedWith Collier, John, 1884-1968. person
associatedWith Cutting, Bronson M., 1888-1935. person
correspondedWith Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith Dominici, Pete person
associatedWith Espinosa, Gilberto. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Georgetown University. Law Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Hale, Frederick, 1874-1963 person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Hennings, Thomas Carey, 1903-1960. person
associatedWith Hudgens, Robert Watts, 1896-1973 person
associatedWith Lowitt, Richard, 1922- person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957. person
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1931-1933 : Seligman) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1933-1934 : Hockenhull) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1935-1938 : Tingley) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1939-1942 : Miles) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1947-1950 : Mabry) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1959-1960 : Burroughs) corporateBody
associatedWith Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910- person
associatedWith Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910-2006. person
associatedWith Parman, Donald Lee 1932- person
associatedWith Quevedo, Eduardo, 1929-1968. person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith United States. Committee on Fair Employment Practice. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Committee on Fair Employment Practices corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Indian Affairs. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. corporateBody
associatedWith Vigil, Maurilio E., 1941- person
associatedWith Zimmerman, William, 1890-1967 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Belen NM US
District of Columbia DC US
Los Chavez NM US
Albuquerque NM US
Subject
Discrimination in employment
Discrimination in employment
Hispanic American politicians
Hispanic American politicians
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Legislators
New Deal, 1933-1939
Pan American Highway System
Politicians
Politicians
Politicians
Water resources development
Water resources development
Occupation
Engineers
Lawyers
Legislative assistants
Legislators
Newspaper editors
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1888-04-08

Death 1962-11-18

Male

Americans

Spanish; Castilian,

English

Information

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