Long, Boaz Walton, 1876-1962

Boaz Walton Long (9-27-1876 to 7-30-1962) was born in Warsaw, Indiana where his father held a judicial position. The Long family came to the Southwest in 1885 when President Grover Cleveland named Elisha V. Long Chief Justice of New Mexico. The Longs lived in Santa Fe initially and then moved to Las Vegas after redistricting of the Territory. Boaz graduated from Las Vegas High School and then spent one year at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. Subsequent clerking in his father's law office ended when Long's love of travel took him through the Western United States, Mexico, Central America, and Cuba. More than ten year's experience abroad in the Western Hemisphere facilitated Long's appointment as Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs for the State Department in 1913. Long remained in various positions of government service for more than thirty years until his retirement in 1946. Among numerous assignments, Boaz Long acted as Minister to San Salvador, Cuba and Nicaragua, and Ambassador to Ecuador and Guatemala. Retirement from federal service ushered in a period of state service as Long became Director of the Museum of New Mexico from 1948 to 1957.

From the guide to the Boaz W. Long Papers, 1942-1957, (Museum of New Mexico. Fray Angélico Chávez History Library.)

Elisha V. Long served as Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of New Mexico (1885-1890) and as the district attorney for the counties of Guadalupe, Mora, and San Miguel (1896-1899). His son Boaz W. Long served as U.S. ambassador to various Latin American countries and as the Director of the Museum of New Mexico.

From the guide to the Elisha V. and Boaz W. Long Papers, 1857-1970, (New Mexico State Records Center and Archives)

Boaz Walton Long (1876-1962) was born in Warsaw, Indiana, son of Elisha Van Buren Long, who was appointed chief justice of New Mexico’s Territorial Supreme Court in 1885, and Alice Rebecca (Walton) Long. Boaz Long grew up in Las Vegas, N.M. In 1930 he married Eleanor Wilson Lenssen. In his career he was U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, 1942-43, and Guatamala, 1943-45. In 1945 he was appointed by Edgar L. Hewett to the board of the Museum of New Mexico. After the death of Sylvanus Morley in 1948, Long became the director of the Museum of New Mexico, School of American Research, and Laboratory of Anthropology, retiring in 1956.

From the guide to the Boaz Long Files concerning the History of the School of American Research, 1930-1962, 1930-1962, (School for Advanced Research)

Boaz Walton Long was the son of Elisha V. Long, a New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court Judge. Born in Warsaw, Indiana in 1876, Boaz Long and his family re-located to New Mexico in 1885. Boaz Long served as: Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs for the United States State Dept, 1913; Minister to San Salvador and Cuba; Ambassador to Ecuador and Guatemala and director of the Museum of New Mexico, 1948-1957.

From the description of Boaz W. Long papers, 1942-1957. (Museum of New Mexico Library). WorldCat record id: 37288571

Boaz W. Long served as U.S. Ambassador to various Latin American countries and as Director of the Museum of New Mexico.

From the description of Boaz W. Long photograph collection [graphic]. 1896-1956. (Santa Fe Public Library). WorldCat record id: 38000669