Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910-

Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven. Part of Pictorial Collection, PICT 000-457-0001-0110 (Box 1, Folder 1).

Concha Ortiz y Pino was born on 23 May 1910 at the family hacienda de ganado in Galisteo, New Mexico. Childhood was a formative period for Concha under the guardianship of her grand-mother, who served as village doctor, nurse, counselor, and social worker all in one. Thus, she was very early on exposed to social, economic and political problems of disadvantaged people - mainly of Hispanic origin - in poverty-striken New Mexico. Her formal education began at Loretto Academy and was continued at the University of New Mexico and for some time at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

In the thirties, during the depression, she began to revive New Mexican folklore, arts and crafts, to renew the interest in it as well as to give some artisans the possibility to earn some money. In 1937, Concha was elected to the State Legislature where she stayed on until 1942. She was appointed to various house committees and in 1940 was the first woman to become the "Majority Whip" in a State Legislature. During her tenure in office, she was interested in bilingual education for children (which cost her bitter fights with the League of United Latin American Citizens [LULAC]) and in better relations to New Mexico's neighbors to the south.

Marriage to Victor Kleven in 1943 and defeat in her third attempt to become reelected did not slow down her social, political, and economic activities. Besides being involved in numerous social affairs and having served in many social and political associations, committees, and commissions, she ran the family ranch for several years in Aqua Verde, until 1956 when her husband died and she returned to Albuquerque.

Back in Albuquerque, she became heavily involved in community work, serving on many state and national boards, committees, councils, and/or commissions. She received many honors for her engagements in political and social affairs. Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven died in Santa Fe on September 30, 2006 at the age of 96.

From the guide to the Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven Papers, 1891-2006, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)

Concha Ortiz y Pino was born on 23 May 1910 at the family Hacienda de Ganado in Galisteo, New Mexico. Childhood was a formative period for Concha under the guardianship of her grand-mother, who served as village doctor, nurse, counselor, and social worker all in one. Thus, she was very early on exposed to social, economic and political problems of disadvantaged people - mainly of Hispanic origin - in poverty-striken New Mexico. Her formal education began at Loretto Academy and was continued at the University of New Mexico and for some time at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

In the thirties, during the depression, she began to revive New Mexican folklore, arts and crafts, to renew the interest in it as well as to give some artisans the possibility to earn some money. In 1937, Concha was elected to the New Mexico State Legislature where she stayed on until 1942. She was appointed to various House committees and in 1940 was the first woman to become the "Majority Whip" in a State Legislature. During her tenure in office, she was interested in bilingual education for children (which cost her bitter fights with the League of United Latin American Citizens [LULAC]) and in better relations to New Mexico's neighbors to the south.

Marriage to Victor Kleven in 1943 and defeat in her third attempt to become reelected did not slow down her social, political, and economic activities. Besides being involved in numerous social affairs and having served in many social and political associations, committees, and commissions, she ran the family ranch for several years in Agua Verde, until 1956 when her husband died and she returned to Albuquerque.

Back in Albuquerque, she became heavily involved in community work and ever since then has served on civic boards, committees, councils, and/or commissions. Mrs. Kleven has received many honors for her engagements in political and social affairs.

From the guide to the Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven photograph collection, 1914-1987, (Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico.)