The records in this collection show that the Azar Brothers, and later younger Azars, were involved in running a mercantile and grocery business in Raton, New Mexico between 1907 and 1938; the business may have existed before and after those dates. No specific business name is listed in any of the records although named in a few of the ledger books are R.H. Azar, Azar Brothers, and Elias Azar. Records from the 1920 New Mexico census show that Richard H. Azar lived in Raton with his wife and five children. The census labels his occupation as general merchant and lists his place of birth as Syria, in 1881. All of his children were born in Colorado between 1906 and 1913 suggesting that he maintained ties to both Colorado and New Mexico during this time. Line items in the ledger books show that the Azars were selling grocery items, such as eggs and milk, as well as cloth, hay, and other hardware items.
From the guide to the Raton Grocery Store Records, 1907-1938, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)
