The Tom Rutherford papers contain material relating to his involvement with ballooning, community activism, his political career in the New Mexico Senate (1972-1996) and Bernalillo County Commission (1997-2004) as well as his legal career. There are 12 series: Ballooning, Bernalillo County Commission, Campaigns, Community Activism, Democratic Party, Fraternal Order of Police, New Mexico Senate, New Mexico Bar Association, Newspaper Clippings, Family/Personal Papers, Transportation and Memorabilia. Photographs are found throughout the collection. The Ballooning material covers local, national and international ballooning, 1909-2004. There are posters, articles, photographs, programs, patches, stickers, correspondence as well as information on the World Balloon Championship Inc., Budweiser Balloon and Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (later called the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.) Fiscal information, material concerning the National Association of Counties and correspondence are found in the Bernalillo County Commission series. The Campaigns series covers Rutherford's campaigns for New Mexico State Senate, Lieutenant Governor and Bernalillo County Commission. There is also information on other state and national elections. This series contains political bumper stickers and a CD copy of a 45rpm recording of music. On the original label is "Friends of Tom T. Rutherford invite you to a Birthday Fundraiser, $25, March 1 '92, Beer & Wine! Good Eats!, Monte Vista Fire Station, 3201 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM, 2-5 pm." The Community Activism series reflects Tom Rutherford's issues of interest while serving in the New Mexico Senate. The subject files are arranged alphabetically covering such topics as education, human rights, economic development, arts, Special Olympics, neighborhoods and tourism. The Democratic Party series contains materials on the Democratic Party in New Mexico from 1972-1996. The Fraternal Order of Police series contains correspondence, clippings, brochures, reports, and state conferences material, 1995-1997. The New Mexico Senate series consists of correspondence, reports of committees Rutherford served on, bills he sponsored, and articles on issues he was interested in. There is material on the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), in which Rutherford participated. Organizing study tours overseas for young American political leaders, this program also brought young political leaders from other countries to the United States. Also in this series is a CD copy of an audiotape, "Air check with Senator Tom Rutherford, July 8, 1983." This tape has Rutherford as a guest DJ on 94 Rock, KWXL in Albuquerque. He was the State Senate Majority Whip at this time and was recorded discussing the infamous highway orange barrels and construction in New Mexico, as well as issues such as planning and growth. Side two is a continuation of the same program. New Mexico Bar Association contains correspondence and articles, 1985-2004. The Newspaper Clippings, 1965-2005, are from New Mexico newspapers in Albuquerque, Roswell, Espanola, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Santa Fe and Deming as well as surrounding states. The articles cover Rutherford while he was in the State Senate and on the County Commission, political issues, county issues and Rutherford's public announcing work he did at various charity and organizational events. The Family/Personal Papers series contains material on the Rutherford and Colby families including Tom Rutherford's parents, James William Rutherford and Elizabeth "Bets" W. Colby Rutherford. There are family newsletters and information on family vacations to California, Canada and New York. Rutherford's personal papers include certificates and awards, some law school papers, his early career including broadcasting, The Flower Shoppe, special events and charities he was involved with, personal correspondence, trips abroad including China, Hungary and Guatemala. The China trip in 1985 includes letters in Chinese to Rutherford expressing a desire to continue friendship with America. There is a newspaper article about Rutherford's visit promoting economic development, also postcards, brochures, stamps, and money. Also found in this collection is the Northampton Mercury and General Advertiser for the Counties of Northampton, Bedford, Buckingham, Huntingdon, Leicester, Warwick, Oxford, and Hertford, Saturday, September 13, 1823 and various certificates including ones for Colonel Aid-de-Camp on the staff of the Governor of New Mexico, (1972-2003).The Transportation series covers planning for the Rio Grande Rapid Ride Project 1991-1994. There are agendas, monthly reports and correspondence of the Bernalillo County Transportation Development District and the Santa Fe County Transportation Development District. Also in this series are newsletters, brochures, fact sheets and presentations for the proposed Rio Grande Rapid Rail. Plaques, political pins, balloon stickers, cup and pen dating from 1980-2003 are found in the Memorabilia series.
