Author: DAVIS, W. W. H.
Title: El Gringo; or, New Mexico and Her People
Description: New York: Harper & Brothers, 1857. First Edition. Original quarter cloth rebacked with modern calf spine. With frontispiece & plates. Slight foxing to a few pages & plates. A few page edges have small tears. Corners somewhat worn. Boards blindstamped. Bottom corners slightly bumped. Slight wear & slight soiling to spine, covers & corners. ; W. W. H. Davis's El Gringo, or, New Mexico and Her People (1857) provides a foundational account of New Mexico during its turbulent transition to U. S. Territorial status following the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). Drawing from his tenure as U. S. Attorney (1853–1857) , Davis combines ethnographic observation, legal analysis, and personal narrative to document the region's cultural and political landscapes. His work captures the clash of Indigenous, Hispano, and Anglo-American communities amid federal efforts to assert control over land, governance, and resources. Cataloged in Joseph Sabin's Bibliotheca Americana as a critical primary source for territorial history, El Gringo remains indispensable for understanding the Southwest's multicultural heritage during this period (Sabin 18900). Davis dedicates significant attention to New Mexico's diverse inhabitants, framing Hispano traditions through a paternalistic yet curious lens. He describes Spanish colonial influences in architecture, agriculture, and religious practices, such as the syncretic Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Fe. His encounters with Pueblo and Navajo communities reveal a tension between admiration for their societal structures and adherence to Anglo-centric biases that dismissed Indigenous sovereignty. Meanwhile, Davis critiques Anglo settlers for exacerbating land disputes and conflicts with Native nations, reflecting the era's racial hierarchies. These ethnographic details, though filtered through 19th-century prejudices, offer rare insights into daily life and interethnic dynamics in the territory. As a federal official, Davis confronted systemic challenges in territorial governance, particularly ambiguous land grants inherited from Spanish and Mexican rule. His accounts highlight legal battles that often dispossessed Hispano and Pueblo claimants, foreshadowing later court decisions like United States v. Sandoval (1897) , which revoked Pueblo civil rights. Serving as acting governor during Governor Meriwether's absences, Davis clashed with figures such as Superintendent James L. Collins over federal authority, exposing bureaucratic rivalries that hampered administration. His advocacy for federal oversight of Pueblo lands—despite acknowledging their advanced governance—underscores the contradictions of U. S. Expansionist policies. Scholars recognize El Gringo as a vital primary source for its unvarnished portrayal of cultural collision and federal ambition. Modern critiques, such as Carlos Fuentes's The Old Gringo (1985) , interrogate Davis's dual role as observer and agent of colonialism, challenging romanticized narratives of Manifest Destiny. While the work reflects the racial biases of its time, its blend of legal rigor, ethnographic detail, and firsthand perspective ensures its enduring relevance. For historians, El Gringo illuminates the complexities of territorial annexation, offering a lens to scrutinize the narratives that shaped—and often distorted—the Southwest's multicultural identity. Bibliographic Reference in SabinDavis, W. W. H. El Gringo, or, New Mexico and Her People. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1857. Listed in Joseph Sabin, Bibliotheca Americana: A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from Its Discovery to the Present Time, vol. 5, entry 18900 (New York: J. Sabin, 1868–1936). ; 20 x 13 x 3.1 cms; i-xii, 13-432 pages. Very Good with no dust jacket .

Keywords: & Navajos


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