Ron Hamm talks about his latest book

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Ron Hamm held a book signing for his latest book, New Mexico Heroines of the 20th Century: Role Models for Today at the Silver City Woman's Club on June 10, 2022.

Hamm said he felt the subtitle was important, because it is timely. He noted that several of the women featured in the book were and are from Silver City and several are or were members of the Woman's Club. The book, in addition to the portions about each heroine, also features 254 sketches and 144 photos.

"There has been a glaring lack of attention paid to these women in scholarly literature," Hamm said. "This book aspires to an ambitious goal of looking at truly extraordinary women of the past 100 or so years. I hope the book achieves its goal as a role model for young women today to emulate these women. These women were defined by their gutsiness and not quitting."

He cited some of the women, including Jenny Benson, who was called the Rocky Mountain Thrush and was still performing at 102 in retirement.

Myrtle Greenfield was the first epidemiologist in New Mexico. Sally Rook stayed at a communications switchboard during a flood and paid with her life by drowning.

Silver City women include Isabelle Eckles, Annette Canyon and Elizabeth Warren.

Hamm said several were suffragettes 110 years ago in Silver City. He noted the Woman's Club is part of the Federated Women's Clubs. "Clubs like yours spearheaded voting rights and told the national group to recognize New Mexico," Hamm said. "New Mexico became the 32nd of 36 states to ratify voting for women."

Frances Minerva Nunnery, who lived on Little Walnut, became the opposite of women, who were thought of as weak and fragile. "She was a model of independence and determination, having lived as a rancher, serving in law enforcement, and selling real estate."

Hamm said the Barbara Taylor, a local retired professor, goaded him into the book. "She told me I was always writing about men and it was time for me to write about women. So, I chose to write about women who have made lasting impacts on their communities."

One of the women in the book, Susan Berry, who was present at the signing, "knows everything about Silver City history. It has been said that what she doesn't know isn't worth knowing," Hamm said.

Another Silver City woman, Rebecca Brewer, for whom the section of Silver City called Brewer Hill is named, was the daughter of a freed slave born in Georgia and came to Grant County for help for her tuberculosis. "She found help and health. She was a large, striking woman and a practitioner of natural health. She donated land and money for Brewer Hill Baptist Church."

Anita Coleman Smith, from Silver City, reached national prominence as a writer. Her father was a Buffalo soldier stationed at Fort Bayard.

He also listed some present-day women, featured in the book, Adrienne Dare, Sharman Russell and Allyson Siwik.