New Mexico State University's Archives and Special Collections has acquired the papers of Frederick Nolan, the pre-eminent historian of Lincoln County, the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid. 

The collection, shipped from London to Las Cruces, marks a highly anticipated addition to the university's holdings on the history of the American West. 

The collection was received in early August and arrived in carefully organized boxes containing correspondence, research files, manuscripts, photographs and copies of Nolan's many published books. Now open to researchers, scholars and the public, the materials highlight Nolan's lifelong dedication to the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid and the history of southern New Mexico. 

"The NMSU Library Archives department has long been an important repository for primary source information related to the Lincoln County War, one of the most colorful and well-known episodes in the history of the West," said Dennis Daily, department head. "The addition of Frederick Nolan's papers makes NMSU the essential destination for researchers in this field." 

Nolan's papers take their place among other recently acquired collections that focus on Lincoln County, including the papers of Nora Henn and Lewis Ketring. 

"Fred Nolan spent a lifetime researching and publishing on New Mexico's Lincoln County War and especially the life and death of the charismatic young outlaw William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid," said historian and author Mark Lee Gardner. "His numerous published writings on the violence in 19th century southern New Mexico and the Kid's short but action-filled career have benefited countless later historians and authors, including myself, and now that his voluminous research papers and correspondence will be at NMSU, they'll benefit countless more in the future." 

Nolan, who was born in England, wrote more than 20 Western novels in addition to his historical research and non-fiction publications. His work included groundbreaking access to the letters of John Henry Tunstall, a key figure in the Lincoln County War. 

"Frederick Nolan is widely considered one of the leading experts on Billy the Kid and the cast of characters who played roles large and small in the Lincoln County War," said Rick Hendricks, former New Mexico State Historian. "The acquisition of his papers with a focus on the American West will constitute a very significant addition to the Archives and Special Collections department's already unrivaled holdings of materials that document the history of livestock raising in the Southwest."

For many, Nolan's impact was both scholarly and personal. 

"Frederick Nolan was – and is – a notable authority on Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War," said Richard W. Etulain, historian and author. "And those of us who had the opportunity to hear him speak and journey with him through the town of Lincoln will never forget those experiences. Nolan's manuscripts and research materials are of monumental importance for those who want to study and write about the Kid and Lincoln County." 

The acquisition has generated excitement among historians and enthusiasts alike. 

"Fred Nolan was the nimble prince of the Billy the Kid field," said Bob Boze Bell, executive editor of True West magazine. "Generous to a fault, gracious and kind, he gave a decorum and first-rate scholarship to our efforts that is sorely missed." 

Nolan's papers are now available at NMSU's Archives and Special Collections. For more information, visit https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/.  

The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-archives-acquires-frederick-nolan-papers--a-treasure-trove-on-lincoln-county-war--billy-the-kid/s/b5633a13-e7f3-480a-a07e-117e61b5decb