NEW(?) PHOTOGRAPHS ON PANCHO VILLA
Rondal R. Bridgemon
I am an amateur historian of the Mexican Revolution with special emphasis on the events that took place in and around the Mormon colonies of northwestern Chihuahua. As such, I have seen numerous pictures of Pancho Villa. Recently, friends (Sullivans) shared a couple of photos that I believe could well be rare photographs of Villa. One is alleged to have been taken in Colonia Garcia (Villa with midwives and their spouses) and the other (Villa at a natural spring) was possibly taken in Madero around 1915. Let me give you a brief background as to how these pictures came into my possession.
Tito Carrillo, a friend and fellow Mata Ortiz aficionado, has been a long time trader and tour guide to Mata Ortiz (Pearson). He has been going through a period of dialysis and during his recent stay at the Life Care Rehab in Tucson; he struck up a friendship with patient Loren Perry. During one of their conversations, Loren pulled the two photos from his wallet. Ron and Vicki Sullivan (Sahuarita, Arizona residents) scanned the photographs and Ron did a brief phone interview with Loren to get more of the historical background on names, places, and faces. Loren is Mormon and apparently his grandmother knew Villa. The photographer is unknown. The photo captions are what Ron and Vicki pieced together.
There is writing on the back of the bathing photo that appears to have been done by three different people. Initially believed to say “Madera,” the writing in the middle appears to say Madero, a small village just south of Nuevo Casas Grandes. This really is more reasonable than Madera as there are natural springs and pools in the Madero area.
Answers could solve a few questions that come to mind. When did the village take the name of Francisco I. Madero – by 1915? Does the name in the middle mean the Mormon Clifford Whetten and did he own property in Madero? Does anyone recognize any of the people in the photographs? If so, please contact me through Las Colonias Magazine.
While I can’t locate the Colonia Garcia photo anywhere else, there is a partial, low resolution photo of Villa in the swimsuit (image reversed) on The Mex Files website: (http://mexfiles.net/2010/05/11/pancho-villa-as-youve-never-seen/). I believe this photograph comes from the collection of Ciudad Victora, Tamaulipas, historian Osiris Villa Huerta who is hoping to find a better image. I will send the “Loren Perry” photographs to him.
Poncho Villa with midwives and their husbands of Colonia Garcia
Handwritten description of Poncho Villa bathing suit photo
Ron’s book, The Magnetism of Mata Ortiz: Places, People, and Pottery is a very good read. I think the best part of the book are the pictures. It was fun actually placing a face to the names of the Revolutionists who wandered in and out of the Colonies…Villa,Madero,Orozco,Carranza, they’re all in it. This book really helped put into context the Mexican Revolution and the part the Mormon Colonies and Colonists played in it. You can buy it on Amazon here: Mata Ortiz or order directly from Ron. The book normally retails for $30, but he is offering it Las Colonias readers for $25 plus $3 shipping and handling. Checks can be made out to The Magnetism of Mata Ortiz and sent to Ron Bridgemon, 4545 W. Flying Diamond, Tucson, AZ 85742.
Thanks for sharing the Poncho Villa photos with us. Poncho Villa worked with my great-grandfather for a time on the construction of El Chepe. We have some family stories about Poncho Villa during those days (before the revolution).
Linda, We would be happy to post them on our website if you want to share them with us.
I am looking for help to identify 3 8×10 photos I have. I believe they are Poncho Villa and some of his fighters or army. A friend found them in an attic about 17 years ago in
Denver, Colorado. Can anyone help with this? Thank You
Hello,
My name is Brett Bluth. My grandmother, Viva Skousen Bluth Brown was a young girl when Poncho Villa made an encampment at my great grandfathers, Daniel Skousen, Gristmill in Colonia Juarez. She witnessed Poncho Villa and a deputy shoot a Chinese man in the head on their property, and despite Poncho Villa’s threat to kill them if they nursed the man back to health, they did so anyway. Hiding him in the stockbarn until he had healed.
I believe the handwriting on the back of that photo is my grandmothers handwriting. it is quite unmistakable. I have handwriting samples as a comparison.
As a passioned researcher of Poncho Villa, do you have any specific knowledge of issues between Poncho Villa and the Huichol indians? Poncho Villa and Peyote? I have written a book and one chapter discussed this tumultuous time period…. If you have any information I would like to chat.
Best,
Brett