Arthur Seligman, Governor of New Mexico since January 1, 1931, one of the four Jewish Governors in the United States, died here of a heart attack, a half hour after he had spoken at a meeting of the New Mexico Bankers’ Association. He was sixty years old.
Governor Seligman was one of the few native-born sons of Jewish parentage in New Mexico. He was one of the outstanding figures in the social and economic development of New Mexico and is credited with laying the first pavement in the State, when he was Mayor of Santa Fe. His absorption in the public affairs of his State dates back to the time when he established a newspaper of his own, The Evening Star of Santa Fe, at the age of twelve.
He was actively engaged both in politics and business. He occupied many public offices, among them Chairman of the Santa Fe County Commissioners, member of the Board of Irrigation Commissioners, and President of the Educational Survey Commission.
He also was president of the company which built and operated one of the largest hotels in the State, president of the First National Bank of Santa Fe. and director of the Northern New Mexico Loan Association.
As Governor he was guided by liberal principles with the objective of efficiency and economy in the State Government.
He was actively interested in civic and philanthropic work. He is survived by his wife, Frankie Lacker of Cleveland, two children and a sister, Mrs. Eva Seligman Cohen of Philadelphia.
The body was taken to Santa Fe, his life-long residence, for burial.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
