Arthur Seligman (June 14, 1871 – September 25, 1933) was an American businessman and politician. He served in several offices in

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

, including mayor of Santa Fe and

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Early life and education

Seligman was born in Santa Fe,

New Mexico Territory The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912. It was created from the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico, as a result of '' Nuevo México'' becomi ...

on June 14, 1871, the son of Bernard and Frances Seligman. In 1887, he graduated from the

Swarthmore College Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the e ...

Preparatory School, and in 1889 he graduated from Union Business College (now Peirce College).

Career

After completing his education, Seligman became active in his family's business enterprises. He was also president of the Seligman Brothers mercantile firm (1903–1926), president of the La Fonda Building Corporation (1920–1926), president of the First National Bank (1924–1933); and auditor and board of directors member of the Northern New Mexico Loan Association. A Democrat, Seligman was heavily involved in New Mexico's politics throughout his life. His party leadership positions included: chairman of the Santa Fe Democratic County Central Committee (1895–1911), chairman of the territorial Democratic Committee (1895–1911), chairman of the state Democratic committee (1912–1922); and delegate to the

Democratic National Committee The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the principal executive leadership board of the United States's Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party. According to the party charter, it has "general responsibility for the affairs of the ...

(1920–1933). Seligman was also involved in government at the local, county, and state levels throughout his career. He served as member of the state Irrigation Commission (1904–1906), member of the New Mexico Board of Equalization (1906–1908), chairman of Santa Fe County Commission (1910–1920); mayor of Santa Fe (1910–1912), and president of the state Educational Survey Commission (1921–1923). In

1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be on J ...

, Seligman was elected governor. He was reelected in

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident (1932), Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort ...

and served from January 1, 1931 until his death.

Personal life

Seligman and Frankie E. Harris (1867–1937) of

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

were married on July 4, 1896. They were the parents of a son, Otis (1898–1943), and an adopted daughter, Ritchie Seligman (1888–1966). Seligman died in

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

on September 25, 1933, and was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Santa Fe.

References

External resources

Arthur Seligman
at ''National Governors Association'' *

at ''Political Graveyard'' , - 1871 births 1933 deaths 20th-century mayors of places in New Mexico Democratic Party governors of New Mexico Jewish American people in New Mexico politics Jewish state governors of the United States Jewish American mayors Mayors of Santa Fe, New Mexico {{NewMexico-politician-stub