A New Chapter in Preserving Carlsbad’s History: Yearbooks Grant

By Sarah Jones, Carlsbad Public Library

At the Carlsbad Public Library, we are excited to announce that we have received a grant from the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board (NMHRAB) to digitize and make our yearbooks more accessible to the public. This generous funding will help us preserve a unique aspect of New Mexico’s history and culture: the yearbooks of local high schools. As part of this ongoing effort, we are reaching out to the community for help in completing our collection.

Yearbooks hold more than just photographs; they are time capsules of student life, capturing the trends, the faces, the achievements, and the spirit of particular eras. These books offer a window into the lives of young people across New Mexico, from the smallest rural schools to the largest urban centers. They serve as both personal keepsakes and as a valuable resource for future generations interested in studying the state’s social history.

Unfortunately, many yearbooks, especially from earlier decades, are fragile, hard to access, or missing altogether from our collection. This is where the public comes in. We need your help to fill the gaps in our archives. If you have a yearbook from a Carlsbad or Loving high school, particularly those from the 20th century, that you would be willing to donate or lend for digitization, we encourage you to reach out.

The NMHRAB grant allows us to scan and preserve these yearbooks digitally, ensuring they remain intact for years to come and are available for public use. With the growing importance of digital access to historical records, this initiative will enable students, researchers, genealogists, and local historians to explore these treasures from the comfort of their homes. Digitizing these materials also reduces the wear and tear on the original books, which often face deterioration due to age and handling.

One of the most exciting aspects of this project is its potential to foster a deeper connection to New Mexico’s educational history. Imagine being able to search for a classmate from decades ago, or uncovering historical details about your school or community. Through this project, we hope to preserve not just the pages of yearbooks but the stories and memories they represent.

However, we cannot do this alone. We are calling on alumni, former faculty members, and members of local communities to help us complete this important project. If you have a yearbook that you think could be useful to our collection, please contact us. Your contribution will ensure that future generations can access these historical records and connect with the past in ways that are both meaningful and personal.

We are committed to making New Mexico’s history as accessible as possible, and the digitization of these yearbooks is a vital step toward that goal. This project will also enrich our understanding of New Mexico’s diverse communities, bringing together the stories of individuals from different backgrounds, regions, and times. By participating, you are helping preserve a vital piece of our shared heritage.

If you have a yearbook you’d like to donate or lend for digitization, please visit our website or call us at 575-885-6776 for more information. Together, we can ensure that New Mexico’s rich history is preserved and accessible for generations to come. Thank you for your support in making this project a reality!