Historic Questa Images
John Collier, Jr.'s
FSA Photographs
of Questa Village
Taos County
New Mexico
Video from the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology UNM
John Collier Jr. (May 22, 1913 – February 25, 1992) was an American anthropologist and an early leader in the fields of visual anthropology and applied anthropology. His emphasis on analysis and use of still photographs in ethnography led him to significant contributions in other subfields of anthropology, especially the applied anthropology of education.
His book, Visual Anthropology: Photography as a Research Method (1967) is one of the earliest textbooks in the field and is still (revised 1986) in use today.
He is also notable as someone who overcame significant learning and hearing impairments to succeed on a larger stage.
(Wikipedia)
Notes from the Library of Congress, except “identifications in quotes, provided by Tessie Rael y Ortega in 2002.”
Choose three for framing and hanging in the library...
JC18115 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer.
JC18114 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18113 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18759 Questa, Taos County, New Mexico. The high school and grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Cienega School and high school."
JC17912 Questa, New Mexico. A rural consolidated school "Llano, the first high school in the Questa Independent School system – can’t find" 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. “On Llano, the first high school in the Questa Independent School system.”
JC18760 Questa, Taos County, New Mexico. The grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Cienega School built by the WPA. Lumber was donated by Macellino Martinez"
JC18136 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "teacher Mrs. Alfaro"
JC18123 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18145 Questa, New Mexico. Spanish American students in the grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18138 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer,
JC18137 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18139 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. . "Paul Archuleta (left), Lee Jaramillo (right)"
JC18767 Questa, Taos County, New Mexico. First grade. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18766 Questa, Taos County, New Mexico. First grade. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18140 Questa, New Mexico. Spanish American girl who is in the first grade in school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18144 Questa, New Mexico. Boy in the grade school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Paul Archuleta"
JC18121 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18120 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18119 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18117 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18116 Questa, New Mexico. Grade school children. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18112 Questa, New Mexico. A school boy. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18135 Questa, New Mexico. Mother and child, patients at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18131 Questa, New Mexico. Mother and child, patients at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18089 Questa, New Mexico. A patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18089 Questa, New Mexico. A patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18086 Questa, New Mexico. A Spanish American girl, a patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18085 Questa, New Mexico. A Spanish American girl, a patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18087 Questa, New Mexico. A Spanish American girl, a patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18130 Questa, New Mexico. Patients at the dental clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18127 Questa, New Mexico. Spanish American girls, patients at the dental clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18133 Questa, New Mexico. A patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18134 Questa, New Mexico. A patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17921 Questa, New Mexico. The clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association is built on a high hill which overlooks the town and valley. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17920 Questa, New Mexico. The clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association is built on a high hill which overlooks the town and valley. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17922 Questa, New Mexico. The clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association is built on a high hill which overlooks the town and valley. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17919 Questa, New Mexico. The clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association is built on a high hill which overlooks the town and valley. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18081 Questa, New Mexico. Spanish American girl, a patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18080 Questa, New Mexico. Spanish American girl, a patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18076 Questa, New Mexico. Spanish American girl, a patient at the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18074 Questa, New Mexico. Clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18088 Questa, New Mexico. The waiting room of the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17927 Questa, New Mexico. The waiting room of the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Mrs. Compton’s house—the clinic—Doctor deVough and Dr. Onstine-- was located by the current senior citizens building."
JC18128 Questa, New Mexico. The waiting room of the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18082 Clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18073 Clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18083 Questa, New Mexico. Examination in the clinic operated by the Taos county cooperative health association. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18066 Questa (vicinity), New Mexico. Mary Lennard, a Red Cross nurse from the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association, making a home call. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18068 Mary Lennard, a Red Cross nurse from the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association, making a home call. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18065 Questa (vicinity), New Mexico. Mary Lennard, a Red Cross nurse from the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association, making a home call. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18067 Mary Lennard, a Red Cross nurse from the clinic operated by the Taos County cooperative health association, making a home call. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18101 Questa Post office. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Post office. Shawl was called a tapalo"
JC18100 Questa Post office. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18111 Questa, New Mexico. Church. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC10108 Questa Church. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC19056 Mass at San Antonio church, Febuary 1943
JC19053 Mass at San Antonio church, Febuary 1943
JC19054 Mass at San Antonio church, Febuary 1943
JC18768 Questa, Taos County, New Mexico. Father Smith of the parish of Questa , 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer, "Father Smith went to Christo Rey in Santa Fe after Questa and remained there for the rest of his career. While in Questa (6 to 8 years), as the first parish priest. he was part of the community."
JC18105 Questa, local boy broadcasting native songs over the parish broadcasting system. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18102 Questa Father Smith broadcasting a news release in Spanish from his parish house broadcasting station. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Father Smith went to Christo Rey in Santa Fe after Questa and remained there for the rest of his career. While in Questa (6 to 8 years), as the first parish priest. he was part of the community."
JC18107 Questa, New Mexico. Natives listening to the evening news release from broadcasting station PSA, operated from the parish house by means of loudspeakers by Father Smith, priest to the parish of Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Old school house. Father Smith lived there when he first came to Questa. Gustavo Rael in center of photo. The Parish Center is now at this location."
JC18106 Natives listening to the evening news release from broadcasting station PSA, operated from the parish house by means of loudspeakers by Father Smith, priest to the parish of Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18744 Questa, New Mexico. Father Smith, ringing a church bell, placed to the parish house, where he operates a broadcasting system which can be heard four miles away, 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Father Smith rang this bell in the evening, signaling for the children to go home. He was very strict about this."
JC18126 Questa general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Four Rael brothers. Currently the Rael Market building. Locals would visit at the original store and sit on the rail to eat apples and pickles."
JC18124 Questa general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "J.P Rael walking down the stairs. Gas station across the street on the corner."
JC18154 Questa, New Mexico. Men in front of the general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17909 A store. Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Post office and J.P. Rael store; later location of First State Bank"
JC18159 The keeper of the general store, January 1943. "Tessie’s uncle, Jose Antonio Rael, the oldest of her uncles, who managed the Rael store."
JC18158 Questa, Taos County, New Mexico. The general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18157 General store in Questa, 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "interior of Rael store. Eva Rael (Gallegos) in photos. The store had the only telephone number in town—Questa 1. Messages from men working in Wyoming, messages about illness and death, and other phone messages were delivered from the store."
JC18156 Questa, Taos County, New Mexico. The general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "interior of Rael store. Eva Rael (Gallegos) in photos. The store had the only telephone number in town—Questa 1. Messages from men working in Wyoming, messages about illness and death, and other phone messages were delivered from the store."
JC18150 Questa, New Mexico. A general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18151 Questa, New Mexico. A general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18148 Questa, New Mexico. Siegfried Kahn, who was a storekeeper in Germany, then a store owner in Albuquerque for thirty years, before business reverses brought bankruptcy and forced him to start fresh with a general store in this town. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Kahn store, later Louie’s Café location (owned by Louis Ortiz). Mr. Kahn brought clothes from New York to sell in Questa. He specialized in wedding dresses and traveled to New York to place the orders, which then arrived in Questa by mail. He later moved to Santa Fe, where he opened a shoe store."
JC18149 Questa, New Mexico. Siegfried Kahn, who was a storekeeper in Germany, then a store owner in Albuquerque for thirty years, before business reverses brought bankruptcy and forced him to start fresh with a general store in this town. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18125 Questa, hitching post outside the general store. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18095 Questa(?), New Mexico. Pool room. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17096 Questa, New Mexico. A load of hay. "J.A. Rael Hall"
JC18093 Pool Hall, Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18152 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "J.A. Rael Hall, across from later Centinel Bank location"
JC18985 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Left: J.A. Rael Hall, for dances and movies. Right Gas station. (north side of 38/522 junction) Center: Wisehart Hotel Back), Martinez home (front)"
JC18096 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC18098 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Salomon Rael. Malaquias Rael house located there now (near church)"
JC18094 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
![JC900 Vista westward over the Rio Grande valley from the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos [Mountains] near Questa, New Mexico, 1943, John Collier, Jr.](https://questalibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/JC-Vista-westward-over-the-Rio-Grande-from-near-Questa.jpg){kind=link}
JC900 Vista westward over the Rio Grande valley from the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos [Mountains] near Questa, New Mexico, 1943, John Collier, Jr.
JC910 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC890 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC888 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC891 General store near Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Leon store in Cerro."
JC17971 Cerro, New Mexico. Gas station. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17983 Questa, New Mexico. High school. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer
JC17984 Questa, New Mexico. 1943, John Collier, Jr., photographer. "Bar owned by Bernino Padilla. Later Centinel Bank office in that location and now Questa Visitor Center."
