Miss Prudence Clark of Chimayo and Truchas, New Mexico

Miss Prudence Clark, later Mrs. Jose Tiofilo Ortega, came from Minneapolis to New Mexico Territory in 1900. She taught in the John Hyson School in Chimayo from 1900 to 1915 and in the Truchas Day School in Truchas from 1918 to 1921.

Life in a Spanish village was a new experience for Miss Clark and she took many photographs of life styles in northern New Mexico. A few are displayed next from an article by Carolyn Atkins in "Rio Grande History".

Miss Clark was a Presbyterian missionary, one of many who came from the east to staff about 50 Presbyterian schools in New Mexico and Colorado. Most of the schools closed by 1910, but those in Chimayo and Truchas continued until the 1970's.