The Authorized Biography of Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven Available at fine bookstores and museums throughout New Mexico. To order by phone call our toll free number 1-888-524-3736 or order online now

This book is the story of a woman. Her long and melodious full name is María Concepción Ortiz y Pino de Kleven. But her real name—the one used by thousands of relatives and friends, the one used by 19 New Mexico governors, by at least six U. S. presidents, and by countless other state and national politicians, the one inscribed on dozens of award certificates, the one installed in timeless metal on a government building in Santa Fe, and the one under which she became a living legend—is her nickname: "Concha."

This book is the story of a family—or, of course, the story of many family streams that all flowed together in the endless river of time: the Pinos, the Ortizes, the Bacas, the Raels, the Senas, the Gómezes, the Bustamantes, the Gonzaleses, the Vigils; and on the Anglo side, the Davises, the Jacksons, the Dinkels, the Martins, the Hasteds, the Klevens. Some family members came to New Mexico from Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries, when the New World was young. Others came from Yankee or Rebel families that served with honor in the American Civil War. Many members were born and grew up in New Mexico. Others discovered New Mexico later in life, loved it, and never left.

This book is a story of history, beginning back in the mist, when native people lived, loved, and died in this land without leaving behind a written record, except for indelible images chiseled into rock. This is a story of bold Spanish conquistadores, succeeded by loyal but faraway subjects of Spain, then by proud Mejicanos staking claim to their own territory, then by the brash American nation, not yet 100 years old, on its inexorable march from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. This is the story of a Southwestern land and its quest for a place as one of the United States of America, and then becoming and growing as one.

This is the story of races, of bloodlines—Native American, Hispanic, Anglo, African American. It is a story of Indians and cowboys, violence and dedication, wagon trains and atomic bombs, politics and compassion, very long lives and tragic young deaths, voting rights for women, the Great Depression, village fiestas and spectacular occasions, pride and humility, religious devotion, travel to many lands, accolades at high levels, funerals in tiny cemeteries.

This book is the story of a woman. Her name is Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven. She was born in 1910. In 2004 she reached her 94th birthday. As a child she spoke only Spanish, and did not learn English until she was 10 years old—and even then, most unwillingly. Along the lengthy track of her life, Concha became a college student in Washington, D.C., a state legislator in New Mexico, a faculty wife at the University of New Mexico, the boss-lady of a 100,000-acre ranch, a widow, a board member of 60 or more organizations working to make the world a better place, a champion for women and the handicapped and Hispanic culture and the arts and the poor. She has been inducted into halls of fame, has posed for official busts and portraits, has been honored on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. She has officially been declared a treasure in Santa Fe, in Albuquerque, and by the state of New Mexico. And countless individual people, big and small, treasure her personally, as their friend.

This book is the story of a woman, and of a life well-lived, with passion and with love. This is the story of ¡Concha!

Hard Cover
9" x 12"
200 Pages
Spanish Synopsis
Bibliography
Index
ISBN: 0-9743022-1-X
Foreword by
Governor Bill Richardson
Price — $34.95