| S.P.M.D.T.U Sociedad Proteccion Mutua de Trabajdores Unidos |
The Sociedad Proteccion Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos (Society for the Mutual Protection of United Workers) was founded at
the turn of the century in Antonito, Colorado. Facing discrimination, the Hispanic residents of this southern Colorado community
united to confront the injustices which threatened their traditions and way of life. Celedonio Mondragon, the original founder, met
with other concerned citizens at his home and founded the SPMDTU on November 26, 1900. My maternal great-grandfather,
Apolonio Quintana and his brother, Jose Quintana, were amongst the other original co-founders. This mutual aid society, which
first met at member's homes, quickly spread throughout Colorado, New Mexico and Utah with hundreds of members and
numerous chapters. Originally formed to counter racism, the SPMDTU eventually evolved into a society which provided its
members with life insurance, economic assistance in time of need and held cultural events for the membership and their families.
the turn of the century in Antonito, Colorado. Facing discrimination, the Hispanic residents of this southern Colorado community
united to confront the injustices which threatened their traditions and way of life. Celedonio Mondragon, the original founder, met
with other concerned citizens at his home and founded the SPMDTU on November 26, 1900. My maternal great-grandfather,
Apolonio Quintana and his brother, Jose Quintana, were amongst the other original co-founders. This mutual aid society, which
first met at member's homes, quickly spread throughout Colorado, New Mexico and Utah with hundreds of members and
numerous chapters. Originally formed to counter racism, the SPMDTU eventually evolved into a society which provided its
members with life insurance, economic assistance in time of need and held cultural events for the membership and their families.
| This two-story adobe SPMDTU Concilio No. 1 building was built in 1925 on Main Street in Antonito, Colorado. The bronze statue honoring the founding leader, Celedonio Mondragon, can be seen to the left. |
Pictured on the left is my maternal great-grandfather Apolonio
Quintana and his new bride, Maria Paula Garcia-Quintana.
They were married in Pojoaque, NM on February 21, 1896.
Apolonio and his brother, Jose Quintana, were two of the
other original co-founders of the SPMDTU. The Historical Fact
card on the right claims that there were eight original
co-founders and the the first meeting was held at the home of
Apolonio Quintana. These two statements may not be
entirely accurate since there could have been anywhere from
seven to nine original members and the first meeting was
held at the home of Celedonio Mondragon.
Quintana and his new bride, Maria Paula Garcia-Quintana.
They were married in Pojoaque, NM on February 21, 1896.
Apolonio and his brother, Jose Quintana, were two of the
other original co-founders of the SPMDTU. The Historical Fact
card on the right claims that there were eight original
co-founders and the the first meeting was held at the home of
Apolonio Quintana. These two statements may not be
entirely accurate since there could have been anywhere from
seven to nine original members and the first meeting was
held at the home of Celedonio Mondragon.
My grandfather Francisco Archuleta (b. March 4, 1883), pictured in the
photo on the left was a member of the SPMDTU since the early 1930s. His
membership ribbon is pictured on the right. Franciso ran the roller skating
rink at the SPMDTU building in the late 1940s paying $4.00 a month to the
SPMDTU Supreme Council for the hall rental. The hall rental started at
$1.50 a month but eventually it went up to $4.00 a month. In addition to
being a member of the SPMDTU Grandpa Francisco was also an Hermano
Penitente with the Moradas at Los Pinos, NM and San Antonio, CO. Pictured
below Francisco's picture is a January 25, 1922 entry in the Los Pinos, NM
morada journal discussing an agreement between the Penitente Fraternity
and the membership of the Society for the Mutual Protection of United
Workers. Next to this photo is one of Francisco's membership pins. To the
right of this photo is a 1935 resolution by the SPMDTU outlining Francisco's
care for his mother, Martina Alcaria Martinez (b. March 4, 1856 in Santa Fe,
NM), after she fell from a horse and broke her leg. She died on June 18,
1935 before she could receive medical attention at the hospital in Alamosa,
CO, after suffering complications from the broken leg.
photo on the left was a member of the SPMDTU since the early 1930s. His
membership ribbon is pictured on the right. Franciso ran the roller skating
rink at the SPMDTU building in the late 1940s paying $4.00 a month to the
SPMDTU Supreme Council for the hall rental. The hall rental started at
$1.50 a month but eventually it went up to $4.00 a month. In addition to
being a member of the SPMDTU Grandpa Francisco was also an Hermano
Penitente with the Moradas at Los Pinos, NM and San Antonio, CO. Pictured
below Francisco's picture is a January 25, 1922 entry in the Los Pinos, NM
morada journal discussing an agreement between the Penitente Fraternity
and the membership of the Society for the Mutual Protection of United
Workers. Next to this photo is one of Francisco's membership pins. To the
right of this photo is a 1935 resolution by the SPMDTU outlining Francisco's
care for his mother, Martina Alcaria Martinez (b. March 4, 1856 in Santa Fe,
NM), after she fell from a horse and broke her leg. She died on June 18,
1935 before she could receive medical attention at the hospital in Alamosa,
CO, after suffering complications from the broken leg.
| These SPMDTU ribbons belonged to my paternal grandparents Francisco and Filomena Archuleta |
| Francisco Antonio and Maria Filomena Trujillo-Archuleta wedding picture taken in 1905 |
| Los Pinos, NM morada 1922 journal entry |
| Francisco's membership pin |
| Resolution concerning Francisco's Mother |
My grandmother, Maria Filomena Trujillo-Archuleta (b. February 9, 1890 in Las
Mesitas, CO) pictured on the left was a member of all three SPMDTU
auxiliaries: the A.M.B (Auxiliaria Mutua Beneficiaria), S.F.D.P (Sociedad Femenil
De Proteccion) and the S.P.C. (Sociedad Protectora Cooperativa). She
attended all the meetings faithfully and paying her dues and assessments
were always on top of her priority list. "Grandma Mena" (Mena short for
Filomena) wore her blue and white uniform and cap with all her pins for
funerals, processions and other official events. She meticulously preserved
all her songs, receipts, as well as other records in a large trunk. Her
paperwork, pins and ribbons are still in the same good condition as when she
used them several decades ago. The picture below Filomena's photo shows
some of her society pins and next to it is a copy of her A.M.B Society
constitution and regulations. To the right is one of her auxiliary ribbons. The
back of the SPMDTU ribbons are black with the same lettering and are worn
during funerals and periods of mourning.
Mesitas, CO) pictured on the left was a member of all three SPMDTU
auxiliaries: the A.M.B (Auxiliaria Mutua Beneficiaria), S.F.D.P (Sociedad Femenil
De Proteccion) and the S.P.C. (Sociedad Protectora Cooperativa). She
attended all the meetings faithfully and paying her dues and assessments
were always on top of her priority list. "Grandma Mena" (Mena short for
Filomena) wore her blue and white uniform and cap with all her pins for
funerals, processions and other official events. She meticulously preserved
all her songs, receipts, as well as other records in a large trunk. Her
paperwork, pins and ribbons are still in the same good condition as when she
used them several decades ago. The picture below Filomena's photo shows
some of her society pins and next to it is a copy of her A.M.B Society
constitution and regulations. To the right is one of her auxiliary ribbons. The
back of the SPMDTU ribbons are black with the same lettering and are worn
during funerals and periods of mourning.
| Auxiliary Society pins |
| A.M.B Society Constiturion |
| S.P.C. Society ribbon |
As an author and member of the SPMDTU
Concilio Numero Uno, I was asked to speak at
the SPMDTU annual meeting which was held
in Antonito, CO on September 11, 2004. I was
fortunate to meet the late Juan De Vargas
from Ranchos de Taos, NM, pictured on the
left wearing his ribbon and holding a
biscochito (sugar cookie). Juan was a direct
descendant of the Spanish Explorer Don
Diego de Vargas who in the late 1690s fought
a battle against the Utes just about a mile
south of Antonito. The headstone on the
right is an example of several monuments in
the southern Colorado and northern New
Mexico area with SPMDTU initials. This
particular stone is in a small San Miguel, NM
cemetery. The photo, below-left, of the
SPMDTU building in Chama, CO was taken by
Larry Ruybal from Pueblo, CO. The bottom
right photo shows a book on the history of the
SPMDTU by Jose Timoteo Lopez, statements,
receipts and Francisco Arculeta's ribbon.
Concilio Numero Uno, I was asked to speak at
the SPMDTU annual meeting which was held
in Antonito, CO on September 11, 2004. I was
fortunate to meet the late Juan De Vargas
from Ranchos de Taos, NM, pictured on the
left wearing his ribbon and holding a
biscochito (sugar cookie). Juan was a direct
descendant of the Spanish Explorer Don
Diego de Vargas who in the late 1690s fought
a battle against the Utes just about a mile
south of Antonito. The headstone on the
right is an example of several monuments in
the southern Colorado and northern New
Mexico area with SPMDTU initials. This
particular stone is in a small San Miguel, NM
cemetery. The photo, below-left, of the
SPMDTU building in Chama, CO was taken by
Larry Ruybal from Pueblo, CO. The bottom
right photo shows a book on the history of the
SPMDTU by Jose Timoteo Lopez, statements,
receipts and Francisco Arculeta's ribbon.
| Ruben and Juan de Vargas at the 2004 SPMDTU annual meeting in Antonito, CO |
| SPMDTU headstone at the San Miguel, NM cemetary |
| SPMDTU building, Chama, Colorado |
| Francisco A. Archuleta (circa 1940) |
| Filomena Archuleta (circa 1955) |
