Christine St. Vrain Fischahs/Courtesy photo
HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS RELEASE
Join the Los Alamos Historical Society in Fuller Lodge at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12 for “Ceran St. Vrain Is New Mexico True: A Santa Fe Trail 200th Anniversary Commemorative Event,” a lecture by Christine St. Vrain Fischahs.
Every generation produces exceptional men and women that inspire us. In the 1800s, Ceran St. Vrain proved to be one of these unique men. He lived his adult life in the Southwest and left an enduring influence that can still be seen in the ruts of the Santa Fe Trail, old centers of trade like the Taos and Santa Fe plazas, and the gristmills he helped build, one of which still stands as a monument to his legacy. From fur trapping and trading, he made advancements in business, politics, and military endeavors that established him as a leading pioneer of the early West. Join Christine St. Vrain Fischahs as she takes us on a journey to the past to learn about the life of Ceran St. Vrain and discover the legacy he left behind.
Fischahs has strong familial ties to New Mexico, going back to the 1820s when her 4th great-uncle, Ceran St. Vrain, ventured from St. Louis, Missouri, to Taos, New Mexico. Her great-grandfather, James B. Jones, served as lieutenant governor of New Mexico from 1943–1947. Her great-uncle was the playwright Preston St. Vrain Jones, born in Albuquerque. Christine is a retired paralegal currently living in Los Alamos with her husband. She is a genealogist, researcher, historian, writer, and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the New Mexico Genealogical Society, a board member of the Santa Fe Trail Association, and sits on the advisory board of the St. Vrain Mill Preservation and Historical Foundation. She assisted with research for Ceran St. Vrain, American Frontier Entrepreneur, a book by Ronald K. Wetherington, and the article “The Many Lives of Red St. Vrain Bransford” by Priscilla Shannon Gutierrez (published in SFTA magazine Wagon Tracks). Christine wrote an article about Ceran St. Vrain called “Black Beard,” published in the Taos News, as well as an essay about Marie Felicite St. Vrain featured in the New Mexico Genealogy Society’s upcoming Santa Fe Trail commemorative book, Legacy of the Trail (to be released in summer/fall 2021). Since 2016, Fischahs has given well-received public presentations about her ancestors to various societies. She is currently working on her first book, From Trails to Triumph, the story of Ceran St. Vrain and his extended family.
Historical Society lectures are free and follow public health guidelines for indoor gatherings. Fuller Lodge is at 2132 Central Avenue.
Join the lecture in-person in Fuller Lodge or online on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/losalamoshistory (no Facebook account needed).
The lecture series continues at 7 p.m. on November 9th with Luis Campos’ lecture “A Decade of Teaching ‘Atomic America.’” Find all the details at http://www.losalamoshistory.org/events.
The Los Alamos Historical Society lecture series is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Robin and Richard McLean.
The Los Alamos Historical Society preserves, promotes, and communicates the remarkable history and inspiring stories of Los Alamos and its people for our community, for the global audience, and for future generations. More information about the Historical Society can be found at www.losalamoshistory.org. Stay up to date with the latest news from the Historical Society by following @LosAlamosHistory on Facebook and Instagram. Our members make all our work possible, join us today at https://www.losalamoshistory.org/membership.html.