Roque Tudesqui House - Historic Santa Fe Foundation

Sze finds it fascinating to solve a problem, then see the result
generate some effect in the community, get smaller neighborhood groups
energized, and, withal, make some connection and commitment to the
past.
Oral history and personal interviews often become part of the
process. Lest readers gain the impression this is primarily a solitary occupation,
Sze recounts stories to prove otherwise. Her work has taken her
all over the state. A favorite assignment was to document the cemetery at
Dawson, a typical small early 20th century company coal town, where she
was invited to a semi-annual Labor Day picnic reunion to record reminiscences
with the relatives ofthe original miners.
Sze's process for initiating work on a project usually begins with
"no assumptions." What is "thought to be known" is acknowledged, but
then follows a deliberate attempt to "forget it all, at least for the moment."
Next comes determining the previous owners and related information,
analyses of available facts, a double check for problems, viewing and
reviewing historic maps, court house records (chain oftitle, abstracts),
correspondence, photographs and newspaper accounts. Sze plays upon
Thoreau's famous "simplifY, simplifY, simplify" but changes her mantra to
"verifY, verifY,verifY."
When asked if she would have a similar occupation
if she lived
elsewhere, her answer was a typically straightforward "I would hope
so. But I find it particularly interesting in Santa Fe because nothing can
be taken for granted; everything needs confirmation. For instance,
recently-made adobe walls are deliberately constructed to 'look' old,
as though they have been laid for generations. That's all part of the
challenge. Always keep in mind 'things are seldom what they seem.' It
all has to do with people's lives."
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