Near Lincoln in Lincoln County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Lucy Lepper Shaw

(1886-1974)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 9, 2023

1. Lucy Lepper Shaw Marker (Side One)

Inscription. Camp Capitan for underprivileged young women flourished at the site of a short-lived CCC camp for young men near here, thanks to the enterprising Lucy Lepper Shaw. She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia University, and was the first woman investment counselor at Bankers Trust Co. in New York. In five years, 2,000 girls from New Mexico and Arizona, many from Hispanic families left destitute by the Great Depression, lived here.

The girls became skilled in stenography, furniture restoration, flag making, colcha embroidery and the performance arts through Lucy’s curriculum. She and her husband ran Camp Capitan on a shoestring and it outlived other girls’ camps of the era. Her students’ work is treasured by family members. Tin light fixtures the girls crafted for White Sands National Monument still are in use today.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 33° 31.557′ N, 105° 26.332′ W. Marker is near Lincoln, New Mexico, in Lincoln County. Marker is at the intersection of Billy the Kid Trail (U.S. 380) and County Road 002, on the left when traveling

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east on Billy the Kid Trail. Marker is in a pulloff picnic area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lincoln NM 88338, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Raton Ranch (a few steps from this marker); Eve Ball (1890-1984) (approx. 2.6 miles away); Fort Stanton Cave (approx. 3.4 miles away); Lincoln (approx. 3½ miles away); Murphy-Dolan Store (approx. 3.6 miles away); a different marker also named Murphy-Dolan Store (approx. 3.6 miles away); Site of Old Wortley Hotel (approx. 3.6 miles away); Lincoln Historic District (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lincoln.

More about this marker. Complete text obtained from New Mexico Official State Historical Marker database.

Also see . . . Camp Capitan: A Depression Era Educational Camp for Unemployed Young Women. Camp Capitan was the brainchild of Lucy Lepper Shaw. who developed it and served as its director during the five years of its existence. (Lynn Adkins, La Crónica de Nuevo México, The Historical Society of New Mexico, April 2008) (Submitted on November 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Lucy Lepper Shaw Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 9, 2023

2. Lucy Lepper Shaw Marker

Camp Capitan image. Click for full size.

Mark Gutzman, U.S. Forest Service (Public Domain), September 1937

3. Camp Capitan

These girls and young women were among some 2,000 who lived here between 1935 and 1939.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Closeup photograph of side two of the marker. • Can you help?