The Historical Society of New Mexico was originally founded in 1859 in Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory. The Society quickly gathered 100 members, but turbulence due to the Civil War and the loss of many members to the War disrupted the Society. It's last meeting was in September 1863, when it adjourned sine die, i.e., without setting a date for the next meeting. That next meeting came in 1880 when the Society was reconstituted. This small book contains the story of that first Society, including the minutes for the period 1859-1863.