Biographical Note

Arthur Seligman was born in Santa Fe, on June 14, 1873, the son of Bernard and Frances (Nusbaum) Seligman. Seligman was a graduate of Southmore College Preparatory School in Pennsylvania (1887), and Pierce's College of Business in Philadelphia. He married Frankie E. Harris of Cleveland, Ohio, on July 4, 1896. Seligman entered the mercantile business in Santa Fe and served as president of Seligman Bros., 1903-26; president of La Fonda Building Corp., 1920-26, president of the First National Bank, 1924; and director of Northern New Mexico Loan Association. A Democrat, he also held numerous public offices including: mayor of Santa Fe; member of the Board of Equalization of New Mexico; chairman of Santa Fe County Commission; member of board of Irrigation Commission; president of Educational Service Commission; chairman of Democratic County Central Committee for six years; chairman of City Control Committee for eight years; Chairman of Territorial Democratic Committee (1895-1911); Chairman of Democratic State Committee (1912-1922); and delegate to Democratic National Committee (1920-1933). Seligman was elected Governor of New Mexico in 1930, and was re-elected in 1932 before dying in office in September, 1933.