Arthur Seligman was an American merchant, banker, and governor of New Mexico.
Background
He was born on June 14, 1871 at Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States, the oldest of four children of Bernard and Frances (Nusbaum) Seligman. By both parents he was of German-Jewish stock.
His father emigrated to Philadelphia from Frankfort-on-the-Main, where he had been employed in the Rothschild banking house. In 1856, however, he followed an older brother, Sigmund, to Santa Fe, and there in 1862 the mercantile house of Seligman & Clever became "Seligman Bros. ," a trade name which was to endure for over sixty years. The mother was of a mercantile family in Harrisburg.
Education
Arthur studied with private tutors, at Swarthmore College Preparatory School (1887), and at the Pierce business college, Philadelphia.
Career
Late in 1888 he began his career as a merchant in Santa Fe. From the year of his father's death (1903) to 1926 he was president of Seligman Bros. He early acquired stock in the First National Bank of Santa Fe, and helped to make it the most important banking house between Denver and El Paso. He was long a director and its president from 1924.
Seligman was also involved in government at the local, county, and state levels throughout his career. He served as member of the state Irrigation Commission (1904-1906); member of the state Board of Equalization (1906-1908); chairman of Santa Fe County Commission (1910-1920); and president of the state Educational Survey Commission (1921-1923).
As mayor of Santa Fe (1910 - 12) he was able and public spirited, and his long and distinguished service to the Democratic party in state and nation was crowned in 1930 by his election as governor of New Mexico, and his reelection in 1932. Although he always voted the straight ticket, his closest advisers in legislative matters were both conservative and progressive Republicans. During periods of Republican dominance in the state, the healthful and constructive opposition was due in large measure to him.
Seligman died in Santa Fe, and was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Santa Fe.
Achievements
Religion
He was connected with no church or synagogue.
Membership
He was a life member of the Historical Society of New Mexico.
Personality
Suave, fastidious in dress, aristocratic in taste but democratic in policy, always prominent in social life, he sought and attained a large measure of power through business and political channels. He was intensely loyal to his numerous friends and an enemy to be feared.
Quotes from others about the person
In an editorial of the Santa Fe New Mexican, September 26, 1933, he was characterized as "an able business executive, with tremendous capacity for work; a shrewd, resourceful political manager a man of unruffled temper who took defeat or victory alike calmly; an inveterate politician, who loved the political battle of wits and strategy, and whose poker political face kept the opposition uneasy through many a campaign. He ofttimes exasperated by Fabian tactics and indirection, and played his cards close to the chest. "
Interests
From boyhood he was keenly interested in the various forms of Indian and Spanish-American handicraft, and all his life he was a collector, especially of Navajo blankets, santos, and paintings by Southwestern artists.
Connections
On July 4, 1896, he married Frankie E. Harris of Cleveland, Ohio. They were the parents of a son, Otis (1898-1943), and an adopted daughter, Ritchie Seligman (1888-1966).