Baptism, Dixon, New Mexico, 1983

That winter Alex called from El Valle to say Jacobo had elected to be baptized again. The news caught us by surprise, for we had hardly known Jacobo to go to church. He had been brought up Catholic, then switched, at least nominally, to Presbyterianism over the issue of his daughters’ education, and later sampled other sects, including the Latter Day Saints. But organized religion never seemed to command much of his attention, let alone his faith. Now, however, in his eighty-second year, he had pledged himself to become an Adventista, a Seventh Day Adventist, joining a church in Dixon that Liza attended. After certain preparations, he submitted to baptism by full immersion. It was one of the last occasions Alex photographed him.

  1. Heading to the river, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  2. Jacobo clearing willows, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  3. Preparations for baling hay, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  4. Putting away Jacobo's hay, El Valle, New Mexico, 1980
  5. Jacobo irrigating, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  6. Jacobo Romero, eightieth birthday portrait, El Valle, New Mexico, June 11, 1979
  7. Jacobo and Eloisa at the corral, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  8. After baling hay, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  9. Jacobo Romero, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  10. Jacobo Romero telling stories, vuelta Sáles, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  11. Jacobo Romero telling stories, vuelta Sáles, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  12. Jacobo Romero telling stories, vuelta Sáles, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  13. Jacobo Romero telling stories, vuelta Sáles, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  14. Jacobo Romero telling stories, vuelta Sáles, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  15. Jacobo Romero telling stories, vuelta Sáles, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  16. Jacobo irrigating, El Valle, New Mexio, 1979
  17. Jacobo on the El Valle Road, 1979
  18. Jacobo Romero in his barn, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  19. Jacobo and Eliza in
  20. Jacobo feeding the cows in the winter, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  21. Jacobo and Eliza walking home with wild spinach, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  22. Jacobo Romero, Kit Carson National Forest above Pot Creek, New Mexico, 1979
  23. Jacobo's whip, El Valle, New Mexico, 1980
  24. Jacobo's bridge and hay storage at the river, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  25. Jacobo and his great-grandson wait for the hay to be baled, El Valle, New Mexico 1980
  26. Jacobo at his barn and corral, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  27. Putting away the hay, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  28. Jacobo's hay in the old gristmill, El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  29. El Valle, New Mexico, 1979
  30. Baptism, Dixon, New Mexico, 1983
  31. Jacobo Romero in the River of Traps, 1979