Courtesy photo
Josephine and Willie Cordova
Through the looking glass: Arroyo Seco’s Josephine Cordova
T
By Scott Gerdes
aoseños have long heralded no-nonsense trailblazers whether female or male, young or old. In that vein, we take a glimpse into the past, featuring one of the many driven, talented women who has
helped shape Taos into the special community it is and forever shall be. Josephine Martinez Cordova (1907-1998) Expectations can either take the wind out of one’s sails or prod a person to push harder. Josephine Cordova’s path handed
her an oar, which she gladly took in hand with a firm, determined grip.
A love of reading and knowledge led to a lifetime serving Taos-area schools.
The petite, dark-eyed fire plug pursued an education and a career in an era where most women wouldn’t have dreamed of having a job outside of the home.
Josephine’s story began when her father, Francisco Martinez y Martinez, died when she was just 7 years old. He worked as a Taos County schools superintendent. CORDOVA continues on Page 36
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TAOS WOMAN 2016
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