The following is an interview of E.J. Ward, former manager of the Rocky Mountain Camp Company, a touring enterprise that led camping trips throughout Northern New Mexico in the early 1900s. Ward took hundreds of photographs during trips to Bandelier, Pecos, Chaco Canyon, Taos, and other exotic locales. He gave up his career as a tour guide when he was drafted for World War I. Ward’s daughter, Marjorie Hodges, donated his photographs to the Los Alamos Historical Archives in 2006.

This interview took place at Bandelier National Monument in November 1967. At least three interviewers, Jim Godboldt, Franie Roark and Gerald Roody, asked Ward questions about his early visits to Bandelier. (Some parts of the interview have been edited, denoted by ellipses.)

Ward : I was more or less without a car, and then I came down here by train on the old narrow gauge down from Antonito and Alamosa.

Interviewers : Would that be the Chile Line?…

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