Maria Gertrudis “Doña Tules” Barceló (1805 – 1852) | Santa Fe
Maria Gertrudis “Doña Tules” Barceló was a well-known hotelier, saloon owner, trader, and master gambler in the New Mexico Territory before, during, and after the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Over the span of her life, she was a citizen of New Spain, Mexico, and the United States, amassing a small fortune. She catered to the steady flow of American and Mexican soldiers and traders traveling the Santa Fe Trail during the 1830s and 1840s, becoming an influential member of Santa Fe’s elite and a local legend. She rubbed elbows with some of the most notable figures of her time. Governor Manuel Armijo was the godfather of one of her adopted daughters. General Stephen Kearny escorted her to a ball at the La Fonda Hotel in 1847. Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy presided over her funeral.
Her friends and acquaintances described her as charming, intelligent, resourceful, supportive, and generous, with shrewd business instincts. Ultimately, her business acumen became the boon and bane of her existence. As an intelligent, independent, Latino woman, her financial success and social status was admired by some and resented by others.
Over a Century of Slander
Due to her wealth and prominence in the community, Doña Tules was both admired and maligned throughout her life. The stark difference in opinion was directly correlated to the escalating conflict between the United States and Mexico, with the most lurid accusations concocted by American journalists and novelists, who created an image of a Spanish succubus. The attacks on her character began before the Mexican-American war and continued well into the 20th century.
At the time, the U.S. was trying to justify the unprovoked invasion of Mexico. The depiction of Doña Tules was a crude caricature, meant to symbolize the wanton nature of the local Mexican population. A series of American books and newspaper articles depicted her as the Mexican “Queen of Sin,” describing her as an unattractive courtesan, an amoral madam, a lowly gambler, and/or a wanton woman. Over a century later, in 1948, Ruth Laughlin wrote the novel The Wind Leaves No Shadow featuring Doña Tules as the protagonist. She was also a central character in a 1962 episode of the tv series Death Valley Days.
Doña Tules didn’t read or speak English, which was fortunate for those defaming her. She was known to aggressively defend her reputation. On two occasions in the 1830s, she challenged similarly salacious accusations in court, winning both cases. Furthermore, there is no evidence that she was a prostitute. Her money came from working the card tables, though she eventually became a madam when she added a bordello to her suite of Santa Fe business endeavors.
From Sonora to Tome
Details of Barceló’s early life are scant, a mix of fact and fiction; however, most sources reference Sonora, Mexico as her birthplace. Based on her obituary, she was born around 1805, the daughter of Juan Ignacio Barceló and Dolores Herrero. She had two siblings, one brother and one sister. Her family moved to Tome, New Mexico shortly after Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821.
She married Manuel Sisneros on June 20, 1823. The couple was referred to as Don and Doña in the church records, which suggests that one or both came from respected families. However, the union was considered scandalous in tiny Tome, because Barceló was a few years older than her husband and 4-5 months pregnant when they got married. Furthermore, she didn’t submit to secondary status in her union, retaining her maiden name and sole rights to her property and assets.
Maria and Manuel had two sons, Jose Pedro and Miguel Antonio Sisneros. Neither survived infancy. To assuage the pain of that loss, she adopted two daughters, one in 1826 and one in 1832, Maria del Refugio and María Guadalupé de Altagracia. She also opened her home to a foster child, Petra Gutierrez. Many years later, when Petra got pregnant out of wedlock at 14, Barceló raised the baby. Her commitment to her family didn’t end when she died. Her will provided financial support for the unmarried women in her care.
Becoming a Monte Master
Barceló moved to Real de Dolores with her husband in 1825. Located near present-day Golden, New Mexico, the mining camp was the site of the first gold rush in the region. She established a gambling hall, honing her skills as a dealer and picking up her nickname, Doña Tules. Her game of choice was three-card Monte, also known as Find the Lady. It is a card “game” where people bet money based on finding the “money card” among three face-down playing cards. She saved enough money by 1936 to set up a hotel and sala (gambling hall/salon) in Santa Fe.
Located in Burro Alley, her hotel and casino became a hub for Santa Fe’s most affluent citizens and the many travelers arriving daily on the Santa Fe trail. The luxurious establishment encompassed an entire city block between Palace Avenue and San Francisco Street. It was extravagantly decorated, with opulent furnishings, crystal chandeliers, carpets imported from Europe, and etched glass mirrors.
Santa Fe High Society
Doña Tules was a smart, charming businesswoman, with a keen eye for opportunity. She catered to an elite clientele, presiding over one of the monte tables and developing relationships with some of the most powerful men in the territory. Through her contacts, she expanded her business holdings to include investments and lucrative trade deals. Her growing affluence paved the way for influence with the male political and social elite.
When the U.S. invaded Mexico in 1846, they set up a civilian government in Santa Fe. Doña Tules tried to diplomatically navigate the transition, welcoming American officers and soldiers into her casino, often providing them with their first taste of Mexican culture. On a more pragmatic level, she provided tangible assistance, exposing a violent conspiracy against the U.S. Army, which saved the lives of many U.S. soldiers.
Territorial Transition
Over the course of her career, Doña Tules accumulated an enormous amount of wealth. She steadily leveraged her economic and political sway to increase her influence in Santa Fe politics and society. Unfortunately, her personal life wasn’t as successful as her professional endeavors. Manuel lived in a separate house on the same street from 1836 to about 1841, but his name vanishes entirely after 1841. It isn’t clear if they divorced or if he died.
During the conflict between Mexico and the United States, Doña Tules focused on her businesses and surviving the war. She supported families in need, various charitable organizations, as well as the Catholic church. Whereas the Americans treated her with disdain outwardly, they recognized her status in Santa Fe’s social circles and they were more than willing to accept her financial assistance after the war. She provided loans to the U.S. Army to cover payroll and to buy provisions. She also contributed more than her share of taxes to keep the government operational during budget shortfalls.
Though her business profits waned after the war, Doña Tules kept the gambling hall open until 1849, the same year she officially became an American under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. However, her tenure as an American citizen was brief. She became ill in 1850, dying on January 17, 1852, at the age of 47.
Though there were rumors of affairs, her personal life fell by the wayside until 1846. She fell in love with Augustus de Marle, a Prussian officer in the U.S. Army. He provided security for her casino and represented her in court during at least one debt collection. Whereas they never married, they remained together until her death, with Augustus serving as the executor of her will.
A Generous Legacy
When Doña Tules died, she was the wealthiest Latino in Santa Fe and a local legend. She left several residences, property, and $10,000 to her siblings and adopted daughters. She also made substantial donations to the Catholic Church and the city of Santa Fe, designated for specific charitable endeavors. Her funeral was a major event, with Archbishop Lamy presiding. Santa Fe’s luminaries attended, from politicians to military leaders, as well as most of the town’s residents.