Born in Orchard, Iowa, Loyd Tireman (1896-1959) was a pioneer in bilingual and community education. In 1927 Tireman began his thirty-two-year career at the University of New Mexico as a professor of elementary education. In 1947 Tireman established a curriculum materials center, which grew into a library located at the University of New Mexico College of Education.

Ralph Douglass (1895-1971) was a professor in the Department of Art at the University of New Mexico.

Evelyn Yrisarri was a member of the National Storyteller's League of Washington, DC, and specialized in storytelling for young children.