The New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, better known as New Mexico A&M, published its first student yearbook in 1907. A contest was held among students to name the yearbook, and the name Swastika was selected, in part because the swastika is an ancient symbol of fortune and good luck used by Native Americans in the Southwest. As the years passed, and the symbol was adopted by the Nazi Party in Germany, the meaning behind the symbol changed. Attempting to maintain a long tradition, New Mexico A&M, and later New Mexico State University, held on to the name Swastika until 1983, when it was renamed The Phoenix, again through a student contest.

This collection is comprised of 95 yearbooks dating from 1907 through 1992. The publication of multiple volumes occurred in some years, particularly near the time of the discontinuation of the yearbook. In the fall of 1987 the format changed to that of a magazine, and by the time the final volume was published in 1992 it resembled less of a yearbook and more of a literary magazine. These yearbooks contain a wealth of university history and nostalgia.

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