I accept Marc Simmons donations anywhere in the Albuquerque metro with free pickup — the whole collection: New Mexico: An Interpretive History, The Last Conquistador (Juan de Oñate), Coronado's Land, Witchcraft in the Southwest, Albuquerque: A Narrative History, Following the Santa Fe Trail, and the many regional histories. You don't sort or price anything. Bring it all: I check every book by hand, and readable copies go back to readers.
Published June 2026 · By Josh Eldred, New Mexico Literacy Project
Marc Simmons was the dean of New Mexico historians — an independent scholar who wrote more than 40 books and well over a thousand newspaper columns about this state before his death in 2023. He lived simply near Cerrillos, helped found the Santa Fe Trail Association, and shaped how New Mexicans understand their own history. His shelves turn up across the state, and when one gets cleared, most people just want it to land somewhere that honors it. That's exactly what I'm for: I take the whole thing, free, and I check every book.
What I take: all of it
The New Mexico histories
New Mexico: An Interpretive History, The Last Conquistador (Juan de Oñate), Coronado's Land, Spanish Government in New Mexico, and Albuquerque: A Narrative History.
The Santa Fe Trail & folkways
Following the Santa Fe Trail, Murder on the Santa Fe Trail, On the Santa Fe Trail, Witchcraft in the Southwest, and the New Mexico folklore and daily-life books.
Columns, regional titles & any condition
The collected "Trail Dust" newspaper columns, the small-press and local-history titles, signed copies, and reading copies — bring whatever's on the shelf.
Why bring the whole shelf
Donating takes one call or text: no research, no pricing, no listings, no shipping. Free pickup in the Albuquerque metro, or the covered 24/7 drop box outside the gate at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, any hour. I check every book by hand, readable copies go back to readers, and no readable book goes to the landfill. Here's where donated books go.
How free pickup works
Call or text 505-250-3804 (or schedule online), tell me roughly how much there is and where you are, and I add you to the next route through your area. I come to you and load it all. I cover Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, the East Mountains, and the surrounding metro, and I handle whole-house and estate cleanouts regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I donate Marc Simmons books in Albuquerque?
Right here — free pickup anywhere in the metro for the whole collection: the New Mexico histories, the Santa Fe Trail books, the folklore and regional titles. Call or text 505-250-3804.
Can I drop Marc Simmons books off instead of waiting for a pickup?
Yes. The covered 24/7 drop box outside the gate at 5445 Edith Blvd NE takes them any hour, and someone is at the warehouse from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help unload a bigger load.
Paperbacks too?
Yes — UNM Press paperbacks and reading copies go right back into circulation. Just don't throw any of it out first.
Cite This Guide
Eldred, J. (June 2026). Donate Marc Simmons Books in Albuquerque — Free Pickup. New Mexico Literacy Project.
https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/donate-marc-simmons-books-albuquerque
Licensed under CC BY 4.0.