He holds a degree in sociology, one master's degree in agronomy and plant genetics and another in library science. In addition he spent time in the world of agribusiness working for Northrup King Seeds. In 1990 he came to NMSU's library to take the newly created position of agricultural librarian. Although similar positions were open at other land grant universities, he chose Las Cruces for its agricultural integrity. It is the type of hands-on farming that makes for interesting history.
History also can prove educational.
In addition, social historians will be able to access magazine articles for first-hand accounts of community life in rural New Mexico one, two, and three generations ago. These articles, says McKimmie, discuss ordinary but historically important topics such as the type of gardens people planted, the politics they practiced, and the games they played. Once McKimmie has compiled a bibliography of some 5,000 publications, he will turn the list over to an interdisciplinary team of reviewers. The reviewers will rank the titles according to their research value, selecting the top 30 to 50 percent for microfilming. Two years from now when the project is completed anyone anywhere in the world will be able to borrow microfilm copies of these selected titles.