He first moved to New Mexico Territory in 1882, settling in Las Vegas, New Mexico to work in the law office of Henry L. Waldo.[2] In 1897, Governor Miguel Otero appointed him judge advocate of the New Mexico militia and granted him the title of colonel. For the remainder of his life, Twitchell was always addressed respectfully as "colonel."[3]
Twitchell was involved with numerous organizations in Santa Fe. He sat on the Board of Regents of the Museum of New Mexico. He founded and edited a historical quarterly called Old Santa Fe: A Magazine of History, Archaeology, Genealogy and Biography, which covered the activities of the Museum of New Mexico, Historical Society of New Mexico, and the Santa Fe branch of the School of American Archaeology. As President of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce from 1920-1922 he helped revive the Santa Fe Fiesta.[2]
^"Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991", database with images, FamilySearch, October 2, 2019, Ralph E Twitchell and Margaret Olivia Collins, 09 Dec 1885; citing Marriage, Buchanan, Missouri, United States, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City; FHL microfilm 007424541. (subscription required)
^"California Death Index, 1905-1939", database with images, FamilySearch, November 8, 2017, Ralph E Twitchell, 26 Aug 1925; citing 37335, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento; FHL microfilm 1,686,047. (subscription required)