19th Century Mexican Documents

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2023-039

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The 19th Century Mexican Documents Collection (1772-1956; undated) contains two boxes and 0.84 linear ft. of material. The majority of the collection contains government documents pertaining to the early Mexican government. The documents written before Mexico’s independence include a document regarding the Marquise de Croix, street cleaning, titles for ranches in Nueva Vizcaya, New Spain, a document regarding the “Coches de Provencia,” and Emperor Agustín I. Post independence documents include rules and regulations decreed by the government in 1827 for the Spaniard Population residing in Yucatan, Mexico, a document by Antonio Lopez de Santa-Anna regarding the “Junta Patriotica,” an announcement about special meetings, the national military in Mexico, the Mexican militia, the Tres Villas Battalion, a government election, and the addition of new holidays. The collection also includes a document regarding General Esteban Moctezuma, a document approved by Anastasio Bustamante discussing amnesty for actions committed after the election of 1828, documents from interim president Melchor Muzquiz, documents regarding Bishop Jose Maria de Jesus, the “Convenio of Zavaleta”, documents regarding Federalists and priests from Aguascalientes, and documents regarding the high tariffs and the salt mines of Villa Mier. Additionally, it includes documents regarding the transportation of Mercury with countries other than France, a document regarding the celebration of Agustin de Iturbide after his death, a document regarding the patrol service in Nuevo Leon, a document by Juan Morales who was the Brigadier General of the Republican Liberation Army, documents regarding ecclesiastical law, the selling and buying of shares of the Mina Raffahve, a pamphlet from Friar Jose Antonio De San Alberto for the followers of San Jose, and documents regarding the legal proceedings for public officials who commit crimes. The collection also contains several messages from the First Secretary of State of the Foreign Department, the Secretary of War and Navy, and the Secretary of Treasury of the Mexican government. Moreover, it includes correspondence between the Supreme Government and General Antonio Lopez de Santa-Anna, letters to Mexican President Manuel Gomez, a letter from Veracruz, Mexico, expressing the need for a telegraph line, and a letter from the House of Representatives from the State of Texas. Additionally, the collection contains legal documents from the city of Guanajuato regarding the Mina de la Luz and the city of Mineral de Santa Ana, a pamphlet regarding the Mexican and French relationship in 1838, a Message from the President of the United States of America regarding a resolution of the Senate on June 21, 1848, a document regarding the San Vicente, Chiconoac, and Dolores haciendas, a treaty between the United States and Mexico for the extradition of criminals written by Benito Juarez in 1862, and regulations regarding the political economy and municipal income from the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. The collection contains a pamphlet written by Jose Maria Ansorena's son, Jose Ignacio, to defend his father and dispute what was written in the book Historia de Mexico, a pamphlet from the Commander-in-Chief of the Robles Division to his Fellow Citizens, a government manifesto to the nation, a pamphlet regarding the Hacienda Estancia de Bocas in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and a report rendered by the Franklin Society highlighting their achievements of the year 1879. Lastly, it contains a pamphlet regarding the argument of California’s offshore islands as a part of Mexico and a book regarding the Caste War in Yucatan, Mexico.

Dates

1772-1956; undated
1800-1880

Creator

Díaz, Porfirio, 1830-1915 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Mexico declared independence from the Spanish crown on September 16, 1810, and gained independence in 1821. Post-Independence, the country created its empire, appointing Agustín de Iturbide, or Agustín I, as its emperor on July 21, 1822. Shortly after, in February 1823, Agustín I abdicated. In 1824, Mexico formally became a federal republic known as the United Mexican States or the Estados Unidos Mexicanos. In 1833, General Antonio López de Santa Anna was elected President of Mexico and remained in power until 1855. Six years later, Benito Juarez was elected president and remained in power until he died in 1872. In the late nineteenth century, Porfirio Díaz became president from 1877 to 1880. From 1880 to 1884, Manuel Gomez served as president. Díaz would run for office in 1884 and maintained power until 1911. During his time in office, Díaz was praised for modernizing the country by establishing transportation, establishing a drainage system to increase sanitation within Mexico City, eliminating the country’s debts, and creating economic growth. Despite the economic development and modernization in the country, many saw Díaz as a dictator who ruled with oppressive laws, eventually leading revolutionists to overthrow the government. The country went through its civil war known as the Mexican Revolution, which began in 1910. The country’s revolution resulted in many overthrown governments. Porfirio Díaz resigned from the presidency on May 11, 1911, leaving for Paris to remain in exile. Shortly after Díaz was overthrown, Francisco Madero served as president. In 1913, Victoriano Huerta rose to power, overthrowing Madero’s government. Huerta resigned from his presidency in 1914, and Venustiano Carranza was recognized as president until he was overthrown in 1920. The end of the revolution began with the creation of the Mexican constitution in 1917 and the election of Álvaro Obregon as president in 1920.

Meyer, Michael C, William L. Sherman and Susan M. Deeds. 2014. The Course of Mexican History. New York, Oxford University Press.