University of Arizona

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Kenneth Roby Mexican Documents Collection

Assembled by Kenneth Roby, this collection contains seven series of documents that were written and distributed by various federal, state, and local government officials in Mexico between late 18th Century and early 20th Century. This collection also contains a small series of documents that were written and distributed by Spanish and English government officials in their colonies between late 19th Century and early 20th Century. Overall, this decree and orders collection includes military correspondence, constitutions and laws, appointments and promotions in the government. The collection also includes a chronological list of political leaders, important events, financial issues such as taxes and budgets, and overall customs in Mexico. The entire collection is in Spanish.

The first and second series in this collection contain various decrees, public announcements, and orders written between 1788 and 1824. These documents summarize certain events that occurred at the end of Spanish control in Mexico, the Mexican War of Independence and the beginning of the First Mexican Empire. The decrees and orders in this collection are written by important Viceroys of New Spain, Captain Generals, Intendants, Political Chiefs of Puebla and México, and officials from the Ministry of Finance and Relations. The third and fourth series contain the bulk of the material in this collection. These documents, written between 1824 and 1857, summarize certain events that occurred during the early phase of the Mexican Republic, Santa Anna’s political domination and Mexican- American War. The decrees and orders in this collection are written by Presidents, Governors, Advisers, Prefects, Superior Court Officials, and secretaries from Puebla and Mexico. There are also decrees and orders written by officials from the Ministry of War and Navy, Finance, Foreign Relations, Interior, and Justice, and by Captain Generals and Political Chiefs from Tlaxcala and Tlapa territories in Mexico. The fifth series in this collection contain various decrees, public announcements, and orders written between 1863 and 1864.These documents summarize certain events that occurred in Mexico during the political intervention of Emperor Maximilian I and the French. The decrees and orders in this collection are written by Advisers, Secretaries, and Prefects in Puebla; as well as, some French Military Officers. The sixth series in this collection contains various decrees, public announcements, and orders written between 1907 and 1917. These documents summarize certain events that occurred in Mexico before and after the Mexican Revolution. This series contains the Constitution of 1917, Mexican State laws, and decrees in State Newspapers from Sinaloa and Sonora. Lastly, the seventh series in this collection contains various decrees, laws, public announcements, and orders written between 1884 and 1917. These documents follow Spanish and English colonial periods in Mexico, Cuba, and Dominica.

Significant eras mentioned in this collection include Spanish and English colonial periods in Mexico, Cuba, and Dominica; Mexican war of Independence; first Mexican Empire under Agustin de Iturbide; early Mexican Republic; political domination of Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna; Mexican- American War; second Mexican Empire under Maximilian I; French intervention in Mexico; political domination of Porfirio Diaz; and Mexican Revolution. Individuals mentioned include Agustin De Iturbide, Anastasio Bustamante, Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna, Ramon Gutierrez Del Mazo, Luis Quintanar, Manuel De la Sota Riva, Manuel Gomez Pedraza, Jose Antonio De Andrade, Francisco Molinos Del Campo, Melchor Muzquiz, Estevan De Munuera, Jose Maria Calderon, Juan Gonzalez Cabofranco, Joaquin De Haro Y Tamariz, Patricio Furlong, Guadalupe Victoria, Jose Ignacio Esteva, Jose Maria Tornel, Antonio De Zamacona, Felix Neccechea, Jose Maria De Guadalupe Pavon, Felipe Codallos, Isidro Reyes, Juan Mugica y Osorio, Cosme Furlong, Francisco Perez. Locations mentioned include Pueblo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Sonora, Sinaloa, Tlaxcala and Tlapa Territories, Cuba, and Dominica.