Mexico Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

Archives collect and preserve valuable original documents of organizations such as churches or governments that contain information about the populace. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical records and sources for Mexico. When one of these institutions is referred to elsewhere, return to this section to obtain the address.  

If you plan to visit one of these repositories, contact the organization and ask for information about its collection, hours, services, and fees. Some archives have catalogs, inventories, guides, or periodicals that describe their records and how to use them. If possible, study these guides before visiting the archives so you can use your time more effectively.  

Mexico has several major types of genealogical repositories:  

The Family History Library has microfilmed copies of many records from the Mexican national and state archives, libraries, and other record repositories.  

The [[10,000 Volunteers Sought to Put Mexican, Other Latin American Family History on Web|National Archives of Mexico]] (Archivo General de la Nación) is an important source of genealogical and historical information. It collects records related to Mexican history, culture, and people. Records of genealogical value at the National Archives include:  

The Archivo General de la Nación is open to the public. Microfilm copies of some of the records at the archive are available at the Family History Library and other major archives and libraries. You may be able to purchase microfilms from these archives or request photocopies of the records by writing to:  

''International Directory of Archives/Annuaire International des Archives''. London, England: K.G. Saur, 1992. (FHL book 020.5 Ar 25 v.38.)  

The states in Mexico have archives that serve as repositories for their own records. Each state has jurisdiction over its own archives, which are separate from the national archives, and its own criteria for retaining, archiving, and housing records.  

Many records of genealogical value are kept by these archives. For example the states of Yucatán, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Mexico, Queretaro, Michoacán, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Aguascaientes, Durango, Nuevo León and Zacatecas have excellent records. The records of genealogical value at the state archives include:  

Some of the state archives are open to the public. You may want to write to the archive you want to visit to ensure it allows researchers. Some archives may require a letter of identification. Addresses for each of the state archives are found in Appendix A and are listed in the following book:  

''International Directory of Archives/Annuaire International des Archives''. London, England: K.G. Saur, 1992. (FHL book 020.5 Ar 25 v.38.)  

Many records in Mexico are created by the local government. Civil registration, including birth, marriage, and death records, started in 1859. Every municipio in Mexico has jurisdiction over its own archives, which are separate from the state archives. Two of the most important municipio archives are El Archivo del Municipio and El Archivo del Registro Civil. These offices are comparable to county courthouses in the United States. For more information about these offices and their records, see [[Mexico Civil Registration]].  

When a municipio was established, a municipal archive was also created to keep diverse documents such as the protocolos (notarial records), an important genealogical record that includes:  

The records of the Archivo del Municipio have not been filmed, but you can write directly to the municipo.  

You can get information and copies of the civil records by writing to the municipio. If the local registration office does not have the early records, you may want to write to the state civil registration office. See the Spanish Letter Writing Guide (36245).  

[[Mexico, San Luis Potosi Historical Archive Miscellaneous Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Mexico, San Luis Potosi Historical Archive Miscellaneous Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>  

Addresses of the Mexican dioceses as of 1994 are listed in Appendix C.  

There are two types of libraries in Mexico, those sustained by government funds, and those owned by private institutions or individuals. The Asociación Mexicana de Archivos y Bibliotecas Privadas, A.C. (Mexican Association of Private Archives and Libraries, A.C.) has a publication called "Guía de Archivos y Bibliotecas Privados" that lists some of their libraries. The association’s address is:  

The following archive has an extensive collection of records on the southern Mexican states  

The following library has an extensive collection of manuscripts and published sources  

The Instituto Tecnológico has microfilmed a considerable number of records on northeastern Mexico The institute’s address is  

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{{Place|Mexico}}