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Urrutia de Vergara Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0533

Scope and Contents

The Urrutia de Vergara Papers are a collection of Spanish colonial manuscripts that document the land holdings of the Urrutia de Vergara family in the eastern part of the Texcoco region of Mexico. The collection dates from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-eighteenth century and includes land deeds, rent and tribute payments, and maps of the property. Several of these documents pre-date the family’s holdings and were probably passed on to the family when it acquired the land.

The papers consist of 248 manuscript leaves which were compiled and divided into nineteen folders by Miguel Cervantes, a possible descendant of Don Ignacio Cervantes who married Anna Maria Urrutia in the mid to late eighteenth century. The folders are clearly labelled with titles, possibly written by Cervantes in the nineteenth century. These folders are arranged into two volumes. Each volume’s pages contain stamped numbers in numerical order on the upper-right corners of the manuscript leaves.

Of particular interest are thirty-five pictorial manuscripts illustrated in a mixed indigenous and European style that document plots of land as well as rent and tribute payments from the greater San Miguel Tlaixpan area. These cadasters include symbols for orchards, rivers, towns, fields, people, and roads.

All materials in this collection are written in colonial or 19th century Spanish. The folder descriptions in the finding aid are taken from the original descriptions, possibly written by Cervantes. As such, spellings may differ from modern Spanish.

This collection has been digitized and is available here.

Dates

  • Creation: 1565-1769

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Biographical Note

Don Antonio Urrutia de Vergara (1598-1667) was a Spaniard of Basque descent and one of New Spain's most prominent merchants. In 1664, he acquired a mayorazgo (an entailed estate) in the San Miguel Tlaixpan region of Mexico. This plot of land served as the foundation for the family’s expansive landholdings. Nahuas (indigenous Nahuatl speakers) owned parcels of land that later formed portions of the Urrutia de Vergara family's estate.

Don Antonio and his wife, Doña Maria Bonilla Bastida, founded three other mayorazgos. The first was for his eldest daughter, Ana Urrutia de Vergara and her husband, Alfonso Flores de Valdez. The second mayorazgo went to Don Antonio’s second daughter, Juana. And the third mayorazgo was bequeathed to Ana’s eldest son, Don Augusto and his heirs upon Ana’s death.

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

Spanish; Castilian

Source of Acquisition

Purchased by Louis A. Kenney

Accruals

1965-001

Title
Urrutia de Vergara Family Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Amanda Lanthorne
Date
12/02/2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego CA 92182-8050 US
619-594-6791