Archivo General - Congreso del Estado de Guanajuato

The Archivo General - Congreso del Estado de Guanajuato is the official repository for the State Congress of the state of Guanajuato. Its Archivo Histórico del Congreso del Estado records date back to the beginning of Mexican nationhood, including the Congress’s minutes and decrees. Information about the Archivo Histórico’s can be found in its Catálogo.

Archivo Histórico Municipal de León

The Archivo Histórico Municipal de León preserves and makes available the documentary heritage of the Municipality of León. The Archives’ records date back to 1580 and include various collections from the Spanish colonial era and early national Mexico. They include the Fondo Alcaldía Mayor, the Fondo Subdelegación, the Sección Independencia, the Fondo Lagos, and the Fondo de Jefatura Política. More information on the Archives’ collections can be found here. The Archives’ holdings can be searched via their Catálogos.

Archivo Histórico de la Universidad de Guanajuato

The Archivo Histórico de la Universidad de Guanajuato preserves historical documents related to the University of Guanajuato and holds various collections of both a private and a public nature. Its Archivo Histórico - Fondos y Colecciones page offers detailed descriptions of the university’s collections. Among its holdings are the records of the Municipality de Guanajuato (1557-1945), the Mining Agency of Guanajuato (1642, 1698-1899), and records of Guanajuato’s governors (1822-1994). The Archive also maintains sizeable map, architectural drawing, and newspaper collections. Rare books can also be found at the university’s Biblioteca Armando Olivares.

Other Guanajuato Archives & Sources

The Government of Mexico maintains a list of historical archives in Guanajuato. It can be viewed here.

The area that became Guanajuato was colonized by the Spanish shortly after the Conquest of Mexico and became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. As such, documents related to the colonial administration of Guanajuato are located in Mexico City at the Archivo General de la Nación and in Spain at the Archivo General de Indias.