Mexican Archives
National Archives
The archives and research libraries listed below specialize in early Mexican sources. Although not exhaustive, this list contains some of Mexico’s premiere research institutions. Their holdings are vast and their collections document the local and global dimensions of not just Mexico but all the early Americas.
Archivo General de la Nación
Mexico City
The Archivo General de la Nación (AGN) is the official repository for the United Mexican States. As such, it is responsible for the collection and preservation of Mexico’s cultural and historical heritage. Its holdings are organized into 322 record collections and are described by the AGN’s Guía General de Fondos. The largest grouping of records is the Documentación de las Instituciones Coloniales, which comprises 115 collections related to the Viceroyalty of New Spain. This is an indispensable resource for the study of the early Americas and includes over 41,000 volumes of Spanish colonial documents. Other record groups of interests are Documentación de la Administración Pública: 1821-1910, Archivos de Particulares, and Colecciones y Documentos. More information on the AGN’s holdings can be found here. The AGN has strict guidelines for consulting its collections; click here for more information on requesting materials. Some of the AGN’s collections have been digitized and are available through Mexico’s digital library, Memórica.
Biblioteca Nacional de México
Mexico City
The Biblioteca Nacional de México serves as the national library of Mexico. Its holdings include tens of thousands of Manuscripts, Rare Books, Mexican Periodicals, and various other sources dating back to the 16th century. Documents can be searched via the Library’s Catálogo Nautilo. The Library also has various Digital Resources. Its Biblioteca Nacional de México offers access to thousands of digitized items from the Library’s collections. Similarly, the Hemeroteca Nacional Digital de México provides digital access to newspapers and periodicals published in Mexico from 1722 to 2010.
Biblioteca Central - Nacional Autónoma de México
Mexico City
The Biblioteca Central is the main library of the Nacional Autónoma de México, the largest university in Mexico (and Latin America!). Its holdings date back to the 16th century and include various manuscript collections and rare prints. Early American sources can be found in its Colecciones Especiales, Folletería Mexicana, and Fondo Antiguo. Much of the Library’s materials have been digitized and are available via the Biblioteca Digital UNAM.
Local Archives
Mexico’s 31 states are home to their own archives and research libraries. Some states boast dozens of repositories but not all have websites or readily available information online. Several states listed below link to detailed lists created by Early American Sources (EAS) while others link to lists provided by the Archivo General de la Nación (AGN).