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D'Armand Collection of Spanish Language Documents,

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-121-SC

Scope and Content

This is a collection of nine Spanish language documents from the Spanish, Mexican, and Territorial periods of New Mexico, dating from 1792-1871. Five of the documents provide an insightful view of New Mexico society, government, defense, and economy during the late Spanish colonial period. Two each are from the Mexican and Territorial periods. The censuses for 1792 and 1796 have demographic breakdowns giving married persons, widowers, bachelors, and children, servants, Indians, and mestizos, and "color quebrado." A petition of ca. 1810 from the New Mexico Deputación to the King of Spain registered local complaints about grasshoppers, drought, high taxes, Indian attacks, and calls for economic assistance for New Mexico.

Military reports for 1807 and 1837 provide valuable information on the infantry and cavalry forces, weapons, and defense status of the province of New Mexico, particularly for Santa Fe. Included is a copy of a letter from Mexico's General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana promoting one of the Santa Fe soldiers, Donanciano Vigil, to captain. An 1814 treatise shows how the Spanish constitution and democracy functioned in setting up a self governing ayuntamiento in remote El Paso. The territorial era papers pertain to the Chavez family of Albuquerque and Bernalillo and deal with guardianship for several minor children and mortgage property in Pajarito and Atrisco.

The entire collection is in Spanish.

Dates

  • 1792-1871

Creator

Language of Materials

Spanish

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws.

History

These nine documents were given to the Library in 1954 by Louis D'Armand, who was from Clearwater, Florida. They were part of an extensive autograph collection of his uncle, James M. D'Armand, who was a nationally known authority on American history in the last two decades of the nineteenth century. James, who was from Davenport, Iowa, spent some time in Albuquerque recuperating from tuberculosis of the larynx. It is believed he may have purchased the documents at that time. After James D'Armand's death, his wife had most of his collection burned. Louis D'Armand inherited the remainder, among which were these Spanish documents.

Extent

1 folder (9 documents)

Related Collections

Frank D. Reeve Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico L. Bradford Prince Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico
Title
Finding Aid of the D'Armand Collection of Spanish Language Documents, 1792-1871
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by N. Brown
Date
©2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 121 SC::D'Armand Collection of Spanish Language Documents)//EN" "nmu1mss121sc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451