Eleanor B. Adams Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-826-BC
Scope and Content
The Eleanor Burnham Adams collection contains photocopies, transcriptions and translations of colonial documents relating to the history of New Mexico and colonial New Spain. It contains a few original Spanish documents as well. There are also unpublished complete transcriptions of lengthy works. In addition to this, the collection contains correspondences with other scholars and unpublished works related to historiography, as well as maps from the colonial and territorial era. Some were used with articles in the New Mexico Historical Review.
Correspondences and Historiography, 1846-2000, contains correspondences between Adams and other scholars researching the colonial New Spain and New Mexico, such as Lansing Bloom, France V. Scholes, Richard Greenleaf, and John L. Kessell. There are also correspondences related to the New Mexico Historical Review and other journals and institutions. This series also contains unpublished papers and some published secondary sources from other scholars. There is also biographical information on Adams, some collected by John L. Kessell and provided by Adams’ family.
New Spain and Yucatan (Primary Sources), 1492-1969, contains mostly primary sources related to early colonial New Spain. Many of the sources include photocopies of documents and transcriptions. There are also many transcriptions and translations of sources. The series contains proceedings from Yucatan as well. There is also an original Testimonio of an investigation into Idolatry in Nayari. Many of the sources are from the Archivo General de las Indias (AGI) and Archivo General de la Nación (AGN) and are in facsimile form.
New Mexico (Greater Southwest), 1539-1888, contains source materials related to colonial New Mexico. There are photocopies, transcriptions, and translations of various sources from the Soanish Archives of New Mexico (SANM), the AGI, the AGN, Archivo Franciscano (AF), the Bancroft Library and other institutions. Among these are sources related to the Pueblo Revolt, the missions of New Mexico, expeditions into the Moqui (Hopi) provinces, the 1750 census, letters, royal cédulas and other documents. Correspondences of Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez and Fray Silvestre Vélez de Escalante are included as well. The latter’s "Extracto de Noticias" Spanish transcription and English translation is included.
>Maps, 1583- ca. 1955, consists of one oversized folder, with 3 packets of original and reproduced maps depicting the early conception of the New World. There are maps from New Mexico’s colonial and territorial period, including enlarged sections of maps by Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco, a hand-drawn map by John L. Kessell, and maps of the Moqui and Navaho regions. Note some have been transferred from the Adams folder to the CSWR map collection.
Correspondences and Historiography, 1846-2000, contains correspondences between Adams and other scholars researching the colonial New Spain and New Mexico, such as Lansing Bloom, France V. Scholes, Richard Greenleaf, and John L. Kessell. There are also correspondences related to the New Mexico Historical Review and other journals and institutions. This series also contains unpublished papers and some published secondary sources from other scholars. There is also biographical information on Adams, some collected by John L. Kessell and provided by Adams’ family.
New Spain and Yucatan (Primary Sources), 1492-1969, contains mostly primary sources related to early colonial New Spain. Many of the sources include photocopies of documents and transcriptions. There are also many transcriptions and translations of sources. The series contains proceedings from Yucatan as well. There is also an original Testimonio of an investigation into Idolatry in Nayari. Many of the sources are from the Archivo General de las Indias (AGI) and Archivo General de la Nación (AGN) and are in facsimile form.
New Mexico (Greater Southwest), 1539-1888, contains source materials related to colonial New Mexico. There are photocopies, transcriptions, and translations of various sources from the Soanish Archives of New Mexico (SANM), the AGI, the AGN, Archivo Franciscano (AF), the Bancroft Library and other institutions. Among these are sources related to the Pueblo Revolt, the missions of New Mexico, expeditions into the Moqui (Hopi) provinces, the 1750 census, letters, royal cédulas and other documents. Correspondences of Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez and Fray Silvestre Vélez de Escalante are included as well. The latter’s "Extracto de Noticias" Spanish transcription and English translation is included.
>Maps, 1583- ca. 1955, consists of one oversized folder, with 3 packets of original and reproduced maps depicting the early conception of the New World. There are maps from New Mexico’s colonial and territorial period, including enlarged sections of maps by Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco, a hand-drawn map by John L. Kessell, and maps of the Moqui and Navaho regions. Note some have been transferred from the Adams folder to the CSWR map collection.
Dates
- 1492-2000
Creator
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography / History
Eleanor Burnham Adams (1910-1996) was a historian, author, and editor. Born in Cambridge Massachusetts, May 14, 1910, she earned a degree from Radcliffe College in romance languages, graduating cum laude in 1931. She later studied history at the University of Madrid and Centro de Estudios Históricos. She began her career as a historian in 1934, working with France V. Scholes in what became a lifelong collaboration. Her skills as a paleographer became so advanced that Scholes is known to have said that he trusted her readings of certain passage rather than his own. In 1938-39, she travelled to Mexico while working for the Carnegie Institute. Working from lists provided by Scholes, she transcribed and or photographed documents in the Archivo General de la Nación de México.
In 1941, Adams joined Scholes, who had returned to UNM at the invitation of University President James F. Zimmerman. She was still in the employment of the Carnegie Institute, but as a detached researcher. In 1950-51 Adams served as curator of the microfilm collection of Hispanic manuscripts at the Bancroft Library at Berkeley. In 1951, she returned to UNM as a Research Associate in History. From here on, New Mexico became her home for the rest of her life. Between 1955 and 1961, Dr. Scholes and Adams published seven documentary histories on sixteenth-century New Spain. In 1956 Adams and Fray Angélico Chávez published their acclaimed The Missions of New Mexico, 1776: A Description by Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez with other Contemporary Documents. A second edition appeared in 1976.
Adams’ editorship of the New Mexico Historical Review began with the July 1964 issue. She remained in this position until 1974. During her tenure as editor, Adams received criticism from members of the University of New Mexico History Department for following an untraditional career path, but she refused to back down. Her supporters rightly pointed out that she had a publishing record far surpassing that of her detractors. She was one of only a few women from her era to achieve international recognition as a historian. She published, as author or co-author, numerous books and over twenty articles. UNM named her Research Professor‑at‑Large in the mid‑1970s, and Tulane University conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1984. She passed away January 15, 1996.
In 1941, Adams joined Scholes, who had returned to UNM at the invitation of University President James F. Zimmerman. She was still in the employment of the Carnegie Institute, but as a detached researcher. In 1950-51 Adams served as curator of the microfilm collection of Hispanic manuscripts at the Bancroft Library at Berkeley. In 1951, she returned to UNM as a Research Associate in History. From here on, New Mexico became her home for the rest of her life. Between 1955 and 1961, Dr. Scholes and Adams published seven documentary histories on sixteenth-century New Spain. In 1956 Adams and Fray Angélico Chávez published their acclaimed The Missions of New Mexico, 1776: A Description by Fray Francisco Atanasio Domínguez with other Contemporary Documents. A second edition appeared in 1976.
Adams’ editorship of the New Mexico Historical Review began with the July 1964 issue. She remained in this position until 1974. During her tenure as editor, Adams received criticism from members of the University of New Mexico History Department for following an untraditional career path, but she refused to back down. Her supporters rightly pointed out that she had a publishing record far surpassing that of her detractors. She was one of only a few women from her era to achieve international recognition as a historian. She published, as author or co-author, numerous books and over twenty articles. UNM named her Research Professor‑at‑Large in the mid‑1970s, and Tulane University conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1984. She passed away January 15, 1996.
Extent
20 boxes (14.25 cu. ft.), plus 1 oversize folder
Abstract
Eleanor B. Adams' papers contain photocopies, transcriptions and translations of colonial documents relating to the history of New Mexico and colonial New Spain. It contains a few original Spanish documents as well. There are also correspondences with other scholars and unpublished works related to historiography, as well as New World and New Mexico maps from the colonial and territorial eras.
Arrangement
4 series
- Correspondences and Historiography,1846-2000
- New Spain and Yucatan, 1492-1969
- New Mexico (Greater Southwest),1539-1888
- Maps, 1583 - ca 1950
Processing Information
There is no box 7. Materials previously housed in box 7 are now in box 8.
- Bloom, Lansing Bartlett, 1880-
- Domínguez, Francisco Atanasio, active 1776
- Franciscans -- New Mexico
- Hopi Indians -- History
- Indians of Mexico -- Mexico -- Yucatán (State)
- Missions -- New Mexico
- New Mexico -- History
- New Mexico historical review
- New Spain -- History -- Sources
- Pueblo Revolt, 1680
- Scholes, France V. (France Vinton), 1897-1979
- Vélez de Escalante, Silvestre, -1792
- Yucatán (Mexico : State) -- History -- Sources
Creator
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Eleanor B. Adams Papers, 1492-2000
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- James E. Dory-Garduño
- Date
- © 2009
- 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
- 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
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