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Vargas Project Records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-870-BC

Scope and Content

The Vargas Project papers contain the working papers of the project, collected by Larry Miller. The papers consist primarily of office files pertaining to research, logistics, promotion and production of the five volume set of journals of don Diego de Vargas: By Force of Arms, To the Royal Crown Restored, Blood on the Boulders, That Disturbances Cease, and A Settling of Accounts. Much of the material consists of Spanish language documents photocopied, transcribed and translated by the research team. Other materials include notes, manuscripts and correspondence related to archives, research and funding of the project.

The collection is divided into three series. Project files contain correspondence, notes, research material, draft manuscripts, citations and records of office operations. The original filing system and file titles have been maintained. Archival documents include photocopies of colonial documents with corresponding control cards, transcriptions, translations and research notes. Many of these documents are from archives in Spain, Mexico and the United States and are difficult or impossible to access. These archives include Archivo General de Notarías del Distrito Federal (Mexico City), Archivo Histórico de Protocolos (Madrid), Archivo del Marqués de la Nava de Barcinas (Madrid), Archivo de Rafael Gasset Dorado (Madrid), Archivo General del Ministerio de Justicia (Spain), Archivo de Notarías de Torrelaguna (Spain), Archivo Histórico de Parral (Chihuahua), and Ritch Collection (Huntington Library, CA). The photocopied documents and transcriptions/translations from these archives are not only valuable in relation to this project, but could offer additional historical information for researchers of the period. Archives research material includes loose transcriptions, bibliographies, document lists and notes, archival resource guides and indexes, hard to find academic journal articles and genealogies.

Dates

  • 1642-1999

Language of Materials

English Spanish

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.

Project Information

The Vargas Project was a twenty year scholarly pursuit into a pivotal period in the history of colonial New Mexico. Headed by John L. Kessell and based at the University of New Mexico's Zimmerman Library, the Vargas Project collected, transcribed, translated, annotated and published the documents and history of don Diego de Vargas, Spanish Governor and recolonizer of New Mexico, 1691-1704. The published journals represent a thorough documentation of the Vargas administration in New Mexico and his relations with family and officials in New Mexico, Mexico and Spain. The project, which won several literary awards and received prestigious grant awards, started in 1979. The first publication was in 1989 with completion of the final volume in 2002.

Extent

5 boxes (4.66 cu.ft)

Abstract

This collection contains records collected and produced by the Vargas Project, related to the research, writing and publication of the five volume set of the official correspondence (journals) of Diego de Vargas.

Related Material

John L. Kessell Papers, Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Richard E. Greenleaf Papers, Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Documents from Archivo General de la Nación, Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. France V. Scholes Papers, Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Eleanor B. Adams Papers, Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Documents from the Archivo General de Indias and other related archives, Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Jane C. Sanchez Papers Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries.

Separated Material

Videocassette titled "The Vargas Papers" is cataloged in CSWR general collection.
Title
Finding Aid of the Vargas Project Records, 1642-1999 MSS.870.BC
Status
Completed
Author
Samuel Sisneros
Date
© 2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

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