Archivo de la Catedral de Ourense
Item
Country
ES
Name of institution (English)
Cathedral Archive of Ourense
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
spa
Contact information: postal address
Plaza del Trigo, Catedral, 32005 Ourense
Contact information: phone number
0034 988 220 992
Contact information: email
archivocatedral@obispadodeOurense.com
Reference number
ES. 32054. ACO
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Cathedral Archive of Ourense
Title (official language of the state)
Archivo de la Catedral de Ourense
Language of title
spa
Creator / accumulator
Cathedral chapter of Ourense
Date note
Since the 13th century
Language(s)
spa
Extent
200 linear metres
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The documentary fonds of the Cathedral Archive of Ourense contains documentation produced and received by the cathedral chapter of Ourense from the medieval period up to the twentieth century. Ten codices are preserved in the archive, consisting of breviaries, prayer books, scientific books, law books, etc. There are also incunabula and printed texts of bibliographic interest (2,000 volumes). The parchments are divided into: A) “Documentos reales del Archivo de la Catedral” (Royal documents of the Cathedral Archive) [412 parchments (years 844-1520)]; B) “Documentos privados del Archivo de la Catedral” (Private documents of the Cathedral Archive) [1,680 parchments (years 888-1554)]; and C) “Documentos de los monasterios orensanos” (Documents from Ourense Monasteries) (6,248 parchments). An important collection of military maps of Cuba is preserved (nineteenth century).
Medieval documents are contained in “Seccion A” [“Pergaminos” (Medieval parchments); "Escrituras" (Deeds) (thirteenth-fifteenth centuries]; "Seccion B" [[“Tenencias, posesiones y derechos del Cabildo en la diocesis de Ourense” (Real estate of the Cathedral Chapter of Ourense) (fifteenth century)]; "Seccion C” [“Becerro” (1489); “Tumbo de la visita de beneficios” (1489); “Tumbo general del Señor Fonseca” (1477)]; “Seccion E” [“Protocolos” (Notarial registers) (fourteenth-sixteenth centuries)]; and “Seccion G” [Diversarum Rerum (sixteenth century)].
Concerning Jews, there is abundant information in the notarial registers of Notaries Estevo Perez, Gomez Perez, Gonzalo Perez, Alfonso Yañez de Palmoy and Alvaro Afonso. There are several references to the synagogue, which was located in Rua Nova (current Calle de Lamas y Carvajal) (1345, 1416, 1426, 1427, and 1441). Information regarding Jews living in different areas of the city (Rua da Corredoira, Puerta del Campo, Rua Nova, etc.) is also included. The notarial records contain data on the affiliation, marital status, and provenance of the above-mentioned Jews. There is also information on the farming of taxes and their collection; the farming of the Ourense sales tax (“alcabas”) stands out. There are also data on professions such as economic manager or accountant. For instance, Yuda Peres was the accountant of the Count of Santa Maria (1446) and Abrahan de Leon was the economic manager of the Count of Ribadavia (1438). Likewise, information on the payment of debts, loans, purchases and sales, rentals, and legal proceedings concerning Jews is preserved.
The manuscript volumes concerning the real estate of the cathedral chapter describe how in 1453, the cathedral chapter was renting (“aforo”) the building to the Jews, who used it as a synagogue. At that time, it included one house and an oven, with a well at the back. In 1501, after the expulsion of the Jews, the building was in the hands of one individual, who demolished it. Data on properties rented by Jews are also collected.
In “Diversarum Rerum” and “Escrituras”, the lawsuit between the cathedral chapter of Ourense and the “alcabala” tax collectors, Juan Ramirez de Herrera, Juda Perez and his brother Mose Perez, is preserved. The aim of this lawsuit was to determine who and how should be paid the sales taxes of 1488 and 1489.
Through this documentation it is possible to establish familial relations between Jews and conversos.
Medieval documents are contained in “Seccion A” [“Pergaminos” (Medieval parchments); "Escrituras" (Deeds) (thirteenth-fifteenth centuries]; "Seccion B" [[“Tenencias, posesiones y derechos del Cabildo en la diocesis de Ourense” (Real estate of the Cathedral Chapter of Ourense) (fifteenth century)]; "Seccion C” [“Becerro” (1489); “Tumbo de la visita de beneficios” (1489); “Tumbo general del Señor Fonseca” (1477)]; “Seccion E” [“Protocolos” (Notarial registers) (fourteenth-sixteenth centuries)]; and “Seccion G” [Diversarum Rerum (sixteenth century)].
Concerning Jews, there is abundant information in the notarial registers of Notaries Estevo Perez, Gomez Perez, Gonzalo Perez, Alfonso Yañez de Palmoy and Alvaro Afonso. There are several references to the synagogue, which was located in Rua Nova (current Calle de Lamas y Carvajal) (1345, 1416, 1426, 1427, and 1441). Information regarding Jews living in different areas of the city (Rua da Corredoira, Puerta del Campo, Rua Nova, etc.) is also included. The notarial records contain data on the affiliation, marital status, and provenance of the above-mentioned Jews. There is also information on the farming of taxes and their collection; the farming of the Ourense sales tax (“alcabas”) stands out. There are also data on professions such as economic manager or accountant. For instance, Yuda Peres was the accountant of the Count of Santa Maria (1446) and Abrahan de Leon was the economic manager of the Count of Ribadavia (1438). Likewise, information on the payment of debts, loans, purchases and sales, rentals, and legal proceedings concerning Jews is preserved.
The manuscript volumes concerning the real estate of the cathedral chapter describe how in 1453, the cathedral chapter was renting (“aforo”) the building to the Jews, who used it as a synagogue. At that time, it included one house and an oven, with a well at the back. In 1501, after the expulsion of the Jews, the building was in the hands of one individual, who demolished it. Data on properties rented by Jews are also collected.
In “Diversarum Rerum” and “Escrituras”, the lawsuit between the cathedral chapter of Ourense and the “alcabala” tax collectors, Juan Ramirez de Herrera, Juda Perez and his brother Mose Perez, is preserved. The aim of this lawsuit was to determine who and how should be paid the sales taxes of 1488 and 1489.
Through this documentation it is possible to establish familial relations between Jews and conversos.
Archival history
Since the medieval period, there is evidence of an archive in the cathedral of Ourense. In 1605, the cathedral chapter appointed some canons to arrange the archival fonds. In 1735, the archive was transferred to its current room: the mezzanines of the cathedral’s cloister. Since the remodeling of the Cloister in 1997, the archive has occupied four rooms.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The archive is classified in different sections: Seccion A: Privilegios; Uniones; Escrituras; Seccion B: Tenencias, posesiones y derechos del Cabildo en la diocesis de Ourense; Seccion C: Señor Obispo y Dignidad de Deanato; Vicariato; Chantria; Maestrescolia; Dignidades de Baroncelli; Dignidades de Bubal; Dignidades de Castela; Dignidades de Celanova; Dignidades de Limia; Becerro; Tumbo de la visita de beneficios; Tumbo de instrumentos; Tumbo de la ciudad de Ourense; Tumbo general del señor Fonseca; Globo de la Hacienda de la Mesa Capitular; Seccion D: Cuentas, recibos, concordias, subsidios, etc.; Libros de Contaduria; Libros de cuento y asistencia; Seccion E: Protocolos; Varia (cofradias, fundaciones, memorias, pleitos, etc.); Indices o catalogos de los documentos del Archivo Catedral; Catalogo del Archivo Episcopal; Seccion F: Actas capitulares; Libros de cuentas de la Mesa Capitular y de la Fabrica; Correspondencia; Seccion G: Capilla del Santisimo Cristo; Diversarum rerum; Seccion H: Archivo musical; Seccion J: Documentacion personal de capitulares.
Access, restrictions
The access to the archive is free upon presentation of an identification document. The consultation of the documents will be subject to the legal regulations in force regarding access and may be restricted depending on the documents’ state of preservation.
Finding aids
Several inventories and a catalogue are available at the archive. Data on the collection are also available at the website of the Spanish National Archives (PARES).
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivo de la Catedral de Ourense | Collections (official language of the state) |