Mexican Inquisition Collection
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108
Contact information: phone number
0001 626-405-2191 (Library, Reader Services)
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
HM [several references]
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Mexican Inquisition Collection
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición de la Nueva España
Date(s)
1525/1822
Language(s)
lat
spa
Extent
88 volumes
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Mexican Inquisition Collection is part of the Hispanic History and Culture section of the Huntington Library. It includes original records of 93 trials from the Inquisition of New Spain fonds, bounded in 88 volumes. It includes trials for numerous charges, including Judaism. The collection also includes one trial from Valladolid (Spain), five cases from Central America and four concerning the Philippine Islands, and an index of inquisition trials in Mexico from 1525 to 1709.
This collection contains precious information regarding the Conversos in New Spain territory. The following are some cases of Conversos arrested by the Inquisition of New Spain included in this collection: Leonor Rodríguez, in 1597 (vol. 7); Leonor de Cáceres, in 1601 (vol. 11); Baltazar del Valle, a Portuguese, in 1634 (vol. 17), the same, again in 1634-44 (vol. 23); Simón López de Aguarda and Jorge Jacinto, in 1642 (vol. 24); Francisca Texoso and Jorge de Montoya, in 1642 (vol. 25); Diego Juárez de Figueroa, in 1642 (vol. 26); Antonio, in 1642 (vol 27); Isabel Texoso, in 1642-1659 (vol. 28); Catalina Enríquez, in 1643 (vol. 29); Margarita Morena, in 1643 (vol. 31); and Alexandre Suárez de Mezquita, in 1718 (vol. 41).
It is also part of the Hispanic History and Culture section of the Huntington Library a microfilm copy of documents relating to the Mexican Inquisition of the collection of the Archivo Histórico Nacional in Madrid (MSS MFilm 831).
This collection contains precious information regarding the Conversos in New Spain territory. The following are some cases of Conversos arrested by the Inquisition of New Spain included in this collection: Leonor Rodríguez, in 1597 (vol. 7); Leonor de Cáceres, in 1601 (vol. 11); Baltazar del Valle, a Portuguese, in 1634 (vol. 17), the same, again in 1634-44 (vol. 23); Simón López de Aguarda and Jorge Jacinto, in 1642 (vol. 24); Francisca Texoso and Jorge de Montoya, in 1642 (vol. 25); Diego Juárez de Figueroa, in 1642 (vol. 26); Antonio, in 1642 (vol 27); Isabel Texoso, in 1642-1659 (vol. 28); Catalina Enríquez, in 1643 (vol. 29); Margarita Morena, in 1643 (vol. 31); and Alexandre Suárez de Mezquita, in 1718 (vol. 41).
It is also part of the Hispanic History and Culture section of the Huntington Library a microfilm copy of documents relating to the Mexican Inquisition of the collection of the Archivo Histórico Nacional in Madrid (MSS MFilm 831).
Archival history
The collection of volumes belonging to the Mexico Inquisition was bought by Walter Douglas from Michael Blake, a dealer of old books and manuscripts in Mexico City in 1907. From the available information, the collection was probably sold separately to different collectors and eventually came to the possession of the Huntington Library.
Administrative / Biographical history
The history of the Inquisition in Mexico originates in the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Spain. After the Spanish colonisation of the Americas, the Inquisition's jurisdiction extended to Spanish America. The initial presence of Inquisitorial authority was felt after the arrival of the first missionaries, who, from 1521 on, were granted some inquisitorial authority to support the conversion of local populations. In this period, the destruction of Mexico's indigenous cultures became apparent. Later, it was decided to establish a new Inquisition court in Mexico. This new institution was established by royal decree of January 25, 1569, issued by King Felipe II (1527-1598), under the designation of Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición en la Nueva España (Court of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain).
The tribunal's mission was to banish all ideas, opinions, and doctrines contrary to the Catholic orthodoxy in the newly conquered territories. The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain was dissolved during the last years of the Viceroyalty. This dissolution was part of the Cadiz liberal movement, which, on February 22, 1813, decided to abolish the Inquisition in Spain and American territories. However, the last session of the Inquisition of Mexico was held in 1820.
The tribunal's mission was to banish all ideas, opinions, and doctrines contrary to the Catholic orthodoxy in the newly conquered territories. The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain was dissolved during the last years of the Viceroyalty. This dissolution was part of the Cadiz liberal movement, which, on February 22, 1813, decided to abolish the Inquisition in Spain and American territories. However, the last session of the Inquisition of Mexico was held in 1820.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of copies
Because Inquisition documents generated frequent copies, some of the trials and documents can probably also be found in the Inquisition fonds in Mexico City:
Existence and location of originals
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Inquisición | Existence and location of copies |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| The Huntington Library | Collections (official language of the state) |