Fernando Horcasitas (1925-1980) Papers
(Collection 68)
6,200 pieces, 23,000 cards.
See binder in the LAL library office for the complete 77-page guide to the Horcasitas Papers.
Collection Guide
Prepared by Ruth Olivera, May 1984.
Introduction
The Fernando Horcasitas Papers reflect the interest and dedication of a man devoted for many years to various aspects of Mexican ethno-history and linguistics, focusing principally on modern Nahuatl language and people. Included are published works, drafts, business and personal papers and correspondence, research notes, field notes, texts of Nahuatl plays and stories, bibliography, clippings, photographs, transcriptions of manuscripts, an original 19th century manuscript, and works by other authors.
Born of Mexican parents living in the United States, Fernando Horcasitas received his early education in Los Angeles, after which he continued his higher education in Mexico, being equally proficient in both English and Spanish. He published in both languages, and in Nahuatl as well. As teacher, scholar, editor, and researcher, he became internationally prominent in his field, leaving a bibliography of over one hundred published works including reviews, 13 of which were yet unpublished at the time of his death. All or parts of 26 of his works, some written with colleagues, appear in this collection and are indicated with an asterisk in his bibliography, Appendix A in the printed version of this Collection Guide (see Binder). An excellent short biography by Miguel León Portilla appears in Vol. IX of Tlalocan, a journal Horcasitas edited since 1951.
Two of his major proojects were left unfinished--his Nahuatl dictionary "Vocabulario etnográfico de la Sierra de Puebla (Municipio de Tlaola)" which was to have approximately 500 pages not only defining Nahuatl words but also describing the material which he had prepared for these works has been preserved in this collection, in as close to the intended arrangement as possible. There are seven file boxes of cards for the Nahuatl dictionary and three and a half upright boxes of material which fit into his outline for the Teatro Nahuatl II.
Additional material relates also to research and publications in these two fields of interest, the Nahuatl language and the dance drama. There is much information about the dance of Moros y Cristianos in Mexico, and in other countries too. Other important areas are the Nahuatl narrative and folklore, with theories of cosmogony, the way of life of the Aztecs and the ethnology of Guerrero, Michoacán, and Oaxaca. Certain items have to do with 19th century Mexican history. There are transcriptions of early documents from the AGN on the towns of Zinacantepec and Texcoco which may relate to Horcasitas' family genealogy. At one time he gathered photographs and information on the church architecture of colonial Mexico, which appear here, but do not represent his main concern.
While much of the handwriting in the collection naturally is that of Fernando Horcasitas, his mother Señora María Elena Pimentel de Horcasitas in her firm and regular hand wrote many of the explanations for material in original folders, particularly the "Carpetas" dealing with Aztec life. These have been retained.
The collection itself is in two principal sections, the first consisting of materials in 25 upright boxes, the second of 3"x5" and 5"x8" cards in 23 file boxes.
Arrangement of the Collection
Part I: Boxes
A. Horcasitas professional papers and work
Box 1
- Professional reports
- Business correspondence and reports
- Horcasitas' thesis
Boxes 2,3 4. Copies of articles published, reprints, drafts
Box 4 5. Professional organizations, conferences, newsletters
B. Nahuatl Language
Box 5
- Teaching Nahuatl: Books and courses
Box 6 2. Field Research: "Proyecto Nahuatl"
Boxes 7,8 "Vocabulario etnográfico de la Sierra de Puebla (Municipio de Tlaola)"
C. Ethnography
Box 9
1. Etnografía Nahuatl
Boxes 9-11
2. Aztec life
3. Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca
D. Theater
Box 12
1. Horcasitas lecture
2. El Teatro Nahuatl I
Boxes 12-15
3. El Teatro Nahuatl II
Boxes 16,17
4. Moros y Cristianos, etc.
E. The Narrative
Box 18
- Theories of mythology
- Cosmogony.
- Saints' stories
Box 19
4. "Antología de cuentos de hadas de Milpa Alta"
5. Other stories
F. Other Research
Box 20
1. History of Mexico
2. Architecture
3. Manuscripts: transcriptions and original Juzgado de Letras, Atlixco manuscript.
G. Maps and Clippings, etc.
Box 21
1. Road maps
2. Clippings on Difusionismo, cathedral, etc.
3. United States sites, etc.
H. Works of Other Authors
Box 22
1. List by authors
2. Periodicals
3. List of duplicates of books in Latin American Library
I. Photographs
Box 23 Mexico, D.F. and suburbs
Box 24 Mexico State
Box 25 Other states, etc.
Part II: File Boxes
Boxes 1-7 A. Nahuatl dictionary
Boxes 8-10 B. Ethnology and ethnography--bibliography, lists of words
Boxes 11-18 C. Dances--notes and bibliography
Boxes 19-21 D. Dance, theater, folklore--notes and bibliography
Box 22 E. Theater--bibliography, list of manuscripts
F. Folklore theory--bibliography
Box 23 G. Dictionary of architectural elements
