COLLECTION GUIDE
Prepared by Michael Forrest Fry, May 1981.
The Yucatán Collection consists of both printed yet unbound documents and manuscripts in Spanish and Maya dealing with a variety of topics on the Yucatecan peninsula. Although a few manuscripts were acquired in the 1930's from Rafael Regil of Mérida, the Matilda Geddings Gray Expedition (c. 1925) under the direction of Frans Blom collected the majority. The collection has been divided between manuscripts (Boxes I, II, and IV) and printed material (Box III), with each division and box arranged in chronological order.
The 215 printed documents are in nineteen files corresponding to particular years extending from 1822 to 1866. They consist mainly of government decrees and notices of various departments in the State of Yucatán. Several deal with Yucatecan separatism, including one newspaper.
The forty-five manuscripts cover the years 1557-1930, yet the bulk (33) of these documents falls within the 1803-1880 period. The two earliest pieces have been transcribed, edited, and published in English translation by D.G. Brinton, ed., The Mayan Chronicles, (Philadelphia, 1882 [970.1(808) B858 V.1]) and in Latin by La Compte H. de Charencey Chrestomathie Maya (Paris, 1891). Seven pieces are in Maya, of which one is accompanied by a map (oversized) of the region about Maní. Indeed, more documents deal with this particular area that with any other. Topically, however, they treat such diverse subjects as the Spanish conquest, peasant revolts, legal battles, land disputes, financial transactions, military and ecclessiatical affairs, tribute accounts, and official community business. There are also some personal letters.
Manuscripts of particular note are the Maní land treaty and map (1557-1813), the Crónica de Yaxkukul (1674-1769), the Crónica de Chicxulub (a 17th century copy by Nakuk [Pablo] Pech), and the San Francisco dictionary of Spanish-Maya/Maya-Spanish (mid-19th century copy made by Juan Pío Pérez of a now-lost 17th century original).
Inventory of Documents
Box 1, Folder 1
1557-181, 1596.
Mani Land Treaty. Covering the period 1557-1813. The sixteenth century
material was copied in 1596. In both Maya and Spanish, it gives a view of
relations between Indian towns, especially in regard to their lands.
Earliest authentic example of the Maya language written in European
script. John L. Stephens (see F1376 .S5842, vol.2, pp. 262-68) possible
saw the document in the Maní archives in 1842. Deals mainly with the Xiu
family beginning with Kukum Xiu, later baptized Francisco de Montejo Xiu,
the cacique of Maní. (see transcipt of original part of Xiu probanzas of
10 July 1696, 972.015 X7L RBC LAL, and Ralph Roys F1219.1 .Y8R6). For
detailed description see Arthur Gropp F1421 .T95, no.1, LAL Ref., p.261-3.
Xerox copy in folder. Original is kept in vault, available upon request,
and is catalogued L497.2051/M278 RBC MARI.
Ovesized Box, Folder 2
[16th century]. Maní Map (oversize). 19th
century copy of the original in Maní Land Treaty, this collection. Copied
and reproduced by John L. Stephens (F1376 .S842, vol.2, p.173). There are
some stylistic and ortographical differences between the three versions.
Probably peculiar to the Maya area. Top is to the east. Highly
conventionalized, the boundary being drawn so as to form a perfect double
circle, on which the border sites are set at approximately regular
intervals. Being circular, they resemble the calendrical wheels found in
the books of the Chilam Balam (See Ralph Roys F1219.1 .Y8R6, p.
175-185).
Box 1, Folders 3-7
1574, 1661, 1724, and 1769. Crónica de Yaxkukul. A series of documents
dealing with the lands of Yaxkukul from the 16th century until 1769 both
Maya and Spanish. The Maya was written in the 16th century by Ah Tumal
Pech, later Don Pedro Pech, batab of Yaxkukul and son of Ah Tumal Pech.
This part was copied in 1769 (the present manuscript). In 1926, the Maya
was transalted and published by Juan Martínez Hernández (F1435 .C7 RBC
LAL). Portions of the document are almost identical with the Crónica de
Chicxulub, written by Don Pedro's brother, Ah Nakuk Pech. Transcriptions
are provided for the Spanish portions.
Folder 8
[17th century] Crónica de Chicxulub. 19th centruy copy of a
Mayan manuscript by Nakuk (Pablo) Pech. A history of the town of Chicxulub
and a survey of its lands. An account of the conquest with a list of
conquistadores. Portion of an account by another members of the Pech
family. See D.G. Brinton, 970.1 (808) B858 RBC vol.1, for a description
and transcription. 2 pieces.
According to Ralph Roys, this copy is full of errors. Originally owned by Raphael Regil in Mérida and later acquired by MARI, there is a Gates photostatic copy (497.2051 P365 RBC LAL), a copy in the Hermann Berendt collection, and a photostat in the Carnegie Institution. A translation into Spanish was made in 1860 by Manuel Encarnación Avila and in 1936 by Héctor Pérez Martínez.
Box 1 A.
[Middle 17th century]. San Francisco Dictionary. Dated at the
middle of the 17th century. Bears no date. Found at the Monastery of San
Francisco in Mérida, upon its closing in 1820. Original has been lost.
Juan Pío Pérez made this copy in mid-19the century. Hermann Berendt made a
copy from Pérez. José María Meneses made a partial copy. Reproduction by
William Gates. Pérez copy originally owned by Rafael de Regil of Mérida
and later acquired by MARI of Tulane University. Spanish-Maya/Maya
Spanish. 202 pages.
Box 1, Folder 9
ca. 1761-1762. Quisteil. Copy of a day-by-day account of a peasant
uprising. See Registro Yucateco, vol.1, pp. 81-96, "Jacinto Con-Ek".
Relación de Suceso de Quisteil".
Folder 10
1784-1816. Sacolum. Legal documens pertainig to one family, birth,
marriage, burial.
Folder 11
1797, April. Mérida. Military Report.
Folder 12
1803. Mérida. Legal document relating to the limpieza de sangre of the
Manuel Martínez family.
Folder 13
1808, February 27. Tabla Capitular of the elected officers of Franciscan
province of San José.
Folder 14
1809-10. Bolonchencabich, Campeche. Chart showing statistics of grain
harvest and grain consumed in those two years. 2 pieces.
Folder 15
1810, March 27. Holul. List of Indians having granos.
Folder 16
1810, February 25. Santa María Lerna. Campeche. Tribute accounts (some
Maya text).
Folder 17
1810, March 26. Sambula. Tribute document.
Folder 18
1810, April 25. Umán. Resignation of José María Carrea from his post of
Juez Español in order to take care of his father and sister.
Folder 19
1811, January 30. Solán. Documents relating to the drunken conduct of the
cacique of Solán, Santiago Poot.
Folder 20
1811, August 23. Bolonchén. Bolonchén requests 301 pesos in aid to finish
its Casa Audiencia.
Folder 21
1811. [Yucatán]. Concerning a royal decree on freeing the Indians of
certain cargos. (2 pages of Maya).
Folder 22
1812, April 22. Mérida. Dealing with military affairs.
Folder 23
1812, October 17. Mérida. Military documents reporting a vacant post of
Captain of the Tenth Company of Sucopó in the Subdelegación of Tisimín.
Folder 24
1812. [Yucatán]. Concerning some problems between Maní and new officials
there.
Folder 25
1812. San Antonio Cupilcacab. Documents (one in Maya) relating to the
election of Rafael Zin as the Gobernador.
Folder 26
1812-13. Oxkutzcal. Documents dealing with complaints against the Spanish
Judge of the town, Manuel Romero (1 page in Maya).
Folder 27
1813, February 16. Campeche. Copies of two letters concerning the
embarkation of French ships. 2 pieces.
Folder 28
1813, March 13. Campeche. Military Report.
Folder 29
1813, September 25. Mérida, Legal documents dealing with taxation. 5
pieces.
Folder 30
1814. October 18. Mérida. Copies of diligencias and autos.
Folder 31
ca. 1822. Valladolid. Fragments of documents. 34 pieces.
Box 2, Folder 1
1824. Oxkutzcab. Testimonios of the Alcaldes Mayores.
Folder 2
1825, March 28. Tizimín. Letters concerning military organization. 3
pieces.
Folder 3
1828, September 28. Izamal. Legal documents concerning transfer of some
land between Juan José Lean and José Antonio Bolio.
Folder 4
1828, September 28. Izamal. Land sale and transfer from Juan José Leal to
José Antonio Bolio.
Folder 5
1845, September 29. Mérida. Original and copy of letter from José Canuto
Vela (noted in Tozzer Bibliography, p.273) to Leandro Camacho. 2 pieces.
Folder 6
ca. 1841. [Mérida]. Relating to the taxation of foreign merchants in
Campeche.
Folder 7
1844, July17 and September 5. [Yucatán] Two letters by Felipe Canich
written in Maya. 2 pieces.
Folder 8
1860, June 15. Mérida. Receipt of 150 pesos.
Folder 9
1870, Novemeber 25. Veracruz. Original and copy of a letter from T.M. de
Sevilla to Alberto Morales in Sisal. 3 pieces.
Folder 10
1874, June 5. Valladolid. Forms for military oaths to guard tje
Constitution.
Folder 11
1875, February 21. San Juan Bautista, Tabasco. Civil Register recordings
of birth of Eva Eleodora Villasana.
Folder 12
1880, January 16. Chihuahua. Letter from Silvestre Bustamante announcing
the service of an official.
Folder 13
1882, June 2. México. José María Muñoz. Report on the social , military
and political situation in Chan Santa Cruz, Locchá, and Bacalar by an
ex-prisoner of the Indians for almost 3 years.
Folder 14
Mid-19th century. [Mérida] [José María Muñoz?]. Report on the military,
political and social ambience of Chan Santa Cruz during the Caste Wars. 2
pieces.
Folder 15
1913, August 16. Mérida. Legal document concerning a widow's attempt to
get her dead husband's pension.
Folder 16
1916, June 30. Mérida. Letter from José Esquivel Prem to Juan Miró
requesting help with a compilation of Yucatecan legends.
Folder 17
1930, September 3 and August 6. Two originals and their copies of letters
from Antonio Mediz Bolio to Alfredo Barrera (in Maya). 4 pieces.
Printed Material
Box 3, Folder 1
1822. Hacienda documents from Central Government in Mexico City sent to
Yucatán. 16 pieces.
Folder 2
1827. Estado de Yucatán. Decrees. 17 pieces.
Folder 3
1828. Estado de Yucatán. Decrees. 12 pieces.
Folder 4
1830 and 1831. Estado de Yucatán. Official decrees dealing
with Yucatán's opposition to the Federal Government under the leadership
of José Segundo Carvajal Cavero (1791-1866) 27 pieces.
Folder 5
1832. Estado de Yucatán. Decrees and other official documents of the
governorship of José Segundo Carvajal Cavero (1791-1866). 20 pieces.
Folder 6
1833. Estado de Yucatán. Decree and other official documents of the
governorship of José Tiburcio López. 38 pieces.
Folder 7
1834. Estado de Yucatán. Government circulars. 7 pieces.
Folder 8
1834. Mérida. List of the Jurados de Mérida.
Folder 9
1835. Estado de Yucatán. Government decrees. 11 pieces.
Folder 10
1836, June 27. Mérida. The hacendado gremio proposes measures to end the
theft of cattle.
Folder 11
1837. Estado de Yucatán. Government decrees. 5 pieces.
Folder 12
1841. Estado de Yucatán. Government notices dealing with Postal System. 2
pieces.
Folder 13
1842. Estado de Yucatán. Government decrees. 4 pieces.
Folder 14
1843. Estado de Yucatán. Government decrees and notices. 19 pieces.
Folder 15
1844. Estado de Yucatán. Government decrees and notices. 8 pieces.
Folder 16
1851, September 10. Estado de Yucatán. Newspaper El Siglo Diez y
Nueve containing a government report of the putting down of a revolt
in Ehichanjá.
Folder 17
1851. October. Estado de Yucatán. Announcement of the elected
representatives to the National Congress.
Folder 18
1852-53. Estado de Yucatán. Government decrees and notices. 4 pieces.
Folder 19
1855. Balanza política del globo. Chart of the countries of the world,
their arenas, population, revenues, size of armies and major cities.
Published in Mérida. 1 piece.
Folder 20
1865-66. Estado de Yucatán. Government decrees and notices. 2 pieces.
Folder 21
1917, April 28. Mérida. Liberal broadside calling for a meeting in support
of their candidate, Bernardino Mena Brito.
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Last updated: October 23, 1996