How to do Mexican Research and Be Successful

Are you looking for new repositories to advance your research in México? In this presentation, we will explore the top 10 websites for researching your Mexican ancestors, including where to find digitized original records, catalogs, regional histories, and much more from national and regional repositories.

Mutualistas, or mutual aid societies, sprang up in Mexican American communities in the early 20th century to protect and assist members facing economic hardships or discrimination. Health insurance, burial assistance, legal advocacy, cultural activities, and member participation are detailed in an extraordinary array of records.

This 20th century Mexican and Mexican-American case study showcases and weaves together different types of records available online, as well as those that need to be viewed at or requested from physical archives, and family interviews. It demonstrates the essential role that understanding historical context and customs plays in analyzing sources and building out a more comprehensive family history.

Between 1916 and 1945 the Mexican government distributed 74 million acres of land to Mexican citizens - many of whom had been dispossessed of the right to that land in preceding generations. In this session, we will review the laws, administrative processes and records related to the distribution of that land, known as the ejido. We will also review strategies for requesting the original records. Intended for those with experience in Mexican and/or Hispanic genealogy, this session can help you take your research to the next level.

Listen to the story of Atala Apodaca Anaya and her achievements as a female revolutionary during the early 20th century, as well as those of other lesser-known figures from the Revolución Mexicana. Learn about sources and methodologies for tracing your own ancestors in revolutionary Mexico.

Historical records and social history paint a rich picture of the lives of our Mexican ancestors who were in the U.S. after the mid-19th century. A new border, new laws, a violent revolution, two world wars, and changing economic and political conditions significantly impacted your Mexican ancestors who came to or were born in the United States. Sharing a border, and sharing a long common history in certain regions of the U.S. has presented situations unique to those of Mexican descent compared to other immigrant and ethnic groups.

Thousands of localized censuses, or padrones, were taken all over Mexico during the Colonial era. Mostly created during the 17th to 19th centuries, these censuses provide a snapshot in time of our ancestral families. Learn to find these censuses for your research locations and discover the content they may hold.

We pour a lot of time, money, and soul into our family history research. So, we want to make sure we are tracing the right people and families in the right place at any given time, and that we glean all possible information and clues from the records. This presentation reviews social and cultural customs, and tools for learning about jurisdictions and key terminology. It is suitable for those still new to Mexican genealogy as well as more experienced researchers.

Did you know that there are hundreds of Mexican newspapers available in an online searchable database dating back to the 18th century? Learn tips and tricks for adding the Hemeroteca Nacional Digital de México (HNDM) to your list of sources for Mexican research, as well as a few other online collections of newspapers from México.