How to do Mexican Research and Be Successful

From town planning to native relations, “Las Leyes de Las Indias” (Laws of the Indies) governed Spanish colonies of North America and beyond, and created unique records for research for anyone with ancestral ties to Spanish America.

With a rich history and extensive archives, Jalisco is an excellent place for Mexican research. Learn how to prepare and make the most of researching at repositories in Guadalajara, including important tips for travel, collections, available findings aid, catalogs, and more.

Familiarity with church and civil jurisdictions helps us make better sense of records we find for our Mexican ancestors, helps us know where to look for records that pertain to a particular place and time, and helps us trace evolving jurisdictional borders through time. Knowing where and how to find historical and background information about different Mexican localities helps you dig deeper into the lives of your ancestors. Learn about essential reference tools and strategies that will help you identify and learn more about the localities in which your ancestors lived and worked.

Housed in an old prison, the Archivo General de la Nación (or AGN, General Archive of the Nation), is home for the historical memory of Mexico. Its origins date back to the late eighteenth century when a royal decree ordered the creation of an archive to preserve documentation from the Viceroyalty. Today, the documents at AGN are a genealogical treasure waiting to be discovered by a wider audience of researchers. In this presentation you will learn about how to navigate the archive, and some of the information you could find there.

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.