R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Mexico
Research Outine
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Table of Contents
Helps For Using This Research Outline
     References To The Family History Library Catalog
     References To Other Family History Library Publications
Internet
     Finding Resources On The Internet
     Map Of Mexico
Archives And Libraries
     Archives In Spain
     Mexican Archives
     National Government Archives And Libraries
     State Archives
     Local Civil Offices/municipio Records Offices
     Catholic Church Archives
     Inventories, Registers, Catalogs
Biographies
     Mexican Biographies
Cemeteries
Census
     Searching Census Records
Church Directories
Church History
     Roman Catholic
     Chronological Table Of The History Of The Catholic Church In Mexico
Church Records
     General Historical Background
     Information Recorded In Church Registers
     Locating Church Records
     Protestantism In Mexico
     Church Record Inventories
     Church Records At The Family History Library
     Records Not At The Family History Library
     Search Strategies
Civil Registration
     General Historical Background
     Information Recorded In Civil Registers
     Locating Civil Registration Records
     Locating Records Not At The Family History Library
     Search Strategies
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
     Records Of The Colonial Period (1492–1810)
     Finding An Emigrant’s Town Of Origin
     Emigration From Mexico
     Immigration Into Mexico
Gazetteers
     Finding Place-names In The Family History Library Catalog
     Historical Place-names
Genealogy
     Major Collections And Databases
     Family Histories
     Genealogical Collections
Historical Geography
History
     Local Histories
     Calendar Changes
Land And Property
Language And Languages
     Language Aids
Maps
     Using Maps
     Finding The Specific Town On The Map
     Finding Maps And Atlases
Military Records
     Military History
     Military Records Of Genealogical Value
     Spanish Military Records
     Locating Other Military Records
Minorities
     Mennonities
     The Latter-day Saints (mormons)
     Jews
     Chinese
     Middle Easterners
     Europeans
Names, Personal
     Surnames
     Given Names
Native Races
Nobility
Notarial Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Social Life And Customs
Societies
     Genealogical Societies
     Historical Societies
Other Records
For Further Reading
Appendix A
     State Archives Addresses
Appendix B
     State Civil Registration Offices Addresses
Appendix C
     Mexican Dioceses Archives As Of 1994
Appendix D
     Civil Records In The Federal District, Guerrero, And Oaxaca
     Guererro
     Oaxaca
     Mixe District (created In 1938)
     Sola De Vega District (created In 1918)
     Zaachila District (created In 1939)
     Present-day Districts And Their Municipios:
Appendix E
     1930 Census Of Mexico
Comments And Suggestions

GENEALOGY

The term genealogy is used in this outline and in the Family History Library Catalog to describe a variety of records containing family information gathered by family members other researchers, societies, and archives. These records may include pedigree charts, family records, correspondence, ancestor lists, research exchange files, record abstracts, and collections of original or copied documents. These records can be excellent sources of information that can save you valuable time. Because they are compiled from several sources, the records must be carefully evaluated for accuracy.


Major Collections and Databases

The Family History Library has several sources that contain information that has been researched or can lead you to others who are interested in sharing family information. These sources include:

The International Genealogical Index is available on microfiche and compact disc as part of FamilySearch™. If you are using the microfiche, you need to know which state to search. If you are using the compact disc, however, the computer will search the entire country for any name.
  • Ancestral File. This file, which is part of FamilySearch, contains family history information, linked in family groups and pedigrees, that has been submitted to the Family History Library since 1979. As of 1992 the file contains the names of millions of persons, including thousands of Mexican families. Ancestral File can print pedigree charts, family group records, and individual summary sheets for any person in the file.

  • Family Group Records Collection. More than 8 million family group record forms have been microfilmed in the Family Group Records Collection. This includes many Mexican families. There are two major sections in this collection: the “Archive Section” and the “Patrons Section”. The film numbers for both sections are listed in the “Author/Title” section of the Family History Library Catalog under family group records collection.


Family Histories

Some Mexican families have produced histories that may include genealogical information, biographies, photographs, and other excellent information. These usually include several generations of the family.

The Family History Library has a limited number of published Mexican family histories. Copies at the Family History Library are listed in the “Surname” section of the Family History Library Catalog. Not every name found in a family history will be listed in the catalog; only the major surnames discussed in the family history are included.


Genealogical Collections

The Family History Library has collections of genealogical material that include Mexican families. This material includes published and unpublished family histories and lineages.

One large collection of genealogical material was begun by Alberto García Carraffa, and continued by Endika de Mogrobejo:

García Carraffa, Alberto and Artur García Carraffa. Diccionario Heráldico y Genealógico de Apellidos Españoles y Americanos (Heraldic and Genealogy Dictionary of Spanish and American Surnames). Madrid: Nueva Imprenta Radio, 1952–1963. 86 vols. (FHL book 946 D6gc; computer number 310147.) [The first 76 volumes of this same collection can also be found on microfilm on FHL films 0035112–0035122; computer number 0557892.]

Mogrobejo, Endika de. Diccionario Hispanoamericano de Heráldica, Onomástica y Genealogía: Adicción [sic] al Diccionario Heráldico y Genealógico de Apellidos Españoles y Americanos, por Albert y Artur García Carraffa (Hispanic-American Dictionary of Heraldry, Proper Names and Genealogy: Addition to the Heraldic and Genealogical Dictionary of Spanish and American Surnames by Albert and Artur García Carraffa). Bilbao: Edit. Mogrobejo-Zabala, 1995–. (FHL book 946 D6gc; computer number 0770094.)

Another large genealogical source comes from investigations by the Holy Office of Mexico into allegations that surfaced during the Inquisition. These records include a printed index, but the index is tedious to research:

Procesos del Santo Oficio de México, 1522–1820 (Proceedings of the Holy Office of Mexico, 1522–1820). (FHL films 003797–0035109; computer number 0207826.)

Genealogical collections are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under:

MEXICO- GENEALOGYMEXICO, [STATE]- GENEALOGYMEXICO, [STATE], [TOWN]- GENEALOGY
If you find your surname in any of the sources described in this section, determine whether the entry actually pertains to your family, since all persons with the same surname are not necessarily related. Often you will have to do some original research before you can connect your ancestry to families listed in these sources.

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Version of Data: 6/9/2001]