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Benson Latin American Collection

Rare Books and Manuscripts

Inventory

Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts

Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project
January 6, 1994

Introduction

The Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts form part of the Genaro García Collection, which was purchased by the University of Texas in 1921 from the heirs of Genaro García. The manuscripts were described by the Benson Latin American Collection's Mexican Archives Project in December 1994.

The physical extent of the manuscripts is 295 leaves. The manuscripts are in Spanish, and are also available on microfilm.

The following guide is available in Rare Books Reference: Castañeda, Carlos E. and Jack Autrey Dabbs, eds., Guide to the Latin American Manuscripts in the University of Texas Library. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press, 1939.

The suggested citation for the manuscripts is "Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts, Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin."

Biographical Sketch

Architect and Carmelite friar. Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in 1577 in Medinasidonia, Spain; died circa 1644 in Guanajuato, Mexico. First sailed to New Spain in 1593, staying briefly in Veracruz. He was shipwrecked in the Caribbean and stranded in Florida, where he vowed to join the Carmelite religious order if rescued. He returned to Spain in 1595 but went back to New Spain in 1597, settling in Puebla. He joined the Carmelites in 1598, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. His first construction, the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe, was begun in 1606. He built the Convento de San Ángel, considered his master work, in 1615 and began construction of the Monasterio de Querétaro in 1618. Between 1629 and 1632, he built monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and Salvatierra, as well as a bridge over the Lerma River. From 1632 he lived in Mexico City, working on draining the valley. He died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, circa 1644.

His written works include Qué cosa sea la arquitectura, De los cimientos de los edificios, Descripción del templo de Salomón, Fábrica de los relojes horizontales, Algunos tratados de astronomía, Tratado de plantas y frutas de la huerta del Colegio de San Angel, Chimalistae, and Informe acerca del desagüe de México.

Scope and Contents Note

Manuscripts containing writings on architecture, mathematics, astronomy, theology, botany, and hydrology. A seventeenth-century manuscript (G73) contains various writings which include technical and architectural drawings of buildings and bridges, mathematical tables and illustrations, schematics of equipment such as pumps and pendulums, and other drawings. Subjects treated include applied geometry, technical drawing, mosiac design, construction of simple timepieces, the composition of the cosmos, a description of the temple of Solomon, and the draining of lakes around Mexico City. G65 is a nineteenth-century manuscript copy of leaves 124-138 from G73.

Chronology

1577Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in Medinasidonia, Spain.
1593Sailed to New Spain, landing briefly in Veracruz. Shipwrecked in the Caribbean and eventually stranded in Florida, he vowed to join the Order of the Carmelites if rescued.
1595Returned to Spain.
1597Sailed to New Spain, this time settling in Puebla.
1598Joined the Carmelites, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. Continued to practice architecture.
1606Began his first contruction--the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe. Not completed until 1610 or 1614.
1615Built his "master work": the Convento de San Angel.
1618Began contruction of the Monasterio de Querétero.
1629-1632Constructed monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and (his last) Salvatierra. Built a bridge spanning the Lerma River on the road between Mexico City and Toluca.
1632From this date on lived in Mexico City, working to drain the valley.
1644Died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato.

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