Benson Latin American CollectionRare Books and
Manuscripts
Inventory
Borden Clarke Collection
Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project
November 1994
Introduction
The Borden Clarke Collection was transferred to the Benson Latin American
Collection by the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center. The
collection was described by the Benson's Mexican Archives Project in
February 1994.
The physical extent of the collection is five inches. The documents are
in Spanish; their bulk dates are 1716-1813. Document no. 18 is also
available on microfilm. Card files in the library describe the items in
the collection.
The suggested citation for the collection is "Borden Clarke Collection,
1493-1890, Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries,
University of Texas at Austin."
Biographical Sketch
Borden Clarke spent part of his life at Old Authors Farm, Nassau,
Bahamas, during the twentieth century. He was a collector of rare
documents and manuscripts.
Scope and Contents Note
Correspondence, legal and official documents, literary productions,
municipal records of Sinaloa, lists, printed materials, and fragments of
facsimiles. Correspondence, lists, and reports relate primarily to
Mexico's War of Independence; included are letters to, from, and about
José María Morelos, José María Cos, and
Ignacio Rayón López. An 1812 letter from Cos contains a
14-page insurgent resolution titled "La nación americana a los
europeos vezinos de este continente."
Among the official documents is a facsimile of Morelos' 1813 decree
abolishing slavery. Legal documents include accusations and proceedings
of the Inquisition and proceedings in the embezzlement case against
Joseph Joachín de Uribe y Castejón. Uribe's 1732
resignation from the post of administrator of the royal treasury in
Puebla is contained in the official documents. Fragments of facsimiles
of codices pertain to Moctezuma's descendants.
Printed materials are about slavery, Queen Isabella I, the Inquisition,
and the Francisco Javier Mina expedition. A clause from Isabella's will
is quoted in a papal bull. Documents pertaining to the Catholic Church
include an essay discussing who had the power to administer the Church's
estate, and official documents requesting priests or priest coadjutors.
Municipal records of Sinaloa date from 1778-1780.
Series
The Borden Clarke Collection was arranged into nine series by the staff
of the Benson Latin American Collection's Mexican Archives Project, which
completed the processing of the collection in February 1994. The series
are:
- Correspondence, 1810-1890. Relates primarily to Mexico's War of
Independence. Included are letters to, from, and about José
María Morelos, José María Cos, and Ignacio
Rayón López.
- Legal documents, 1594-1814. Proceedings and lawsuits of the
Inquisition (1608-1732); testimonies in the embezzlement case against
Joseph Joachín de Uribe y Castejón (1732); settlement of
disputes (1594-1743); depositions (1814).
- Decrees, orders, and other official documents, 1493?-1872.
- Literary productions, 1811-1873? and undated. Reports (1811); essays
(undated); manuscript [historical sketches, etc.] (1854?-1873?).
- Records of the Municipality of Sinaloa, Mexico, 1778-1780.
- Lists, 1811. Concern mostly Mexico's War of Independence.
- Financial documents, 1803.
- Fragments of facsimiles of codices, 1522?-1730? Pertain to
Moctezuma's descendants.
- Printed materials, 1824-1871. Concern slavery, Queen Isabella I, the
Inquisition, the Francisco Javier Mina expedition, and the Catholic
Church.
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