José Marí; Luis Mora Papers

The José Marí; Luis Mora Papers form part of the Genaro García Collection, which was purchased by the University of Texas in 1921 from the heirs of Genaro García. The papers were described by the Benson's Mexican Archives Project in January 1994.

The physical extent of the papers is eight inches. The papers are primarily in Spanish with some items in French, Latin, or English; they 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.

Documents from the collection were published by Genaro García in his Colección de documentos inéditos o muy raros para la historia de México (volume 6), Mexico, Vda. de C. Bouret, 1906.

The suggested citation for the papers is "José María Luis Mora Papers, 1795-1856, Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin."

Priest, writer, newspaper editor, lawyer, supporter of the reform movement. Born 1794 in Chamacuero, Guanajuato; died 1850 in Paris. Received doctorate in theology in 1820. Presbítero del Obispado de Valladolid de Michoacán and Catedrático de Filosofía en el Colegio de San Ildefonso (1820). Member of the Diputación Provincial de México (1822). Named in 1822 by the Soberana Junta Provisional Gubernativa del Imperio to the commission appointed to formulate the general plan of instruction and public education. Diputado (1824-1826) to, and president (1825-?) of, the Congreso Constituyente del Estado de México; authored the state constitution and important laws. Member of the Comisión del Desagüe (1826). Became a lawyer in 1827. Published El Observador de la Republica Mejicana. Diputado to the Congreso General for the state of Guanajuato (1832). Member of the Dirección General de Instrucción Pública (1833). Director of the Colegio de Estudios Ideológicos y de Humanidades (1833). Founded the periodical El Indicador. When Valentín Gómez Farías, with whom Mora was closely associated, left the presidency in 1834, Mora moved to Paris, where he continued to write and publish. He was named Ministro Plenipotenciario to Great Britain in 1847.

Correspondence, literary productions, certifications and official documents, financial and legal documents, lists, and printed material. Topics of correspondence include Mora's work on public education and drainage, and his transactions with the British and Foreign Bible Society. Later correspondence pertains mostly to Mora's personal affairs in Mexico during his residence in France, but includes commentary on the political situation in Mexico after 1834 with many references to Antonio López de Santa Anna and his policies. Major correspondents include Fernando Batres, Bernardo Conto, Valentín Gómez Farías, and Manuel J. de Lizardi. The series Literary Productions contains sermons and funeral orations, reports, instructions, notes, poetry, and compilations of material focusing on the independence period and Agustín de Iturbide. The series Certifications, Official Documents, and Biographical Information includes Mora's diplomas, passports, the record of his birth, and a partial résumé of biographical information. Legal documents include agreements and leases concerning matters of publication and housing. The papers also contain correspondence, literary productions, and a few financial documents pertaining to Mora's death and estate.

The José María Luis Mora Papers were arranged into series by the staff of the Mexican Archives Project, which completed the processing of the collection in January 1994. Documents are arranged chronologically within folders. The series are:

1. Correspondence, 1820-1850.

2. Literary productions. Includes reports, instructions, notes, and poetry (1810-1847); sermons and funeral orations (1806-1820?); "Iturbide y el Plan de Iguala," (1821); "Epoca principal desde la restauron de la Constitucion Espanola en 1820 hasta la entrada del ejercito trigarante en 27 de Septiembre 1821"; "Epoca principal desde la entrada del ejercito trigarante hasta la caida de Iturbide en marzo de 1823" (1821-1823); "Examen de las laminas ... del Capitan Dupaix"; and miscellaneous documents and partial drafts.

3. Certifications, official documents, and biographical information, 1795-1842. Includes certifications (1795-1841), a nomination (1820), passports (1834-1848), and biographical information (1795, 1842, and undated).

4. Financial documents, 1833-1848. Invoices and receipts.

5. Legal documents, 1835-1840. Agreements and a lease.

6. Documents pertaining to Mora's death and testament, 1850-1856. Includes correspondence, literary productions, and financial documents.

7. Lists, 1822-1847.

8. Printed material, 1835-1836.

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