Benson Latin American CollectionRare Books and
ManuscriptsInventory
Mariano Riva Palacio Collection
Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project
February 9, 1995
Introduction
The Mariano Riva Palacio Collection forms part of the Genaro García
Collection, which was purchased by the University of Texas in 1921 from
the heirs of Genaro García. The collection was described by the
Benson's Mexican Archives Project in February 1994.
The physical extent of the collection comprises seven linear feet. Its
materials are in Spanish and have bulk dates from 1835 to 1875; they are
also available on microfilm.
The following guides are available in Rare Books Reference:
Dabbs, Jack Autrey, The Mariano Riva Palacio archives.
Mexico, [Editorial Jus], 1955.
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.
Additional materials concerning Mariano Riva Palacio are to be found in
the papers of his son, Vicente Riva Palacio, also housed at this
institution.
The suggested citation for the collection is "Mariano Riva Palacio
Collection, 1716-1880, Benson Latin American Collection, General
Libraries, University of Texas at Austin."
Biographical Sketch
Political leader. Born 1803 and died 1880 in Mexico City. Educated as
lawyer. Offices held: Primer Regidor del Ayuntamiento de México
(1829), deputy to the Congreso de la Unión (first elected 1833),
Minister of Justice, Minister of Hacienda (June-Aug. 1848), thrice
Governor of the State of Mexico (1849, 1857, 1871), Director del Nacional
Monte de Piedad. Imprisoned 1852-1854 during final presidency of Antonio
López de Santa Anna. Named Emperor Maximilan's defender in May
1867. Worked to develop Mexico's law enforcement system, roads,
railways, and industry.
Chronology
4 Nov 1803 | born in Mexico City to D. Esteban
de la Riva Palacio and Doña María Dolores
Díaz. |
| entered Seminario to study law, did not
graduate |
1829 | Primer Regidor del Ayuntamiento de
México |
1830 | became Sixth Alcalde, Ayuntamiento,
Mexico City |
Dec 1831 | married Dolores Guerrero, daughter
of Gen. Vicente Guerrero |
1833 | elected deputy to congress |
1834 | re-elected deputy |
3 June 1848 | served as Minister of Hacienda
until 20 Aug 1848 |
31 Aug 1849 | became governor of the state of
Mexico |
| (improved state revenue-gathering techniques,
paid state debts; established market, public jail, monument to Hidalgo in
Toluca; constructed garrison in Real del Monte; persecuted bandits,
pursued criminals; founded savings-and-loan institutions) |
1851 | called to central government as Minister
of Justice |
2 May 1852 | end of first term as Governor of
State of Mexico |
1852-1854 | imprisoned and exiled during final
government of Antonio López de Santa Anna |
1855 | after fall of Santa Anna, refused Gen.
Carrera's request to form a cabinet in Carrera's provisional
government |
1856 | became deputy to the Congreso
Constituyente |
1856 | requested a leave from duties as deputy
to join the Junta del Desague, responsible for drainage of the Valley of
Mexico |
| becomes spokesman of the Junta de
Crédito Público |
Jan 1857 | named constitutionally as Governor of
the State of Mexico |
| (drained Lagoon of Lerma, chased bandits,
built courthouse; worked for construction of a Toluca-Mexico railroad;
toward end of career worked diligently for development of roads and
railways and for the industrial development of the nation) |
May 1863 | refused appointment to the Junta de
Notables |
July 1864 | refused Maximilian's offer of the
Ministry of Gobernación |
May 1867 | named by the imprisoned Maximilian to
defend him; marcha a Querétaro y luego a S. Luis Potosí para
cumplir su cometido ante el Presidente Juárez |
1867 | Riva Palacio publishes his Memorandum
sobre el proceso (de) ... Maximiliano. |
1868 | elected to Congress but prefers to
continue directing the Ayuntamiento of Mexico City, working with issues
of water supply, street improvement, and public safety |
Dec 1868 | elected Presidente de la Cámara
(Ayuntamiento or Deputies?) |
26 Sept 1869 | once more became governor of the
State of Mexico |
29 April 1870 | end of term as governor
(Porrúa says 16 Dec 1871) |
16 Dec 1871 | declared "benemérito" by
Legislature |
1876 | named director of the national
financial-aid society, the Monte de Piedad |
20 Feb 1880 | died in Mexico City |
21 Feb 1880 | lo enterraron Panteón
Francés |
Sources:
Diccionario Porrúa de historia, biografía y
geografía de México. (5th ed. rev.) Mexico City:
Editorial Porrúa, 1986, v. 3, p. 2471.
Enciclopedia de México. Mexico City: Secretaría de
Educación Pública, 1987, v. 12, pp. 6971-72.
Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europea-americana, 1st ed.
Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, 1958, v. 51, p. 879.
Dabbs, Jack Autrey. The Mariano Riva Palacio Archives. Mexico:
Editorial Jus, 1955/1967, v.1, pp. viii-ix.
Musaccio, Humberto. Diccionario enciclopédico de
México. Mexico: Andrés León, 1989, v. 3, p.
1466.
Vicente Riva Palacio Papers, folder 207(2) No. 48 (Testamento de Mariano
Riva Palacio).
Scope and Contents Note
Correspondence; official, legal, and financial documents; literary
productions; lists; printed materials; and diaries pertaining to the
governance of Mexico at federal, state, and local levels, to management
of various institutions and haciendas, to social and economic conditions
in Mexico, and to the activities of Mariano Riva Palacio and many other
well-known figures of 19th century Mexico. The collection contains
documents relating to the settlement of the estate of Vicente Guerrero.
Other names prominent in the collection are Juan álvarez, Mariano
Arista, Ignacio Comonfort, Atilano Sánchez Garayo, and Antonio
López de Santa Anna.
Materials in the Archives subgroup include the following:
- Correspondence, 1716-1880. Letters, circulars, invitations, rough
drafts and fragments of letters, and telegrams.
- Official documents, 1724-1877. Certificates, orders and
appointments, etc., passports, and decrees.
- Legal documents, 1739-1872. Contracts and agreements, testimonies,
inventories of estates, wills, petitions, and depositions.
- Financial documents, 1813-1872. Ledgers.
- Lists, 1754-1871.
- Literary productions, 1821-1877. Reports and poems.
- Printed material, 1844-1877. Clippings, broadsides, pamphlets,
announcements and notices, and decrees.
- Diaries of Mariano Riva Palacio, August 8-12, 1847 and May 31-June 5,
1863.
Items in the Manuscripts subgroup consist of:
- G461 : "Apuntes, February 7, 1847 to October 24, 1847," and "Parte
oficial del General Bravo sobre la acción de Chapultepec," both in
G461.
- G464 : "Esposición que el Ministro de Hacienda dirige al
Congreso Gral. sobre el estado de la Hacienda Publica ... 1848."
Arrangement is primarily chronological, in accordance with the published
guide; items bearing manuscripts numbers are filed accordingly.
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