La Collección Archivos Mexicanos Iniciación Contenido Archivo

Benson Latin American Collection

Rare Books and Manuscripts

Inventory

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 1803born in Mexico City to D. Esteban de la Riva Palacio and Doña María Dolores Díaz.
entered Seminario to study law, did not graduate
1829Primer Regidor del Ayuntamiento de México
1830became Sixth Alcalde, Ayuntamiento, Mexico City
Dec 1831married Dolores Guerrero, daughter of Gen. Vicente Guerrero
1833elected deputy to congress
1834re-elected deputy
3 June 1848served as Minister of Hacienda until 20 Aug 1848
31 Aug 1849became 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)
1851called to central government as Minister of Justice
2 May 1852end of first term as Governor of State of Mexico
1852-1854imprisoned and exiled during final government of Antonio López de Santa Anna
1855after fall of Santa Anna, refused Gen. Carrera's request to form a cabinet in Carrera's provisional government
1856became deputy to the Congreso Constituyente
1856requested 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 1857named 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 1863refused appointment to the Junta de Notables
July 1864refused Maximilian's offer of the Ministry of Gobernación
May 1867named by the imprisoned Maximilian to defend him; marcha a Querétaro y luego a S. Luis Potosí para cumplir su cometido ante el Presidente Juárez
1867Riva Palacio publishes his Memorandum sobre el proceso (de) ... Maximiliano.
1868elected to Congress but prefers to continue directing the Ayuntamiento of Mexico City, working with issues of water supply, street improvement, and public safety
Dec 1868elected Presidente de la Cámara (Ayuntamiento or Deputies?)
26 Sept 1869once more became governor of the State of Mexico
29 April 1870end of term as governor (Porrúa says 16 Dec 1871)
16 Dec 1871declared "benemérito" by Legislature
1876named director of the national financial-aid society, the Monte de Piedad
20 Feb 1880died in Mexico City
21 Feb 1880lo 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.

Return to Mexican Archives Project-Index

[an error occurred while processing this directive]