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Guide to the Mexican Inquisition Collection, Undated, 1572-1914
 
*I-3

Processed by Christine McEvilly and AJHS Staff

American Jewish Historical Society

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, N.Y. 10011

Phone: (212) 294-6160

Fax: (212) 294-6161

Email: reference@ajhs.org

URL: http://www.ajhs.org

© 2013, American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY. All Rights Reserved.
Machine-readable finding aid created by Christine McEvilly, January 3, 2013. Finding aid was encoded by Christine McEvilly on January 3, 2013. Description is in English.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Mexican Inquisition
Title: Mexican Inquisition Collection
Dates: undated, 1572-1914
Abstract: The Mexican Inquisition collection contains twenty-four processos (transcripts of trials) of individuals accused of Judaizing. The Mexican Inquisition tried accused Crypto-Jews, Jews who converted to Christianity but were believed to secretly practice Judaism. Eight of the processos are originals; sixteen are typed transcriptions from the Inquisition Records of the Archivo General de la Naciâon (Mexico). Three of the transcriptions are also translated into English (including two trials of the same individual). The trials range in date from 1572 to 1768.
Languages: The collection is in Spanish, with some English.
Quantity: 15.7 linear feet (1 Manuscript box, 19 SB2 boxes [w9.5"xd13"xh3"], and 1 OS1 folder in shared box.)
Identification: I-3
Repository: American Jewish Historical Society
Location: Located in AJHS New York, NY
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Historical Note

The Inquisition was established in 13th-century Europe to counter heresy. Over time, and particularly in the Americas, the Inquisition focused on combating crimes of the clergy. However, the Inquisition regularly monitored and tried accused Crypto-Jews, those Jews who converted to Christianity publically but were believed to secretly practice Judaism.1

Crypto-Jews of Portuguese decent came under close scrutiny after Jewish expulsion from Portugal in 1537.2 The case of the Carabajal family of 1590 is particularly well-known. Louis de Carabajal was governor of New Leon (Nuevo León, Mexico) and many family members were tried.3

The later trial of Thomas Trevino de Sobremote is also well-known. He is considered a Jewish martyr and led a Jewish community in Mexico City for 10 years before his arrest.4

Accused individuals were said to follow the “law of Moses.” Many were accused of keeping the Sabbath, of practicing Jewish purification rituals, or of avoiding pork. While a number of crypto-Jews were put to death, many others were required to do penance, forced to give up their property, or exiled.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection contains twenty-four processos (transcripts of trials) of individuals accused of Judaizing. Eight of the processos are originals; sixteen are typed transcriptions from the Inquisition Records of the Archivo General de la Naciâon (Mexico). Three of the transcriptions are also translated into English (including two trials of the same individual). The trials range in date from 1572 to 1768. The proceedings occurred principally in Mexico, although some of the individuals are identified as being of Portuguese decent. The collection also includes correspondence of Cyrus Adler, Samuel Oppenheim, and E. Nott Anable relating to the Mexican Inquisition Collection. Two oversized items include official declarations of the Inquisition.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged into 2 series as follows:

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: reference@ajhs.org

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Mexican Inquisition Collection; I-3; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Donated by various donors, some unknown. Donors include G. R. C. Conway who donated transcripts in the 1930s. Some material acquired as early as 1895.

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Access Points

This collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

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Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

 

Series I: Original Processos and Correspondence, 1590-1768,1896-1914.
English and Spanish.
Box 1, Folders 1-11.
Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically and by type of material.
Scope and Content:

See Collection Scope and Content Note.
Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Almeida, Jorge de (Portuguese); Processo (Trial) 1677?-1678?
1 2 Preservation photocopies of the Trial of Almeida, Jorge de
1 3 Campos Morales, Francisco de; Processo (Trial) 1646
1 4 Diaz, Jorge (Portuguese); Processo (Trial) 1596
1 5 Hernandez de Almeida, Francisco; Processo (Trial) 1590
1 6 Hernandez de Almeida, Miguel; Processo (Trial) May 1590
1 7 Nuñez, Isabel; Processo (Trial) 1671-1642
1 8 Pico y Cavo, Francisco Antonio; Processo (Trial) 1768
1 9 Rodriguez de Matoz, Anna; Processo (Trial) 1590
1 10 Preservation photocopies of the Trial of Rodriguez de Matoz, Anna
1 11 Correspondence on the Collection; Cyrus Adler, Samuel Oppenheim, E. Nott Anable undated, 1896-1914
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Series II: Processos, Transcriptions and Translations, 1572-1656.
English and Spanish.
Box 2-20
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content:

See Collection Scope and Content Note.
Box Folder Title Date
2 1 Reyes, Gaspar de los; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [3 copies] March 1572
2 2 Caravajal, Doña Francisca; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) (Widow of Francisco Rodriguez de Matos) [copy 1 of 3] 1589
Box Folder Title Date
3 1 Caravajal, Doña Francisca; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) (Widow of Francisco Rodriguez de Matos) [Copies 2 and 3 of 3] 1589
Box Folder Title Date
4 1 Carvajal, Luis de; Miscellaneous Correspondence, Newspaper Clipping, and Facsimiles of 1st page of Original Porocesso undated
4 2 Carvajal, Luis de; Bound translation in English of Processo (Trial) 1590
4 3 Carvajal, Luis de; Bound transcription in Spanish of Processo (Trial) 1590
Box Folder Title Date
5 1 Enriquez, Clara; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [3 Copies] 1595
Box Folder Title Date
6 1 Mendez Donzella, Justa; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial), (daughter of Enriquez, Clara) [Copy 1 of 3] 1595
Box Folder Title Date
7 1 Mendez Donzella, Justa; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial), (daughter of Enriquez, Clara) [Copies 2 and 3 of 3] 1595
Box Folder Title Date
8 1 Enrriquez La Payua, Beatriz; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial), (Widow of Ximon Rodriguez Payua) [3 Copies] 1595
Box Folder Title Date
9 1 Enrriquez, Pedro (only son of Ximon Payua) and Beatriz Enrriquez (Portuguese); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial), [3 Copies] 1595
Box Folder Title Date
10 1 Rodriguez de Silva, Juan(Portuguese); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial), [3 Copies] 1595
10 2 Ysabel Clara (Portuguese) woman of Francisco Hernandez; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial), [3 Copies] 1595
10 3 Rodriguez, Costanca (Portuguese) Woman of Sebastian Rodriauez; Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [3 Copies] 1595
Box Folder Title Date
11 1,2 Treviño de Sobremonte, Thomas; English translation of two Processos (Trials) [In two bound volumes]; Translation produced in 1930 1624-1633, 1642-1649
Box Folder Title Date
12 1,2 Treviño de Sobremonte, Thomas; Spanish transcription of two Processos (Trials) [In two bound volumes]; Translation produced in 1930 1624-1633, 1642-1650
Box Folder Title Date
13 1 Texosso Doncella, Violante (Doña); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [3 Copies] 1642
Box Folder Title Date
14 1 Mendez de Rivera, Blanca (Widow of Diego Lopez Rivero); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [Copy 1 of 3] 1646
Box Folder Title Date
15 1 Mendez de Rivera, Blanca (Widow of Diego Lopez Rivero); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [Copy 2 of 3] 1646
Box Folder Title Date
16 1 Mendez de Rivera, Blanca (Widow of Diego Lopez Rivero); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [Copy 3 of 3] 1646
Box Folder Title Date
17 1 Campos, Maria de; Second half of transcript of Processo (Trial)(First half is not in the collection) [3 Copies] 1647
Box Folder Title Date
18 1 Zarate, Maria de (Doña); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [Copy 1 of 3] 1656
Box Folder Title Date
19 1 Zarate, Maria de (Doña); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [Copy 2 of 3] 1656
Box Folder Title Date
20 1 Zarate, Maria de (Doña); Spanish Transcript of Processo (Trial) [Copy 2 of 3] 1656
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Series III: Oversized Material, Undated.
Spanish.
Consolidated OS1 Box , Folders 1.
Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Content:

See Collection Scope and Content Note.
Box Folder Title Date
Consolidated OS1 box 1 Summary of the edict of the Faith and the contents (material or facts) of the case Undated
Consolidated OS1 box 1 "We the Apostolic inquisitors against grave Heresy…" undated
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