Spanish Colonial Manuscript Collection

Collection

Identifier: MC.1954.93

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Collection summary derived from "Guidebook to Manuscripts", 1969: These are the Hispanic papers collected by G. R. G. Conway, an Englishman who lived in Mexico for many years. They include the records of Inquisition trials for heresy, for charges of Judaism and obeying the Law of Moses, investigations concerning Purity of Faith, relations with the Devil, cursing God, insulting the saints, and questioning the authority of the church. Many of these records are three or four hundred pages in length. Other trial records, not so lengthy, are for fornication, blasphemy, misconduct in office, bigamy, astrology, theft, debt, personal lawsuits over property and inheritance, and a few aimed at securing a title of nobility by proving family descent. A few petitions seeking appointment as commissioner of the Inquisition are included. Items of interest: First Book of Votes (1573-1600) transcript with the sentences imposed of early Mexican Inquisition cases (566 pp.) Instructions for confession to the priests and chaplains (1668-1683, 46 pp.) History of the Discovery of East Indies by Captain Juan Mateo Monje (1720, 246 pp.) Copy of a diary of Father Junipero Serra (1769) and a letter by Father Serra (1774) Diaries of soldiers and friars concerning journeys by land and sea along the coasts of Monterey and California. Many of these papers relate to Hernando Cortes and his son, Martin. There are other Hispanic items which were not acquired as a unit and are not mentioned in the Conway papers. However, all of the Hispanic material is carefully cataloged under a separate cover, compiled by Dr. C. L. Strout of the University of Tulsa.

Dates

1470-1857

Language of Materials

Materials in Spanish, Nahautl, and English.

Access Restrictions

Available by appointment only at the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR) with the exception of materials with donor restrictions. Contact Library staff in advance to inquire if materials exist pertaining to your research interests.

Use Restrictions

Please contact the Rights and Reproduction Department for information on publishing or reproducing materials included in these records. Permission will be granted by the Gilcrease Museum as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder.

Extent

334 item(s)

11 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Provenance

The Gilcrease Foundation acquired these materials before 1964 and is housed in the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR). The library currently receives most materials through community donation, board members, artists and the acquisition of manuscript collections.

Processing Information

Staff, interns, and volunteers of the Thomas Gilcrease Library and Archive have contributed to the organization and maintenance of the files since the collection passed to the City of Tulsa in the 1950s.