Spanish Research Collections

       The Spanish research collections hold several extensive and diverse Mexican and Spanish Language Collections dating  from 1554 to the 1950s with the majority of the collections dating from the late 17^th century through the mid-20^th century. The collections include both original manuscripts and microfilm.

       The manuscript collections include the Jerry Alper, Inc. Collections, 1556-1950; Simon Peón Papers, 1833-1933; Franklin Madis Collection, 1588-1910; José Maria Paras Records, 1846-1850; José Salazar Illaregui Papers, 1823-1867; Linares, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Collection, 1592-1920; José Vicente de Anza Papers, 1784-1839; Jesús de la Garza Family Papers, 1840-1911; and Sabas García Papers 1846-1905. The microfilm collections include 1,078 reels of Yucatan microfilm, and 370 reels of Honduran microfilm.

 Cinco de Mayo

       Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of Mexican Army over the French at the battle of Puebla in 1862. With this victory Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves against foreign intervention, especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

       Cinco de Mayo’s history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850’s. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Mexican Civil War had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a period of two years, with  the promise that after this period, payments would resume. The English, Spanish and French refused to allow the president to do this and decided to invade Mexico and get payments.

     The Spanish and English eventually withdrew but the French Army began to advance Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French Army in what came to be known as the “Battalla de Puebla” on May 5, 1862.

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