Special Collections The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Vol. XV III* No. 1 * Spring 2004

Special Collections Acquires Rare de la Peña Derrotero
By Ann Hodges

Billed as "the first book devoted entirely to Texas," Juan Antonio de la Peña's Derrotero de la Expedición en la Provincia de los Texas… made an exciting addition last fall to the holdings of Special Collections. The 1722 report provides a detailed description of the reoccupation expedition led by the Marques de Aguayo in response to the French invasion of 1719, and is said to contain the first maps relating entirely to locations within Texas.

De la Peña kept a journal of the expedition, which he accompanied as a chaplain. The group arrived in Texas in 1721 and traveled from San Antonio to Nachitoches to Lavaca Bay and established or restored the presidios of San Antonio de Bexar, los Adaes, Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, and San Loreto, as well as a number of missions. The expedition ended in 1722, having accomplished its purpose of reestablishing Spanish control over Texas. De la Peña 's manuscript was submitted to the viceroy in Mexico on June 21, 1722, and was considered important enough to print. The Special Collections copy is one of only 11 printed copies known to exist.

The report contains four engraved maps depicting the presidios mentioned above. Each shows the presidio and its surroundings and includes a description of the fort and its location. The copy acquired by Special Collections has undergone skilled conservation resulting in facsimile reconstruction of much of the map material. Nonetheless, it is a distinguished addition to our collections. For more information about the de la Peña Derrotero, please contact Ann Hodges at 817-272-7510, fax 817- 272-3360 or, email ann.hodges@uta.edu .

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This page last update on Wednesday, April 14, 2004