Re: Trip to Jalisco, Zacatecas

["Arturo Ramos" <arturo.ramos2@...>]

There are a whole set of records from the original Franciscan Convent 
set up in Colotlan in 1591 that are supposedly at the Colotlan 
church.  These include baptismal and marriage records prior to the 
foundation of the actual church in 1720 (all of these on FHC 
films)... These are the ones I really want to look at.

I imagine that since the civil registry has to have mechanisms to 
obtain copies of documents in their possession, they can be more 
reticent about letting people see the originals... plus I have heard 
that documents created since the time civil registry was instituted 
in Mexico are in worse shape than the old baptismal records because 
of printing on non-acid-free paper, whereas old records were written 
with much more durable inks on much more durable paper.

We will see.  I am looking at writing to the parish head before I 
head down and perhaps getting a local historian to vouch for me. 

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Alicia Carrillo <alliecar@p...> wrote:
>
> Erlinda and Arturo,
>  
> I too found that they will not let you see the actual records. When 
I went to Nochistlan Zac they were  quite advanced for a small town 
in Mexico. They all had computers at the front office of the Registro 
Civil. The records that they did have they printed out certified 
documents for us based on what they had in the data base. I was able 
to come away with 6 certified documents but they don't let you access 
their books. When I asked for documents for my parents of 1925 they 
said they don't have any books for 1925 they were all destroyed or 
lost.
>  
> In Tlachichila the smaller town they have the books but they still 
won't let you see the books and there again they did not have records 
for 1925. I need to talk to the town historian or read a little 
history to see what happened in the year 1925.
> 
> I too have had better luck at my local FHC as well as at Salt Lake 
FHC. It's still good to visit your ancestor's town but don't expect 
to see much in terms of records or archives.
> Erlinda Castanon-Long <longsjourney@y...> wrote:
> Arturo, When I was in El Limon Jalisco in 2003 we went to the 
parish 
> office and talked with the girl in the office who told us we could 
> not look at the actual books even though they were on the shelf 
> behind her.  The priest walked in and asked what family we were 
> looking for? My cousin's husband was trying to find his Santana 
> ancestors who turned out to be part of the priests family.  He 
asked 
> what year and took out a book wrapped in plastic because it was 
> frail.  We opened it and the pages started turning to dust and 
> blowing away.  Needless to say we closed it immediately and thanked 
> him for allowing us to try.  It's very dry there and no special 
> precautions were taken to preserve the books.
> We went to Tamazula de Gordiano Jalisco next and they were so busy 
> that they gave very poor service telling us they tried but couldn't 
> find the records.  They had no copy machine so would have to do a 
> form letter for whatever information was found, came home and found 
> the records at the local FHC.. 
> In Jerez Zacatecas they didn't have a copy machine either but were 
> willing to talk to my cousin who's Spanish was much better than 
> mine. I found it was much easier to get the records at the FHC.  I 
> didn't try to find land records or any other type of records 
though, 
> that was beyond my abilities to read records. Our time was limited 
> so I had to chose what to try to accomplish so I decided to enjoy 
> the land and the people.
> I hope you have better luck than I did.
> Linda in Everett
> 
> --- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "Arturo Ramos" <arturo.ramos2@v...> 
> wrote:
> >
> > I will be spending about three weeks this December and January in 
> > Jalisco and Zacatecas and am hoping to make it to the parrishes 
in 
> > Colotlan and Tlaltenango, perhaps Atolinga as well as the 
archives 
> in 
> > Guadalajara...
> > 
> > Question... has anyone ever asked to see the actual books held at 
> the 
> > parrishes?  I am thinking of asking to photograph some of them, 
> but 
> > don't know how well that would go over.
> > 
> > Any tips would be appreciated.  I am also going to try to do an 
> > interview with Esteban Valdes Salazar who has published some very 
> good 
> > genealogy and history books on Totatiche.  He is the 
> local "cronista" 
> > and has obviously spent lots of time pouring over old archival 
> > documents, including the transcription of the 1591 census of 
> Tlaxcaltec 
> > migrants to Colotlan and the entire 1770 Totatiche census (over 
> 3000 
> > names).  So if there are any questions anyone would like to ask, 
> please 
> > let me know.
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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