New Spain: official documentation

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 120 WMS/Amer.3, 51, 62, 64 and 96-97
  • Dates of Creation
      1690-1839
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      Spanish
  • Physical Description
      4 volumes and 2 files

Scope and Content

The papers in this collection comprise official documentation issued by the authorities in New Spain (specifically, in Mexico). They include the appointment of Jos? Gracida y Bernal (1760?-1815) as one of the Protomedicatos who were in charge of medical matters in New Spain (WMS/Amer.96); three certificates issued by Protomedicatos giving individuals licence to practice medicine (WMS/Amer.51, 64 and 97); a copy of a notice suspending quarantine procedures in the city of Mexico during the fever epidemic of 1813 (WMS/Amer.3); and a order authorising payment to F.X. de Balmis (1753-1819) for work on indigenous plants in the treatment of syphilis (WMS/Amer.62).

Administrative / Biographical History

Access Information

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Acquisition Information

Purchased 1962.

Other Finding Aids

Described in: Robin Price, An Annotated Catalogue of Medical Americana in the Library of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1983). Detailed catalogue available at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

manuscript, bound and loose papers.

Archivist's Note

description compiled by Christopher Hilton based upon those in the Library's published finding aid by Robin Price.

Conditions Governing Use

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Custodial History

The items in this collection formed part of the Guerra Collection.

Related Material

The Wellcome Library holds WMS/Amer.100, also relating to Jos? Gracida y Bernal.