Contains the papers of several Mexía family members including José Antonio Mexía, Enrique Guillermo Antonio Mexía, and Ynés Mexía. The papers consist of correspondence, legal documents, and writings relating to their family's connection with Mexico and Texas. It also includes copies of legal documents of the Mexía family in Spain before they came to the New World. Papers do not include Ynés Mexía's documents relating to her career as a botanist, which are in the Ynés Mexía Papers at the Bancroft and papers at the California Academy of Sciences. The Mexía Collection represents a cross section of Mexican life, business, politics, and relations with the United States for a period of more than a century and includes correspondence with many high level officials.

A Cuban, José Mexía came to Mexico in 1823. He was a federalist who rose to the position of general in the Mexican Army. Upon being sent by Montezuma, the commandante at Tampico, to punish Texas rebels, in 1832, Mexía changed his views concerning Texas and turned back to Tampico. He attempted to obtain help from New Orleans and returned to Mexico in November 1835 with three ships. He succeeded in capturing the port of Tampico but lost the town. While fighting against Santa Anna's troops at Acajete he was taken prisoner on May 3, 1839 and was executed three hours later.Enrique Guillermo Antonio Mexía began his military career as a Second-Lieutenant in the Mexican army during the war with the United States, 1845-1847. During the war he was taken prisoner by U.S. troops. After his release, he lived in Mexico and Texas where he owned land inherited from his father. Daughter to Enrique Guillermo Antonio Mexía and Sarah Ramsey Wilmer, Ynés Mexía was educated in the United States, including at the University of California, Berkeley. She became an eminent botanist and collected specimens on field trips in Mexico, Central and South America, and Alaska for the University of California, Berkeley and the Smithsonian Institution.

Number of containers: 5 boxes, 1 volume, 1 oversize portfolio, 1 oversize folder, and 1 tube. Linear feet: 5.25

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94270-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.

Collection is open for research.