Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Mexico
- Abstract:
- Box 1: Correspondence and papers of Mexican officials with the consuls in Mexico City of Frankfurt, Bremen, and various German towns. Box 2: Outgoing correspondence of Etienne Benecke, consul of Prussia and later of Germany, 1850-1876, and other papers, 1838-1871, mainly certificates of appointments and decorations. Box 3: Incoming correspondence for Etienne Benecke, 1850-1876. Box 4: Papers of the German consulate in Mexico City, 1893-1906, especially concerning F.C. Rieloff's appointment as consul in 1906; and also from the consulates in Oaxaca, Puebla, Zacatecas, and Guadalajara. Box 5: Outgoing correspondence of German ministers in Mexico, 1846-1918, namely, F. Seiffart, 1846-1850; E.K.H. Richthofen, 1851-1856; E. Wagner, 1859-1862; A. von Magnus, 1866-1867; K. von Schlozer, 1869-1871; E. von Winckler, 1893-1895. H. von Wangenheim, 1904-1905; P. von Hintze, 1912; H. von Eckhardt, 1917-1918. Boxes 6-7: Letters to the German Legation in Mexico, 1851-1941, also miscellaneous papers and clippings, 1861-1918. Box 8: Papers relating to liquidation of the debts of Maximilian's Empire, 1867-1868, including lists of individuals, accounts, repatriation of Belgian and other subjects. The portfolio contains passports, appointment papers, models of consular flags and other insignia, some in color, and instructions for officials in the foreign service, ca. 1840-1868.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 8 boxes and 2 oversize folders
- Language:
- Collection materials are in German
Background
- Scope and content:
-
These records of German consuls and Ministers in Mexico were purchased from Zeitlin & Verbrugge in November 1957. They include correspondence, passports and notices of appointments.
Many of the papers reflect the former division of Germany into states and duchies of Prussia, Saxony, Mecklenburg and the free cities of Hamburg and Frankfurt. Much of the correspondence relates to routine affairs concerning German nationals in Mexico. Letters from the Ministers of officials in Germany, however, frequently reveal the political condition of Mexico. Baron von Richthofen's letter to Mantouffel show Mexico under Santa Anna, report on the political situation in Cuba at the beginning of 1855, relate the Rio Bravo incident in 1855, speak of the Álvarez presidency, and of the fall of Puebla in 1856. Emil Wagner describes Mexico under Miramón, the siege of Veracruz in 1860, the state of civil war and the rise of the Juárez regime.
There is also a file concerning the liquidation of obligations of Maximilian's Empire, 1867-1868, through a commission headed by Nathaniel Davidson, a banker in Mexico. To Mr. Davidson were addressed requests for payment of debts incurred by the late Emperor and for repatriation of soldiers formerly in the Emperor's service.
The documents are in German, Spanish, French, Italian and a few in English.
A key to arrangement and a partial list of correspondents follow.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481