Francisco Mujica Diez de Bonilla Papers, 1956-1979

Summary

Creators:

Mujica Diez de Bonilla, Francisco, 1899-1979

Abstract:

Correspondence with institutions in the United States and abroad to solicit interest in housing Mujica's Collection of original hand drawn reproductions of the art and architecture of pre-Columbian Mexico and New Spain. Also personal letters concerning his stay in the United States; memoranda, inventions and evaluations of his collection, and the will which outlines the final placement of his collection.

Extent:

Number of containers: 2 boxes

Language:

Collection materials are in Spanish

Background

Scope and content:

Correspondence with institutions in the United States and abroad to solicit interest in housing Professor Mujica's collection of original hand-drawn reproductions of the art and architecture of pre-Colombian Mexico and New Spain. Also personal letters concerning his stay in the United States. Miscellaneous personal papers include memoranda, inventories and evaluations of his collection, and the will which outlines the final placement of his collection.

Outgoing letters of Francisco Mujica Diez de Bonilla, 1974-1979 are arranged chronologically. Carbons and photocopies, they relate for the most part to attempts to place his collection.

Incoming letters are arranged alphabetically by writer or organization, then chronologically within each folder. When possible, they are listed under institutional affiliation, since Mujica was primarily interested in that aspect of his correspondents. Single items have been placed in an A-Z miscellany at the beginning of the series.

Gift of his estate, 1981?

Biographical / historical:

"Born in Mexico, January 29, 1899, the son of a career diplomat, Professor Mujica in his early years attended schools in Spain, France, Belgium, Argentina, and Chile, pursuing his studies in higher education at the Universities of Chile, Mexico, and Paris. As President of the Architecture Students' Center at the University of Chile, he was the School of Architecture's delegate to the first Pan American Congress of Architects."

"The lifework of Architect Mujica is unique—a true graphic inventory of Mexico's artistic treasure— and consists of five major sections: pre-Hispanic art, Colonial art, Modern art, landscapes, and finally prototypes, costumes, and customs. The collection has been praised by world-famous anthropologists and archaeologists including Rivat, Morley, Imbelloni, Kidder, and Capitan. Aldon Mason, Curator ofthe Philadelphia Museum of Art, stated, 'No description could do justice to the enormous and extraordinary collection of drawings and photographs of Mexican art, archaeology and architecture'... ."

by Dr. Capitan, Curator, Paris Museum

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

Website