Finding Aid to the Manuel Fernández del Castillo y de Mier Papers
1869-1914
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Note
History --History, North America (excluding USA) --History, Mexico
Biological and Medical Sciences --Agriculture
Social Sciences --Business and Economics
Finding Aid to the Manuel Fernández del Castillo y de Mier Papers
1869-1914
Collection number: BANC MSS M-B 4
The Bancroft Library
University of
California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Contact Information:
- Processed by:
- The Bancroft Library staff
- Encoded by:
- Charlotte Gerstein
© 1997 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.. All rights
reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Manuel Fernández del Castillo y de Mier Papers
Date (inclusive): 1869-1914
Collection Number: BANC MSS M-B 4
Creator: Fernández del Castillo y de Mier, Manuel
Extent:
Number of containers: 31 volumes
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please
consult the Library's online catalog.
Abstract: Miscellaneous accounts for hacienda belonging to Manuel Fernandez del Castillo y
de Mier, whose daughter married Andres Lefebvre. There are journals, ledgers, cash books, and other
records which illustrate the management of a typical family estate of that time, including the care of
impecunious relatives or workers and payments to the Church. Also included: accounts (1913-1914),
Antigua Madereria del Caballito, S.A.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in Spanish
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not
intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the
reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Manuel Fernández del Castillo y de Mier Papers, BANC MSS M-B 4,
The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Received from Baker Library, Harvard University. March 1955.
Scope and Content
Owner of the farm: Manuel Fernández del Castillo y de Mier. Wife's name: Señora
Concepcion M de Fernández del Castillo. Two children: Señorita Paz and a little
son whose name was impossible to know through the records.
Besides the farm, he had $7,000 invested in a lumber business which capital was $11,000.
Besides that, he had 12 estates for rent.
The jewls and silver goods kept in the safe were avalatued in that time on $45,331.12. (April 1882)
In May of 1897 for the first time the name of Lefevbre is mentioned in the books of the farm.
They had two farms: "San Bartolome del Monte" and "Cuamatta." The biggest product was "Pulque" (fermented
juice of the maguey). (A very popular Mexican drink.)
Salaries for the people working within the house of the farm ranked from 125 to 6 pesos per month. All of
them with room and board.
Mr. Manuel Fernández del Castillo had the coustom of buying regularly tickets for the lotery.
Among the diferent magazines to which he was subscribe, were: "La Orquesta" (The Orchestra),
"Mefistofeles," "La Linterna" (The Lantern), "Don Quijote," "Historia de America," "Trait d'union."
The product produced by the farm were as follows: Wheat, "arbejon," Cattles, Horses, Mules, Sheeps
(current and thoroubred), piggs, horse bean, Lumber, corn, "ochada," barn, meats, grass, potatoes,
bricks and goats.
Net worth of the family on April 6, 1890: $612,735.55.
On October 14, 1876, Mr. Fernández del Castillo draw against Hutt and Co., London,
£ 600 at 39 d. That made an amount of $3,692.31.
The significant and interesting factor of these records, is that they show in a very clear way the system
used in the management of the old family estates, where the father was not only the owner but the head
of all activities.--Any worries or illness affecting the workers, and they came to him, the boss, for
assistance.
The sons and daughters are almost sons of God. They have free access to the cash and may ask at any
moment money for their expenses. There is not a line drawn between "personal expenses" and "operating
expenses."
The accounting books show very clear the fact that there were not a regular system to keep the books, and
no items for depreciation of machinery or alike are there.
Furthermore, the head of the family has to take care of all the relatives that are not in such a good
economical situation. Many items are recorded proving this fact: regular amounts paid monthly.
Moreover, the relations between the head of the family and the church are very strong. The father is the
one who mantains the Church wholly, or almost wholly. The Church pays him back with blesses.
volume v. 1
Journal-accounts of the Cuamatla hacienda, Jan. 1874-Apr.
1876
volume v. 2
Journal, Sept. 1869-Dec. 1875.Accounts for the business of Teresa
Mier de Fernández del Castillo.
volume v. 3
Journal, Aug. 1876-Apr. 1882.General accounts, quite a few relating
to pulque.
volume v. 4
Journal, Apr. 1882-Mar. 1884.Accounts for the house and business of
Teresa M. de F. del Castillo
volume v. 5
Journal, Apr. 21, 1882-Mar. 1884. Accounts for the house and
business of Teresa M. de F. del Castillo
volume v. 6
Journal, Apr. 1886-Oct. 1887.Accounts for the Hacienda de San Pedro
de Cuamatla.
volume v. 7
Journal, Apr. 1890-Mar. 1891.Accounts for the Hacienda de San
Bartolomé del Monte, kept by or for Manuel Fernández del
Castillo
volume v. 8
Journal, Apr. 1892-Dec 1896.Accounts of Manuel Fernández
del Castillo y de Mier. Some for the Hacienda de San Bartolomé, but also for other
property.
volume v. 9
Ledger, 1877-1880. Accounts for the household and business of
Señora Mier de Fernández del Castillo, including accounts for the Hacienda
de Cuamatla, for Hacienda de San Bartolomé, and other property.
volume v. 10
Cashbook, Apr. 1881-Apr. 1882, and journal. Accounts for various
haciendas including San Bartolomé, with information on wages, grain, cattle, etc.
Official sealed stamps purchased at Calpulalpam (location of the Hacienda of San
Bartolomé?).
volume v. 11
Cashbook, 1882-1883. Ranch accounts, for livestock, grain, taxes,
laborers. Location of ranch unspecified.
volume v. 12
Accounts for San Bartolomé at Calpulalpam,
1883-1884
volume v. 13
Ledger, 1882-1884. Include accounts for the Hacienda de San
Bartolomé and other property.
volume v. 14
Accounts, 1884-1885, for a ranch.
volume v. 15
Ledger, 1890-1891. Ranch accounts, including San
Bartolomé.
volume v. 16
Cashbook, July 1875-Aug. 1876.Accounts for the Hacienda de Cuamatla,
San Bartolomé and other property.
volume v. 17
Cashbook, Mar. 1875-Apr. 1877.General accounts.
volume v. 18
Cashbook, Aug. 1876-Jan. 1878.Accounts for the Hacienda de San
Bartolomé and other property.
volume v. 19
Cashbook, Apr. 1877-Jan. 1880.General accounts of Señora
Mier de Fernández del Castillo.
volume v. 20
Cashbook, Feb. 1878-Nov. 1879.Accounts for the Hacienda de Cuamatla,
San Bartolomé and others.
volume v. 21
Journal, Mar. 1883-Apr. 1884. Accounts for the Hacienda de San
Bartolomé del Monte, kept for or by Manuel Fernández del Castillo at
Calpulalpam.
volume v. 22
Cashbook, Jan.-Mar. 1893. General accounts.
volume v. 23
Cashbook, Mar.-July 1893. General accounts.
volume v. 24
Cashbook, July-Oct. 1894. General accounts.
volume v. 25
Cashbook, 1898-1900. Includes accounts for Hacienda de San
Bartolomé and other property.
volume v. 26
Cashbook, 1904-1905. Kept by or for Manuel Fernández del
Castillo, and including accounts for various haciendas not previously encountered-Tlatzalan and
San Gerónomo
volume v. 27
Freight record, Nov. 1890-Apr. 1891
volume v. 28
Cashbook of Señorita Paz Fernández del Castillo, Jan.
1897-Apr. 1898. Accounts relating to property, taxes, household
expenditures.
volume v. 29
Journal, July 1913-July 1914.Account book for Baldomero
Velázquez and Co., a lumber business.
volume v. 30
Ledger, July 1913-July 1914.Account book of Baldomero
Velázquez for his lumber business.
volume v. 31
Cashbook, May 1913-Oct. 1914.Account book for the Antigua
Maderería del Cabal lito, a lumber business.