Vicente Riva Palacio

An Inventory of the His Collection at the Benson Latin American Collection

Biographical Note

Lawyer, general, politician, diplomat, historian, and writer. Vicente Riva Palacio's parents were Mariano Riva Palacio and Dolores Guerrero, who was the daughter of Vicente Guerrero and Guadalupe Hernández. Vicente, who received his law degree in 1854, maintained a legal practice while intermittently holding public office, going to war, and pursuing a literary career. He held offices in the municipality of Mexico City; the constituent and national congresses; the Supreme Court of Justice; the Ministry of Fomento, Colonización, Industria, y Comercio; and Mexico's diplomatic corps in Spain and Portugal. In addition, he participated in the revolution of Ayutla and the French intervention, and directed and wrote for several newspapers. Through his journalism, he contributed to the downfall of the governments of Emperor Maximilian and Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada and to the ascent of Porfirio Díaz.

Vicente Riva Palacio was the author of many literary and historical works, including the following:

• Novels:
  • Calvario y tabor,
  • Monja y casada, virgen y mártir,
  • Martín Garatuza,
  • Las dos emparedadas: Memorias de la Inquisición,
  • Los piratas del golfo,
  • La vuelta de los muertos,
  • Memorias de un impostor: Don Guillén de Lampart, rey de México,
  • Un secreto que mata;
• books of poetry:
  • Flores de alma,
  • Páginas en verso,
  • Mis versos;
• theatrical works written in collaboration:
  • Las liras hermanas;
• histories and criticisms:
  • Historia de la administración de don Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada,
  • Los ceros,
  • México a través de los siglos, v.2, El virreinato,
  • El libro rojo (in collaboration);
• stories and legends:
  • Cuentos de un loco,
  • Cuentos del general,
  • Tradiciones y leyendas mexicanas (in collaboration).

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Scope and Contents

The Archives subgroup contains correspondence, literary productions, financial documents, official and legal documents, lists, newspaper clippings, and assorted documents pertaining to the history, politics, economics, and arts of Mexico; to the legal, literary, and military activities of Vicente Riva Palacio; and to his private life and that of his family. Many letters and other items reflect Vicente Riva Palacio's activities in support of the arts and sciences, especially in the organization of exhibitions.

Correspondence consists primarily of letters and telegrams to Vicente Riva Palacio but includes correspondence and assorted papers (1831-1880) of Vicente's father, Mariano Riva Palacio, and grandmother, Guadalupe Hernández de Guerrero. At least 180 of the letters to Vicente Riva Palacio are from Porfirio Díaz and date from 1877-1896. Among the many correspondents are Manuel Payno, Matías Romero, and José Vicente Villada. Letter books describe letters, dated 1876-1878, from public figures, family members, and friends.

Literary productions, primarily written by Vicente Riva Palacio, include essays, speechs, poems, research notes, reports on scientific matters, and other writings. Financial documents include records of Vicente Riva Palacio's income and expenses and Mariano Riva Palacio's records of the income and expenses of the municipality of Mexico from December 31, 1867 to July, 1868 and May, 1869. Lists are of military personnel, property, and reference resources.

The Manuscripts subgroup includes “Historia colonial” (G4), “Borradores de los negocios despachados...” (G486.1), “Expediente formado para la continuación de campaña en los pueblos de la demarcación de mi mando...” (G515), “Correspondencia particular: Minutas” (G522), “Libro en que se acientan las cartas particulares del C. General Vicente...” (G532), “Memorandum” (G558), “Cuenta documentada del importe del convite...” (G560), “Discursos al congreso constitucional” (G572), “Ayuda de memoria de la comision. Indice general de lo escrito...” (G575), “Evolución rutaria y apéndices cutáneos de la raza indígena pura” (G582), “The Native races of America” (G583), “Discurso sobre los antecedentes de la conquista de México” (G587), “Historia general de México. Prospecto” (G604), and “Historia general de México” (G605).

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Vicente Riva Palacio Collection, 1790-1896 , Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin

Acquisitions Information

The Vicente Riva Palacio Collection forms part of the Genaro García Collection, which was purchased by the University of Texas in 1921 from the heirs of Genaro García.

Processing Information

The Vicente Riva Palacio Collection was arranged into Archives and Manuscripts subgroups by earlier library staff. Existing wallets were numbered as received.

The collection was described by the Benson's Mexican Archives Project in February 1995.

The Mexican Archives Project staff completed the processing of the collection in March 1995.

Alternate Form Available

The collection is also available on microfilm.

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Other Finding Aids

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