Alejandro Prieto Papers, 1820-1917

Biographical Sketch

Politician, writer, engineer, professor. Born 1841 at the Hacienda Chacoy, Tamaulipas; died 1921 in Tampico. At the age of 19, Alejandro Prieto received a degree in topographical engineering. During the 1860s he was a guerrilla fighter against the invading French forces. After Mexico's conflict with the French ended, Prieto settled in Tampico and held several public offices, including city engineer, visitador público, and juez del registro civil. He was also a deputy to the Congreso General, secretary of the Mexican legation in Guatemala, governor of Tamaulipas, national senator in Tacubaya, and secretary of the government of Tamaulipas. Other positions he held include engineer of the railroad commission of Tehuantepec and professor of topography, geographical history, and statistics. He authored engineering studies and historical works, including his Historia, geografia y estadística del estado de Tamaulipas, published in 1873.

Scope and Contents Note

Organized into two subgroups: I. Manuscripts, 1820-1917. II. Printed material, 1821-1909. Arranged chronologically within subgroups; some years are further subdivided by format.

Subgroup I is comprised of manuscripts dated 1820-1917. Those dated 1820-1881 consist of decrees, proclamations, laws, registers of official orders, and other official documents relating to the politics and government of Mexico and the state of Tamaulipas. Manuscripts dated 1882-1917 include correspondence, legal and official documents, literary productions, inventories, financial documents, and lists pertaining to the private and public life of Alejandro Prieto and his family. The correspondence relates to politics and government; family matters; private business enterprises; and engineering projects including the construction of the railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Literary productions include political speeches, reports on public works projects, a biographical sketch of Prieto, and a few poems. Lists are of soldiers, candidates, officials, and voters.

Subgroup II consists of printed material dated 1821-1909. Its contents, which relate primarily to the politics and government of the state of Tamaulipas and secondarily to that of Mexico in general, include decrees, proclamations, and a few broadsides and newspaper clippings.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Alejandro Prieto Papers, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin.

Box and Folder Inventory