Archivo de Indias, Seville
 

Hi, My trip to Spain is coming up fast and the info on this site has been fabulous, thank you. Does anyone have a "review" of the Archivo de Indias? Thanks once again.

Dear JoAnne: Los Archivas de las Indias is a huge and apparently ongoing project in Seville. A great place for research by Latin American scholars--but sights worth seeing on their own as well. Seville will be rather warm at this time of year--but it is still one of my favorite places in the world. Have a good visit. Joan

El Archivo de las Indias is kitty-corner with the Cathedral (spectacular!). Be forewarned that is closed on the weekends. The building facade itself is very impressive, and the museum has an outstanding collection, including logbooks kept by Christopher Columbus, Magallanes, and Cortes. There are also some of the first maps done of the New World, original logs (crew list) of the first ships that sailed to the Americas, and the first trade/cargo lists between both destinations. Although admission was free (back in 1993), you need a special permit to have access to some of the documents if looking for genealogical info. If you are into the history of the New World, try also a visit to Huelva, east of Seville on the coast. This is the spot from where Columbus departed and they have an excellent exhibit (renovated in 1992). While in Huelva don't miss a visit to the Monastery of La Rabida. This is the place where Columbus stayed with his son Diego while trying to raise $$$ for his trip. Queen Isabella's confessor and good friend, Father Antonio Marchena, who lived in this monastery, befriended Columbus and thought that Columbus's idea had some merit. At Columbus urging, he arranged a meeting between them. The rest is history. The Monastery has an excellent museum displaying relics of Columbus, the room where the meetings took place and where all the agreements were signed. Definitely worth a stop. <BR> <BR>Have a great time in Spain!!

Joan and Maira thank you so much for your input. It really sounds like it is worth a visit. Joan, the weather is sure to be hot but the timing was not negotiable. I'm hoping that this Georgia weather will in some part condition me! Thanks again.

One word of caution about visiting the Archivo de Indias as we had hoped to do a couple of weeks ago. The archives are closed to all except researchers Mon-Thursday. It is open to the general public only on Fridays.

Hi Barry, <BR>Thanks for the info. I guess luck is with us because we will be in Seville on a Fri. and Sat. Now I know to go on Fri. Thanks

JoAnne, <BR>Have a great trip. When you are in the Archivos think of this: <BR>The exhibition room is one side of the archives. Another small part side is for researchers. The rest is crammed floor to ceiling with boxes and boxes and boxes of documents: logs, maps, personal letters; drawings; sketches; and the list goes on. <BR>Researchers can only take in 5 sheets of paper that must be less than 8.5 X 11. Plain No 2 pencils are the only writing instruments allowed. Lap tops are ok but only the lap top -- no carrying case. <BR>When researchers go in to research, they are assigned a table. Then they tell the archivists what they are looking for (what part of Texas; coast of Florida; Louisisana; Cuba; Mexico. The archivist brings the appropriate indexes to the table. And then researchers look for descriptions of the box contents. You request only 2 boxes at a time be brought to your table. This is done by computer. Then you go for coffee. <BR>Getting a box brought to your table takes average of 45 minutes. <BR>ONce that box is there, it's all yours. You go through the contents bit by bit because there is no true index of each piece per box. <BR>Some logs have gorgeous hand-marbled covers. The colors are fantastic. On many of the pages, the nib holes have made mosaics. Metals in the inks have left many pages more like stencils. <BR>And the archivists watch you carefully. Oh and they inspect hands before letting you have anything. Long fingernails can get you turned down. <BR>The handwriting is gorgeous; I have some funny translations errr... Well it's what I think the 18th century Spanish could maybe have been. <BR>You can also buy some reproductions there. I have some maps; an index of drawings dealing with Spanish settlements in Texas, Louisisana, Mississippi,Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. <BR>It's fun to see place names and how the spelling has been corrupted or blended. Pensacola originally was Panzacola. <BR>Again, have a tremendous trip.

For all of you bound for Spain this winter.....