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Research Guides

Primary Sources

Sample book covers

The library has a limited number of primary sources for Latin America during the colonial and pre-Columbian periods. Much of the material is in Spanish. Some early exploration accounts such as those by Cabeza de Vaca have been translated into English. In addition, for the later colonial period there are travel accounts and reports written by British and Americans. A 5-volume collection of translated early documents, New Iberian world: a documentary history of the discovery and settlement of Latin America to the early 17th century is available in Suzzallo F1411 .I18 1984.

Finding Codices/Mapas

Use UW Libraries Search to find facsimile copies of pre-Columbian and colonial era codices. Use the following type of search terms:

  • "manuscripts mexican"
  • "manuscripts maya"
  • "codex borgianus"
  • "manuscripts nahuatl"
  • "manuscripts mixtec"

Finding Colonial Sources Using UW Libraries Search

To find reprinted selections of primary sources dealing with the colonial Latin America, some translated into English, use the Advance search option on UW Libraries Search. On your results screen use the options on the left to narrow your results to those in English.

By SPECIAL SUBJECT HEADINGS -- do a keywords search for your topic/event and in the second box change the label from "Title" to "Identifier, Subject" and use one of these special subject headings that designate primary sources: sources, personal narratives, correspondence, diaries, early works to 1800. Some terms may work better than others depending on your topic.

Search screen example

By AUTHOR- search for books written by key participants and organizations. Change the box label from "Any" to "in author/creator" and type in the last name followed by the first name of the author. For example: nunez cabeza de vaca 

By DATE -- limit your search by publication date - we do have books published (many in digital or microfilm format) for the period.

Search screen example

Additional Primary Sources

The following collections include material covering the colonial period of Latin America. Most material is in Spanish. Additional websites can be found on the Latin America history guide.

Find 16th - 19th c. British & American Accounts

To search for early English language accounts of Latin America use the following digital collections. Many items from the digital book collections are also included in your UW LIbraries Search results.  Be sure to keep in mind variations in spelling and changes in geographical names when searching.

Tags: fall 2019