Who's behind the news?
Who's behind the news?
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
The Archivo General del Estado de Jalisco (AGEJ) is the official state archive of Jalisco, Mexico, responsible for preserving the documentary heritage of one of Mexico's most historically significant states. The institution traces its origins to the need to preserve documentation generated by public authorities from the viceregal era to the present. Given that Guadalajara served as the seat of the Viceroyalty of Nueva Galicia throughout the colonial period, Jalisco possesses archival holdings of exceptional value not only for the state's own history but for the broader region that encompassed modern Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, and Nayarit.
The AGEJ is organized as an Organismo Público Descentralizado (OPD), with a governing board (Junta de Gobierno) that includes representatives from key state secretariats. It operates under the overall framework of the state's archival legislation and the national archives system coordinated by the Archivo General de la Nación.
The AGEJ preserves documentation spanning from the viceregal era to the contemporary period. Its holdings include records from state government branches, a historical archive (Archivo Histórico) containing state government records, a cartographic archive (Mapoteca) holding maps and architectural plans, and specialized collections of notarial documents. Records from the nineteenth century include fiscal (hacienda) records, government (gobernación) papers, and welfare (beneficencia) documents. The archive receives researchers and students seeking to consult its collections for academic and investigative purposes.
The Archivo Histórico within the AGEJ holds hacienda and gobernación records from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that provide context for the development of Jalisco's press. Administrative records document the registration of printing establishments and publications. The archive's cartographic collection includes plans of major public buildings, including media and communications infrastructure, providing a visual documentary record of Guadalajara's urban development.
The AGEJ is located in the Edificio de Registros y Archivos del Estado in Guadalajara. It offers consultation services to researchers and the general public. The institution provides orientation and advisory services, including guidance on the state's archival legislation. Visits by researchers and student groups are encouraged, and the archive actively promotes archival culture through training programs and institutional collaborations.
Website: agej.gob.mx