Archivo General del Estado de Veracruz – AGEV

History and Founding

The Archivo General del Estado de Veracruz (AGEV) was founded in August 1988 during the governorship of Fernando Gutiérrez Barrios and officially inaugurated in 1989. Since its founding, the archive has continuously expanded its holdings. From the outset, staff undertook the task of organizing, cleaning, and cataloguing documents from the three branches of state government. The AGEV operates under the framework of Ley Número 71 de Documentos Administrativos e Históricos del Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz-Llave, which empowers its directorate to issue norms, policies, and guidelines for the preservation, conservation, and classification of documentary heritage.

Collections and Holdings

The AGEV's documentary holdings cover a broad range of subjects pertaining to the history of Veracruz, one of Mexico's most historically and economically significant states. The institution is organized into three operational offices: the Oficina de Archivo Histórico, the Oficina de Archivo Gráfico, and the Oficina de Archivo Administrativo. Holdings include government, agrarian, and judicial records from the state's executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The agrarian archive is particularly notable, classified by ejido and municipality, making it a primary resource for researchers studying rural Veracruz. The State Supreme Court Archive complements the AGEV's judicial holdings.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The Archivo Gráfico section preserves visual and photographic materials documenting Veracruz's history. Among the records in the administrative and government funds are newspaper clippings and press-related documentation from diplomatic and executive files. Researchers studying labor history in Veracruz—particularly related to oil workers' unions and their publications—find the AGEV an essential resource alongside specialized institutional archives in Poza Rica.

Access and Usage

The AGEV is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is located near the Monte de Piedad in downtown Xalapa. Researchers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the archival classification system—particularly by ejido and municipality for agrarian records—before their visit. Staff members are noted for their helpfulness and knowledge of the collections. The archive was renovated in the mid-2000s and a digital consultation system has been under development.