Archivo Histórico de la Ciudad de México AHCDMX "Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora"

History and Founding

The Archivo Histórico de la Ciudad de México (AHCDMX), formally known as the Archivo Histórico de la Ciudad de México "Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora," is one of the oldest archival institutions in the Americas, with documentary origins tracing to 1524. The earliest known organization of its records dates to 1570. Crucial documents were rescued from destruction by polymath Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora during a fire in the Palacio Virreinal following the 1692 revolt. In 1972, the then-Federal District government acquired and began restoring the Palacio de los Condes de Heras y Soto, an 18th-century baroque structure, for use as the archive's permanent headquarters. The facility was inaugurated in 1981. In 2008, the archive was formally named in honor of Sigüenza y Góngora. In 2012, UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme registered the Fondo Ayuntamiento as a documentary heritage of global significance.

Collections and Holdings

The archive holds approximately 4 linear kilometers of documents (roughly 1.5 million expedientes) organized in six main documentary funds and additional collections: the Ayuntamiento de la Ciudad de México (1524–1928); Municipalidades (1752–1928); Gobierno del Distrito Federal (1825–1928); Departamento del Distrito Federal (1929–1992); Cárceles y Penitenciaría (1900–1985); and a special collection dedicated to actress and impresario Esperanza Iris (1879–1976), including diaries, photographs, correspondence, and theatrical ephemera. The Planoteca (1778–1979) holds an extensive collection of cartographic materials, photographs, and maps.

Notable Materials

The oldest surviving document in the archive's possession is an Acta de Cabildo bearing the rubric of Hernán Cortés. The Esperanza Iris collection is especially valuable for theatre, media, and cultural history research, containing performance programs, posters, receipts, and personal correspondence from the pioneering Mexican entertainer's career. The archive's photographic and cartographic collections are also significant for urban history research.

Access and Usage

The archive is open for in-room consultation from 9:00 to 15:00. Researchers must register and present identification. The archive employs approximately 40 staff engaged in organization, cataloging, digitization, and conservation. Digital access to portions of the collection is available through the archive's online catalog.