Archivo General del Estado de Yucatán AGEY

Overview

The Archivo General del Estado de Yucatán (AGEY) is the official state archive of Yucatán, Mexico. It serves as the principal custodian of the state's historical documentary heritage, holding records from the colonial period to the late 20th century. The AGEY is administered under the Secretaría General de Gobierno (SGG) of the Government of Yucatán.

History and Founding

The AGEY was officially founded on 31 July 1945 by decree of Governor Ernesto Novelo Torres, with Juan de Dios Pérez Galaz appointed as its first director. From its founding, the archive has collected records from all three branches of state government and from the municipalities of Yucatán. In 2025 the archive celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is located at Calle 86 No. 499-B, inside the former Hospital O'Horán complex in Mérida.

Collections and Holdings

The AGEY's historical archive is organized into 161 documentary groups spanning eight principal collections: Fondo Colonial (19 groups), Poder Ejecutivo (48 groups), Congreso del Estado (50 groups), Municipios (37 groups), Justicia (3 groups), Cordemex (2 groups), Poder Judicial (1 group), and Archivo Notarial (1 group), with additional recent acquisitions including railway records and the Catastro del Estado de Yucatán. In total the archive encompasses 2,500 linear metres of shelving holding more than 5,000 boxes, approximately 20,000 books, and 1,500 plans. Documents span four centuries, from the mid-17th century (1685) through the 1990s, covering the full arc of Yucatecan history from the colonial era through the post-revolutionary period.

Notable Materials for Journalism and Media Research

The archive holds press-related materials among its documentary groups and maintains collections relevant to the study of Yucatecan public affairs and political history. The colonial fondo is particularly valuable for researchers studying the early print and manuscript culture of New Spain.

Access and Usage

The archive is open to students, researchers, and the general public for in-person consultation. The AGEY website at archivogeneral.yucatan.gob.mx provides a guide to the collections and information on access procedures. Thematic exhibitions are organized periodically to mark provincial and national anniversaries.