MIGRATION OF MEXICAN LIBRARY MATERIALS A Personal Recollection MIGRATION OF MEXICAN LIBRARY MATERIALS A Personal Recollection Jesús Lau / Juárez University / México On sabbatical: Universidad Veracruzana “89. The Legal Challenges to the Repatriation of Cultural Materials (CLM)” 68 th. IFLA General Conference and Council, Glasgow, Scotland, UK August 19, 2002

Mexican Experience in Book Repatriation Mexico’s experience in losing historical library materials is long and striking Mexico’s experience in losing historical library materials is long and striking The worst experience was the Spanish destruction of Indian printings in Amoxcallis (Aztec Libraries) to wipe off the local religions The worst experience was the Spanish destruction of Indian printings in Amoxcallis (Aztec Libraries) to wipe off the local religions A less damaging experience was the export of Mexican Codex to Spain and the rest of Europe A less damaging experience was the export of Mexican Codex to Spain and the rest of Europe The Mexican experience is part of the historical conditions of the time, therefore, facts cannot be judged as good or bad The Mexican experience is part of the historical conditions of the time, therefore, facts cannot be judged as good or bad

Mexico’s Historical Wealth Three thousands years of history enabled Mexico to be a culturally rich country Three thousands years of history enabled Mexico to be a culturally rich country A nation with one of the richest cultures in the American Continent A nation with one of the richest cultures in the American Continent Libraries (Amoxcallis) existed before the European arrival Libraries (Amoxcallis) existed before the European arrival The first Western-type libraries in the Americas were first created in Mexico The first Western-type libraries in the Americas were first created in Mexico The first European press was set up in Mexico, therefore incunabula pre-dates any other Latin or North American nation The first European press was set up in Mexico, therefore incunabula pre-dates any other Latin or North American nation

A 500-Years Experience Three periods of book migration: Conquest (1600), Independence (1800) and the Revolution (1900) Three periods of book migration: Conquest (1600), Independence (1800) and the Revolution (1900) Originally, the country had no power to keep its own materials Originally, the country had no power to keep its own materials Later, it did not have the infra-structure to preserve its materials Later, it did not have the infra-structure to preserve its materials Contemporary times, Mexico lacked a preservation culture up to the 1950’s Contemporary times, Mexico lacked a preservation culture up to the 1950’s

European Libraries Several codex were painted before or during the Spanish conquest of Mexico Several codex were painted before or during the Spanish conquest of Mexico Mexican Indian codex contain graphic descriptions of pre-Hispanic Mexico Mexican Indian codex contain graphic descriptions of pre-Hispanic Mexico They are of great artistic and historical value for the study of the country They are of great artistic and historical value for the study of the country Most Codex were taken to Spain and the rest of Europe as presents to royal families Most Codex were taken to Spain and the rest of Europe as presents to royal families Many of them are part of national library collections: London, Vienna, Paris Many of them are part of national library collections: London, Vienna, Paris The Mexican government has claimed them back although no real strategy has been taken to repatriate them The Mexican government has claimed them back although no real strategy has been taken to repatriate them

Our Northern Neighbor Several collections and library items have been taken to the US Several collections and library items have been taken to the US The budget of US libraries enables them to acquire Mexican materials of historical value The budget of US libraries enables them to acquire Mexican materials of historical value Latin American collections in the US have some of the best Mexican library materials Latin American collections in the US have some of the best Mexican library materials However, American libraries’ acquisition of foreign materials contributed to the preservation of Mexican titles in the country’s during turmoil times However, American libraries’ acquisition of foreign materials contributed to the preservation of Mexican titles in the country’s during turmoil times Difficult times, like the independence and the revolution, proved to be good periods for book “migration” to the US Difficult times, like the independence and the revolution, proved to be good periods for book “migration” to the US

The French Case A Mexican doing research at the National Library of France took back a Codex in the 1980’s A Mexican doing research at the National Library of France took back a Codex in the 1980’s There was a diplomatic and international media upheaval about who was the owner There was a diplomatic and international media upheaval about who was the owner This was a test case that motivated government to create legislation to preserve and claim back local materials This was a test case that motivated government to create legislation to preserve and claim back local materials The Mexican government decided to keep the codex in the country The Mexican government decided to keep the codex in the country

Book Stealing: A Case A Latin American researcher spent years doing research in Mexican libraries A Latin American researcher spent years doing research in Mexican libraries Little by little he stole hundreds of books from several libraries Little by little he stole hundreds of books from several libraries The books were taken to his home country The books were taken to his home country Now these books lay on the shelves of the special collections area of a foreign national library Now these books lay on the shelves of the special collections area of a foreign national library The collection proudly bears the name of the researcher The collection proudly bears the name of the researcher

Legal Framework First steps to create a legal framework for materials preservation began in the 1960’s First steps to create a legal framework for materials preservation began in the 1960’s Better and more detailed legislation was passed in the 1970”s Better and more detailed legislation was passed in the 1970”s States began passing local laws in the 1980’s States began passing local laws in the 1980’s Several states still lack proper legislation Several states still lack proper legislation Chihuahua, my home state, passed the first law to protect bibliographic materials until 1999 Chihuahua, my home state, passed the first law to protect bibliographic materials until 1999

* History is history unless we can correct it… THANKS!