o Introduction 
archive of the Franciscan Province of Santo Evangelio, so important in the 
early history of New Mexico, or of that of the Commandancy-General of the 
Interior Provinces, so important for the northern frontier of New Spain 
after 1776. 
ACCESSIBILITY. 
Fortunately for the cause of history, the public authorities of Mexico, and 
the custodians of most of the ecclesiastical collections as well, maintain a very 
liberal attitude toward students. Consequently, if one goes to Mexico prop- 
erly introduced, he need ordinarily have little fear that unreasonable obstacles 
will be put in his way. He must however go prepared to adjust himself to the 
working hours customary to the country, and occasionally to submit to what 
to the eager student may seem tedious delays. Moreover, since the use of the 
archives by foreigners for historical purposes is a relatively recent and infre- 
quent practice, there are many details of policy and of routine of administra- 
tion that have not yet been worked out. This will come gradually as the 
archives are more frequented by foreign students. 
It need hardly be said that in providing oneself with letters of introduction 
it is always wise to secure them from as high authority as possible, and in 
presenting them to proceed from the top downward. This caution is not 
predicated upon any peculiarity of conditions in Mexico, but simply upon the 
laws of human nature and the constitution of authority. 
In general, the best way to gain admission to the government archives is to 
secure a letter of introduction to the United States ambassador, and from him 
to the minister of the department or the governor of the state whose archives 
it is desired to examine. The best introduction to the officials in charge of the 
ecclesiastical archives is a letter from the Apostolic Delegate or the Arch- 
bishop of Mexico. 
WorKING Hours. 
To the American the working hours in some of the public archives of Mex- 
ico may seem unsatisfactory. Thus the Archivo General y Publico at the city 
of Mexico is usually open in summer only from 7: 30 a. m. to 1:30 p. m.,, 
and in winter from 8 a. m. to 1:30 p. m.; the archives of the various secre- 
tariats of the federal government from 9 or 9:30 a. m. to 1: 30 or 2 p. m.; 
the Museo Nacional from 8: 30 a. m. to 2: 30 p. m., and from 3: 30 to 6: 30 
p. m.; and the Biblioteca Nacional from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m., while the office of 
the director, where most of the manuscripts are kept, is open for a much 
shorter time. The government archives of the different states usually keep 
about the same hours as the secretariats of the central government, but it is. 
sometimes possible to make arrangements for afternoon work in them. The 
ecclesiastical collections, on the other hand, are usually accessible at hours as. 
early as one could wish and remain so as late as one can see to work by 
daylight. Ordinarily, one must not expect to accomplish as much in Mexican 
