Hispanic Heritage Project

08/21/2025

Who is Mariano Gonzalez Leal?

Mariano is a Mexican historian, anthropologist, genealogist, and prolific author renowned for his meticulous archival work, drawing from primary sources such as colonial records, genealogical tables, and historical documents.

His Retoños de España series, published in various editions (notably by the Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco in 2010–2011 and the Hispanic Heritage Project in 2021), includes detailed family histories of Spanish settlers, organized alphabetically across volumes.

Go to https://panes.info/books/ to view his books and see the family names that are in each volume. To appreciate the extent of his research and dedication to accuracy, it took Mariano 40 years to compile this work,

Expand your knowledge about Hispanic heritage by checking out our book suggestions at Hispanic Heritage Project. Visit our website to see more.

08/20/2025

Hispanic Heritage Project has been funding various projects in Mexico over the past 20 years that helped those interested in colonial Hispanic research. However, we currently can no longer finance these projects as in the past, but we continue to offer valuable books through our Nueva Espana Bookstore at Panes.info and Abe Books. Here are two valuable titles that may be of interest to you as a researcher.

You can find them here along with links to the thousands of family names they contain. https://panes.info/books/

Familias y casas de la vieja Valladolid by
Pbro. Gabriel Ibarola Arriaga

Valladolid was an important province of Nueva Galicia and the capital of Michoacan Sixty-nine families and their ancestors are mentioned, almost 6000 names!

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Eugeio Pleito de mineros en Zacatacas by
Eugenio de Hoyo Cabrera

Pleito de mineros describes the people who arrived in Zacatacas during the silver rush of the 1500’s. The author brings to light the activities of the first settlers and over 700 names are mentioned.

Expand your knowledge about Hispanic heritage by checking out our book suggestions at Hispanic Heritage Project. Visit our website to see more.

11/09/2023

We had a great evening November 2nd celebrating Día de los Mu***os with my wife and great-granddaughter in memory of our ancestors.

10/26/2023

Meet Dorian who is the "go-to" person when it comes to the scanners we have begun placing in various archives. He has created a training video so that when more scanners are placed, the operators will quickly learn how to put them into action. Dorian works out of the Universidad Autónima de Baja California.

09/04/2023

Muchísimas Gracias!!!
Father Dizan, director of the Historical Archive of the Archdiocese of Chihuahua shows his appreciation for the gift of a laptop that will aid with the scanning and digitizing of the archive's documents. We appreciate all the donations that have made this possible.

07/07/2023

More about this important find: “RELACIONES SECRETAS DE LOS CONQUISTADORES”

324 likes, 30 comments. “The Relación Secreta de Conquistadores is one of the most important books on Mexican ancestry that was ever published. Very few exist in circulation anywhere. Get yours today before they're gone. Limited re-print.”

06/22/2023

In addition to publishing colonial documents online, Hispanic Heritage Project has a wealth of books available to purchase that contain important genealogical information. The book we are featuring today lists thousands of conquistadores and other individuals who emigrated from Spain. What is exciting, however, is the "other individuals." These are the people who came with the conquistadores like their cook, their taylor, their maids, and others who provided their needed services.

Check out our bookstore at http://panes.info
There you will also find several books that have the index posted so you can search for your family names.

06/22/2023

06/22/2023

We are happy to report that we have had success in placing another scanner. It is now in the Archivo Histórico del Municipio de Pátzcuaro in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. With the scanner, municipal employees can now image the archive´s colonial records and make them available to the public. Currently the records are stored in boxes on shelves and one would have to physically go there to do research or request a certain document.

The catalog of all the records in the archive is in the process of being put online. Eventually, people will be able to browse through it and then request the desired document which will be attached in an email to them.

The work continues on the part of Hispanic Heritage Project and its untiring volunteers to help researchers with roots in New Spain to find information about their ancestors. We thank all who have participated in this great effort. You are much appreciated.

04/09/2023

To all those who have been following our progress from our fundraiser to purchase 10 scanners for placing in archives in Mexico.

We placed three scanners last month in March. One to the colonial archive at Patzcuaro Michoacan, one to the Arzobispado de Guadalajara and the third to the Archivo Municipal de Hidalgo de Parral de Chihuahua. The following is a brief summary as to why this has taken so long.
After we had ordered the scanners in April last year, it took several months for the shipment to reach the US. When we finally received them, we opened the boxes, checked to make sure everytning was in working order then sent them on their way to Mexico where they were tied up several months more at the border. Additionally there were more delays at the various archives due to changes in leadership and other matters that are common in Mexico. We were finally able to take a much needed breath of relief to see these scanners placed. We look forward to the great work to be done that will aid researchers far and wide as information from the above listed archives is made accessible. Our negotiations continue with other archives where the remaining scanners will be placed.

05/14/2022

Padre Dizán Vázquez Loya, Doctora Campos, Carlos Yturralde Archivo Histórico de la Arquidiócesis de Chihuahua