Scholars and community leaders from across the country will met in Tulsa on November 1, 2019 to reexamine Spanish colonialism and promote current dialogue on hot topics such as migration, immigration and cultural identities at the Helmerich Center for American Research during a one-day conference.

Framed by centenary documents that provide first-hand accounts of events that occurred since the arrival of the Spaniards in the Americas, including a handwritten letter by the son of Christopher Columbus, “Rethinking colonialism in Mexico and the Americas: past, present and future” explored the Spanish colonial period from multiple perspectives and expand historical narratives.

The collection of Spanish colonial manuscripts contains approximately 26,000 pages of original documents from Mexico dating from 1512 to 1857, one of the first being a letter written by the son of Christopher Columbus. With records documenting blasphemy, misconduct in office, bigamy, astrology, theft, debt, personal judgments about property and inheritance, and some intended to secure a title of nobility by demonstrating family ancestry.

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Topics

“When Montezuma Met Cortés:The True Story Behind the Meeting that Changed History”

“Radical 16th Century Abolitionism: Indigenous Slaves and Spanish officials and the toppling of the Ancient Regime in Mexico and Peru”

“Black Conquistadors and the Question of Agency”

“Devotion and Sanctity in Colonial Mexico: Missionary Heroes”

“Inquisitions and the Archive: Mexico, Spain, and Ireland: Looking at Taboo Behavior”

“Inquisition Trials of Conversos (Converted Jews) in Spain, Mexico, and Peru: Looking at how Nationality Impacted Trials”

And more