Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts containing writings on architecture, mathematics, astronomy, theology, botany, and hydrology. A seventeenth-century manuscript (G73) contains various writings which include technical and architectural drawings of buildings and bridges, mathematical tables and illustrations, schematics of equipment such as pumps and pendulums, and other drawings. Subjects treated include applied geometry, technical drawing, mosiac design, construction of simple timepieces, the composition of the cosmos, a description of the temple of Solomon, and the draining of lakes around Mexico City. G65 is a nineteenth-century manuscript copy of leaves 124-138 from G73.
The manuscripts are in Spanish.
Dates
- Creation: 17th-century
Language of Materials
Spanish or Castilian
Access Restrictions
Unrestricted.
Use Restrictions
Standard copyright restrictions apply.
Biographical Note
Architect and Carmelite friar. Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in 1577 in Medinasidonia, Spain; died circa 1644 in Guanajuato, Mexico. First sailed to New Spain in 1593, staying briefly in Veracruz. He was shipwrecked in the Caribbean and stranded in Florida, where he vowed to join the Carmelite religious order if rescued. He returned to Spain in 1595 but went back to New Spain in 1597, settling in Puebla. He joined the Carmelites in 1598, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. His first construction, the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe, was begun in 1606. He built the Convento de San Ángel, considered his master work, in 1615 and began construction of the Monasterio de Querétaro in 1618. Between 1629 and 1632, he built monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and Salvatierra, as well as a bridge over the Lerma River. From 1632 he lived in Mexico City, working on draining the valley. He died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, circa 1644.
His written works includeQué cosa sea la arquitectura, De los cimientos de los edificios, Descripción del templo de Salomón, Fábrica de los relojes horizontales, Algunos tratados de astronomía, Tratado de plantas y frutas de la huerta del Colegio de San Angel, Chimalistae,andInforme acerca del desagüe de México.
- 1577
- Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in Medinasidonia, Spain.
- 1593
- Sailed to New Spain, landing briefly in Veracruz. Shipwrecked in the Caribbean and eventually stranded in Florida, he vowed to join the Order of the Carmelites if rescued.
- 1595
- Returned to Spain.
- 1597
- Sailed to New Spain, this time settling in Puebla.
- 1598
- Joined the Carmelites, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. Continued to practice architecture.
- 1606
- Began his first contruction--the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe. Not completed until 1610 or 1614.
- 1615
- Built his “master work”: the Convento de San Angel.
- 1618
- Began construction of the Monasterio de Querétero.
- 1629-1632
- Constructed monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and (his last) Salvatierra. Built a bridge spanning the Lerma River on the road between Mexico City and Toluca.
- 1632
- From this date on lived in Mexico City, working to drain the valley.
- 1644
- Died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato.
Full Extent
295 Leaves
Abstract
Seventeenth-century manuscript of Fray Andrés de San Miguel, Carmeline friar and architect, contains writings on architecture, mathematics, astronomy, theology, botany, and hydrology and includes technical and architectural drawings.
Other Finding Aids
The following guide is available in the Benson Latin American Collection Rare Books Reference: Castañeda, Carlos Eduardo, 1896-1958. Guide to the Latin American Manuscripts in the University of Texas Library. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1939.
Acquisition Information
The Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts form part of the Genaro García Collection, which was purchased by the University of Texas in 1921 from the heirs of Genaro García..
Alternative Form Available
The manuscripts are also available on microfilm.
Processing Information
Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project January 6, 1994.
The manuscripts were described by the Benson Latin American Collection's Mexican Archives Project in December 1994.
- Title
- Andrés de San Miguel:
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of His Manuscripts at the Benson Latin American Collection
- Author
- Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection
- Date
- 2001
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- July 30, 2002: Edited with XMetaL3 by Bob Stewart according to instructions in <title>Editing TARO EAD Finding Aids with XMetaL. </title>
- Tue Jul 22 14:57:46 CDT 2003: urn:taro:utexas.blac.00004 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505).
- 2021 April: Edited by Carla O. Alvarez to fix compliance check errors to prepare for the migration to new TARO website.
- 2021 November: Edited by Devon Murphy to update control access terms and formatting based on the TARO Control Access List.
- 2025 July: Revised by Ryan Sullivant to fix validation errors prior to ingestion into ArchivesSpace.
Repository Details
Part of the Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin Repository
2300 Red River Street
Austin Texas 78712 United States
(512) 495-4578
bensonspecialcollections@austin.utexas.edu