Customer Reviews

Origins of New Mexico Families: A Genealogy of the Spanish Colonial Period

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

For the purist needing to cite sources, this is a wonderful place to get started in order to locate the original document. However, it is not a source in and of itself that can be cited. Citing of evidence in the book is minimal, but useable. The ancestral family trees don't include dates, but by carefully following the text, one can deduce the information. The sorting of material by century makes lookups a bit tedious, as one must search 17th century, then 18th century, and then several addendums to the original 1954 edition. Still, given how much time it takes to research historical and governmental records, I would highly recommend this book. For every hour of microfilm research you do, I'm sure this book will save you ten.
Jan 2010: I have been volunteering at an LDS Family History Center for the past five years and would suggest that anyone doing genealogy research visit their local FHC center. It is non-denominational! I'm a Missouri Synod Lutheran and have never had any issues! Online go [...].

I was priviliged to make the aquaintance of the author a few years prior to his passing in Santa Fe NM. He was a true Renaissance Man - a painter, a poet, an historian, an author, etc. in addition to his lifetime of service in the Franciscan order. His prose and poetry have won literary prizes in the U.S. and Europe.

This book is THE starting place for anyone having family history ties to New Mexico, and a must-read for those interested in the history of New Mexico. Well before Jamestown and the Pilgrims, New Mexico was settled continuously beginning in 1598 by Spaniards whose descendents today still make up a major portion of the population of New Mexico.

This book has been reprinted numerous times and sells out every time. I recommend you get it now before it goes out of print and distribution again. This newer edition reprint was launched by the nephew (Dr. Thomas Chávez)of the author and the edition includes important new material.

I recognize some the other reviewers above, who are experienced genealogists specializing in New Mexico. We all agree - this book is essential for every New Mexico genealogist and historian.

John E. Chavez (aka: El Profe Loco)

This book is a find for anyone doing research or genealogy in the New Mexico region. It's contents takes you back to the 14th and 15th centuries as well as the 16th and 17th centuries. A must have book for any Genealogist or Historian.

If you have ancestors listed in this book, you must have it. Just to see them listed in it makes you feel soo proud and you have it to show others in case they think you are full of crap.

This is an excellent resource for New Mexican genealogy research. The information is documented, the layout is clear, and the book is easy to use. I have consistently returned to this book while researching for my clients' family history and for mine as well. There are some errors, so don't use this book as the sole source of your work.

The only problem I see with this book is that sometime people become TOO eager to make their known lines stretch out to "fit" the work in here. But most researchers, professional and ameteur, aren't like that.

Purchase this book before it goes out of print, just like the previous reviewer urges. You'll use it for decades.

Salena Ashton

This is the book to have to begin tracing your Spanish heritage in New Mexico. Fray Angélico was a blessing sent to New Mexico genealogists. His years of dedicated research have aided those with roots in early New Mexico find their lineages. And a big thank you also goes to José Antonio Esquibel for going "Beyond Origins" and updating Fray Angélico's research.

Primos, find your roots and remember your ancestors with pride!

I was shocked when I received this book and saw what a collection of work was involved. This is a very low price to pay for a book that is loaded with actual documented family data. Think of what it would cost for you to do the years of research that he has already compiled for you. Yes, there are a few errors, but there are also errors in actual documents... This is just a GREAT place to start for those who are working on their early Spanish American families.

He has managed to bring together an enormous group of varied families in this one 442 page effort. I know it doesn't cite it's sources in every case and the dates are not always published, but an experienced researcher can glean much from this man's work. My suggestion is that if you have New Mexico families researched back to the early 1800's you will find this source invaluable.

Using his sources I should be able to order some of these records from a local Family History Center to acurately document my own data. If these manuscripts haven't been filmed yet, they eventually will be, so be patient. I was able to put together several promising families using this book and am working on the documentation for myself which we should all do anyway.

I am an amateur genealogist who belongs to a couple of genealogy groups in New Mexico. I have found Fray Chavez's book, "Origins of New Mexico Families" to be an extremely useful book.

Although present-day genealogists have found a few errors in Chavez's work, for the most part he did very sound research. All the New Mexican genealogists that I know refer to this book consistently. The book is well referenced, so the researcher can check the facts himself. The serious New Mexican genealogist should have a copy of this book in his collection.

The Origins of New Mexico Families is a must have source book for anyone conducting genealogy research that includes New Mexico. A Must Have Book!

Very interesting, felt there could have been more added but was happy to have as a resource and history reference.