A History of Modern Mexico
The Modern Records Centre holds a range of records relating to Mexico. This resource links to digitised copies of documents from the 20th century.
Additional undigitised sources may be identified through our research guide to sources for the study of Latin AmericaLink opens in a new window, under the 'Mexico' subheading. Undigitised sources can be viewed in person in our searchroom - see our Guide to Visiting the Modern Records Centre. Find out more about using archives for study on our Student page.
Herald of Revolt
The Herald of Revolt was a British anarchist journal edited and published by Guy A. Aldred. The journal included some articles about the revolutionary and political situation in Mexico, some of which have been made available online:
(including article on 'The Mexican revolution', p. 13, by Ricardo Flores Mag贸n, a Mexican anarchist known, with his brothers, for the 'Magonismo' anarchist philosophy)
(including article 'What is good authority?', p. 39, by Ricardo Flores Mag贸n)
(including article on 'The Mexican struggle' by the anarchist Enrique Flores Mag贸n)
(including 'More about Mexico' by J.F. Moncaleano, former editor of Mexican newspaper 'La Luz', who had been imprisoned by the Madero administration)
(including front page photograph of 'Imprisoned Mexican rebels')
(including article on the 'Mexican situation' following the collapse of the Madero administration)
(including article 'Oil means blood', on US interests in Mexico)
General sources
English language edition of the Mexican constitution, first published in 1917. This is a revised and amended version from 1926, reprinted from the 'Mexican Review' in Washington.
Memorandum written by Ricardo Trevi帽o, a leading member of the Confederaci贸n Regional Obrera Mexicana (CROM). The first part of the memorandum refers to exploitation and misrepresentation of Mexico by the USA, including by the oil industry, and the economic profitability of the country during the revolutionary period. The second part of the memorandum refers to social reforms, including property and labour rights as represented in articles 27 and 123 of the Mexican constitution.
Memorandum written by Ricardo Trevi帽o, a leading member of the Confederaci贸n Regional Obrera Mexicana (CROM). It focuses on the De Kay debt case, the expulsion of Herbert Ashley Cunard Cummings by the Mexican government, and the case of Rosalie Evans (killed in 1927).
Delegate's reports from the Mexican Trade Union Convention
English language press release issued by Agencia Mexicana de Prensa (Mexican Press Service), reflecting on the achievements of the administration of Plutarco El铆as Calles and the intended plans of the incoming President Gil.
Press cutting from 'The Times', reporting on the new labour code proposed by the government of Emilo Portes Gil, designed to implement article 123 of the Mexican constitution. The Ley Federal de Trabajo (Federal Labour Law) was enacted in 1931.
Poster reproducing a speech (in Spanish) by Luis N. Morones, trade union leader and founder of the Mexican Labour Party, in which he speaks about the Confederaci贸n Regional Obrera Mexicana (CROM), the broader labour movement and politics. The speech was made at an event to commemorate the 'Chicago Martyrs', anarchists executed in the USA in 1886. 1928 was the year in which Morones' political influence began to wain.
Poster setting out the policies of Confederaci贸n Regional Obrera Mexicana, issued by the Central Committee of the organisation (in Spanish).
Statement from the Comit茅 Central, Confederaci贸n Regional Obrera Mexicana (CROM), on the "failure in the unification of the organized workers of Mexico". It is a response to the formation of the rival organisation Confederaci贸n de Trabajadores de M茅xico (CTM).
Copy of letter from the Comit茅 Central, Confederaci贸n Regional Obrera Mexicana, to the Chief of the International Labour Office. It argues that CROM is the most representative trade union organisation in Mexico and shouldn't be replaced by rival organisation Confederaci贸n de Trabajadores de M茅xico as the 'official' representatives of Mexican labour at the International Labour Conference.
Letter from Vincente Lombardo Toledano, Confederaci贸n de Trabajadores de M茅xico, 29 November 1937, circulated for the International Federation of Trade Unions Executive meeting on 12-13 January 1938. It includes information about CTM's formation and its rivalry with the Confederaci贸n Regional Obrera Mexicana (CROM).
The memorandum is written from the perspective of CROM, and includes information about the history of the organisation and its rivalry with other trade union bodies. A note on the document states that it was "Handed to Sir Walter Citrine [General Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress] by Matthew Woll [Vice President of the American Federation of Labor], at Oslo, 20.5.38".
The circular was sent to member organisations by Walter Schevenels, General Secretary of International Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). It informs them of the IFTU's decision not to attend the conference organised by the Confederaci贸n de Trabajadores de M茅xico, due to the divided nature of Mexican trade unionism and uncertainty about the "character" of some of the invited organisations. The social democratic IFTU usually refused to work with pro-Communist trade unions (who were affiliated to a separate, Soviet international organisation) and "character" is likely to be a euphemism for political affiliation.
British Trades Union Congress memorandum on the Mexican nationalisation of foreign oil companies, including text of telegrams received from the Confederaci贸n de Trabajadores de M茅xico.
Telegrams regarding the Mexican government's expropriation of oilfields, 1938
, to Sir Walter Citrine, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, thanking the TUC for their expression of solidarity
, at a meeting of International Federation of Trade Unions in Oslo, to Vincent Tewson, Assistant General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, asking for information about the British Labour Party's position on the expropriation
The letter was sent to the British Trades Union Congress by Vincente Anzures, Secretary of the Sindicato de Profesionistas Revolucionarios de Morelos (both the Spanish original and an English translation are included). Anzures thanks the TUC for backing the Mexican government's expropriation of the oilfields and expresses support for the "British doctrine of democracy", as opposed to "exotic ideas like Fascism and Communism".
Several newsletters from the International Transport Workers' Federation on developments in the transport industry in Mexico.
Reports by the Trades Union Congress, an English body representing an amalgamation of trades unions, on developments regarding trade unions and labour politics in Mexico.
Reports relating to housing projects, social security and labour legislation in Mexico.