William Michael Mathes (April 15, 1936 – August 13, 2012) was an American historian and academic who focused on the histories of
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
and
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
. Mathes was a leading expert on the history of
Baja California
Baja California, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, is a state in Mexico. It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of B ...
.
His articles can be found in the ''California Historical Society Quarterly'', ''Southern California Quarterly'', ''Journal of San Diego History'', ''Journal of California Anthropology'', ''Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly'', ''Calafia'', ''Meyibó'', and other publications.
[
]
Career
Mathes received his BS from Loyola University Loyola University is one of several Jesuit Universities named for St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Loyola University may refer to:
Democratic Republic of the Congo
*Loyola University of Congo, Kinshasa, Congo
Spain
* Loyola University Andalusia, Sevilla ...
in Los Angeles, his MA from the University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
, and his PhD from the University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico (UNM; ) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, it is the state's second oldest university, a flagship university in th ...
,.[ Beginning in 1966, he was professor of Ibero-American history and then professor emeritus at the ]University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit university in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1855, it has nearly 9,000 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees ...
.[
From 1974, Mathes served as a researcher at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California's Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas. He was curator of Mexicana at the Sutro Library in San Francisco after 1979.
Mathes was director of Biblioteca Mathes near ]Guadalajara
Guadalajara ( ; ) is the capital and the most populous city in the western Mexican List of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco, as well as the most densely populated municipality in Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population ...
, Jalisco
Jalisco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in western Mexico and is bordered by s ...
.[ He donated an extensive collection of manuscripts and books to the Colegio de Jalisco in ]Zapopan
Zapopan () is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Zapopan is the largest city in the state. It's best known as the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin ...
, and the collection is now called the Biblioteca Mathes.[ The Mathes library is a major source of northwest Mexican colonial history, and it was valuated in 12 million dollars. This donation was described as "the largest repatriation of cultural heritage ever made in the history of Mexico".
Mathes spearheaded fundraising efforts for CAREM, a ]non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
historical society
A historical society is non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and promoting the history of a particular place, group of people, or topic. They play a crucial role in promoting historical awareness and understan ...
based in Tecate
Tecate () is a city in Tecate Municipality, Baja California. It is across the Mexico–United States border, Mexico–US border from Tecate, California. As of 2019, the city had a population of 108,860 inhabitants, while the metropolitan area ha ...
, Baja California
Baja California, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, is a state in Mexico. It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of B ...
, which promotes the history of Baja California
Baja California, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, is a state in Mexico. It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of B ...
.[ Mathes's efforts in support of CAREM helped lead to the construction of its museum in Tecate; the organization named the museum's auditorium in honor of Mathes.][ CAREM supported Mathes' work, including his most recent ''The Land of Calafia: A Brief History of Baja California''.][
Mathes is also credited with persuading the ]Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia
The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH, ''National Institute of Anthropology and History'') is a Federal government of the United Mexican States, Mexican federal government bureau established in 1939 to guarantee the researc ...
(INAH), the Mexican government bureau charged with preservation and research, to open a new regional office in Mexicali
Mexicali (; ) is the capital city of the States of Mexico, Mexican state of Baja California. The city, which is the seat of the Mexicali Municipality, has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the Calexico–Mexicali, Cale ...
, so the archaeological and historical collections and investigations would be managed locally, rather than from an existing INAH office in Sonora
Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
.[
In 2012, Mathes was working jointly with INAH, CAREM, and the Ministry of Tourism of Baja California to seek ]UNESCO World Heritage status
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, science ...
for the El Camino Real de las Californias, a Spanish mission trail spanning the states of Baja California Sur, Baja California, and California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
.[
Mathes died in ]Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock ( )
is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Lubbock County. With a population of 272,086 in 2024, Lubbock is the 10th-most populous city in Texas and the 84th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the ...
, on August 13, 2012, at the age of 76.[ His death was reported in the Tijuana-based ''Frontera'' newspaper by historian Mario Ortiz Villacorta.][ At the time of his death, Mathes was scheduled to deliver a presentation called "From ]Sinaloa
Sinaloa (), officially the (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities, and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales.
It is located in northwest Mexic ...
and Sonora
Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
: the Families of the First Soldiers in Alta California
Alta California (, ), also known as Nueva California () among other names, was a province of New Spain formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but was made a separat ...
" at the sixth meeting of the Early San Diego Regional History Conference on October 27, 2012.[ He was survived by a daughter, Ann M. Mathes (Annie), who resided in California and was pursuing her AS degree in Veterinary Technology.
]
A partial listing of works authored by Mathes
* ''Californiana I: documentos para la historia de la demarcación comercial de California, 1583-1632'' (1965)
* ''Vizcaíno and Spanish Expansion in the Pacific Ocean, 1580-1630'' (1968)
* ''Californiana II: documentos para la historia de la explotación comercial de California, 1611-1679'' (1970)
* ''Cortés en California 1535 : el viaje de Fernando Cortés según los cronistas y manuscritos'' (1973)
* ''Sebastián Vizcaíno y la expansión española en el Océano Pacifico, 1580-1630'' (1973)
* ''Californiana III: documentos para la historia de la transformación colonizadora de California, 1679-1686'' (1974)
* ''A Brief History of the Land of Calafia: The Californias, 1533-1795'' (1974)
* ''Piratas en la costa de Nueva Galicia en el siglo XVII'' (1976)
* ''Las misiones de Baja California, 1683-1849 = una reseña histórico- fotográfica = The mission of Baja California, 1683-1849 : an historical- photographic survey'' (1977)
* ''Obras californianas del padre Miguel Venegas, S.J. Supplement : Historical-Biographical Introduction'' (1979)
* ''Importancia de Cabo San Lucas'' (1980)
* ''Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco: la primera biblioteca académica de las Américas'' (1982)
* ''Mexico on Stone: Lithography in Mexico, 1826-1900 '' (1984)
* ''Un centro cultural novogalaico : la biblioteca del Convento de San Francisco de Guadalajara en 1610'' (1986)
* ''Californiana IV: aportación a la historiografía de California en el siglo XVIII'' (1987)
* ''Baja California: textos de su historia'' (1988)
* ''La frontera ruso-mexicana : documentos mexicanos para la historia del establecimiento ruso en California, 1808-1842'' (1990)
* ''Ethnology of the Baja California Indians'' (1992)
* ''Cronistas y crónicas jesuitas del noroeste de Nueva España'' (1998)
* ''The Land of Calafia : A Brief History of Peninsular California, (1533-1848)'' (2000)
* ''La ilustración en Mexico colonial: el grabado en madera y cobre en Nueva España, 1539-1821 = Illustration in Colonial Mexico'' (2001)
* ''Bibliotheca novohispana guadalupana : clave a la bibliografía impresa guadalupana novohispana, 1621-1823 = Bibliotheca novohispana guadalupana : a key to printed bibliography of our lady of Guadalupe in New Spain 1621-1823'' (2003)
* ''Misiones en el camino real misionero del estado de Baja California = Missions on the Royal Mission Highway in the State of Baja California'' (2005)
* ''Historia de Baja California'' (2006)
* ''La tierra de Calafia: una historia breve de las Californias (1533-1848)'' (2009)
* ''The Final Days of Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Initiator of Mexican Independence, 1811 : Testimony and Recollections of Mechor Guasp, his jailer por Melchor Guasp'' (2010)
* ''Traslado del menologio de varones illustres de la Compañía de Jesús : cuyos elogios aprobados por nuestros PP. generales se leen los dias, que corresponden en la Casa Professa de Roma : sacanse estos traslados fielmente traducidos à nuestro idioma para mayor conveniencia de nuestros collegios en su domestico uso y para mayor utilidad, exemplo è imitacion en los nuestros y para privada memoria y veneracion de nuestros mayores'' (year?)
Awards
In 1985, the Mexican government
The Federal government of Mexico (alternately known as the Government of the Republic or ' or ') is the national government of the United Mexican States, the central government established by its constitution to share sovereignty over the republ ...
awarded Mathes the Order of the Aztec Eagle
The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle () forms part of the Mexican Honors System and is the highest Mexican order awarded to foreigners.
History
It was created by decree on December 29, 1933, by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez as a reward to ...
, the highest decoration bestowed on foreign citizens.[
In 2000 he was honored with the Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting, "Private Collecting for the Public Good," by the ]University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit university in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1855, it has nearly 9,000 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees ...
Gleeson Library and the Gleeson Library Associates.Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting.
University of San Francisco Library and the Gleeson Library Associates. Retrieved from The Wayback Machine July 22, 2024.
The government of Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
also awarded Mathes the Order of Isabella the Catholic
The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (; Abbreviation, Abbr.: OYC) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent Order of merit, orders of merit bestowed by the Kingdom of Spain, alongside the Order of Charles III (established in 1771) and ...
in November 2005. He received award at the "International Colloquium of El Camino Real -- Mexico Norte y Texas" conference at the University of Texas
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 2 ...
campus in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...
.[
The Universidad Autónoma de Baja California awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor Honoris Causa.
]
References
External links
CAREM official site
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathes, W. Michael
1936 births
2012 deaths
Historians of Mexico
Historians of Baja California
Historians of Spain
University of San Francisco faculty
University of New Mexico alumni
People from Plainview, Texas
Historians from Texas
Historians of libraries