New Mexico in 1801

In 1801 the Catholic clergy of New Mexico wrote a series of reports on the towns and Indian pueblos of the province. The reports were made in response to an inquiry from the Consulado, or Merchant Guild, of Guadalajara, which was seeking information about the state and circumstances of agriculture, industry, and commerce of the vast area that fell within its jurisdiction with the aim of fostering economic growth. The Consulado of Guadalajara opted to have churchmen file reports because it believed that priests, because of their education and knowledge of the land and their generous and worthy desire to be useful to their parishioners, are the most appropriate to bring their lights to bear on the hoped for result. In addition to reporting on the current condition and size of the communities in their charge, the priests were asked to suggest crops or industries that might be successfully introduced in New Mexico. They were queried what raw materials were exploited and which ones were unused. The consulado also asked about the state of roads and bridges. The twenty-six reports that the New Mexican clergy produced are presented in fully annotated English translation. In addition, there are biographical sketches of all twenty priests, eleven of whom were European Spaniards and nine were born in New Spain. Of the twenty, nineteen were Franciscans and one was a diocesan priest.