Arturo Ramos
wrote:

class=639521704-07112005><Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 04:01:44 -0000
class=639521704-07112005>      From: "Arturo
Ramos"
href="mailto:arturo.ramos2@...">arturo.ramos2@...

class=639521704-07112005><Subject: Trip to Jalisco,
Zacatecas

<I
will be spending about three weeks this December and January in Jalisco and
Zacatecas and am hoping to make it to the parrishes in Colotlan and 
class=639521704-07112005>,

class=639521704-07112005>Tlalten
class=639521704-07112005>ango, perhaps Atolinga as well as the
archives in Guadalajara...

 <Question... has anyone ever
asked to see the actual books held at the parrishes? I am thinking of asking to
photograph some of them, but don't know how well that would go over.
class=639521704-07112005>  Any tips would be appreciated. I am also
going to try to do an interview with Esteban Valdes Salazar who has published
some very good genealogy and history books on Totatiche. He is the local
"cronista" and has obviously spent lots of time pouring over old
archival  documents, including the
transcription of the 1591 census of Tlaxcaltec migrants to Colotlan and the
entire 1770 Totatiche census (over 3000 names). So if there are any questions
anyone would like to ask, please let me know.
class=639521704-07112005>>...................................................

Hi Arturo!   I just now had time to
try to catch up on my e-mail (Mickey Garcia and I were in Monclova, MX  for
a few days) and just read the above message you sent a few weeks ago.  You
mention that you are going to try to interview Esteban Valdes Salazar while you
are in Mexico during December and January.  I am researching the Valdes
line but so far all I know is that they were in Brownsville, TX in the early
1900s and before that they were in Matamoros, Tamps., MX. in the mid
1800s.   I do not know where they were before they went to
Tamaulipas.  If you do talk to Mr. Valdes, would you please ask him if any
of his Valdes' went north to Tamaulipas, and, if so, when and where?  I
really appreciate it!

When I have gone to
parishes in Mexico they usually do not let us see the actual
books.......,USUALLY.....but sometimes you might  luck out and see the
book IF you are lucky!  You just never know!  If you can establish a
good rapport with the cronista perhaps he can open a few doors for you......Then
again, sometimes the secretary or receptionist will bring the book to you to see
at her desk.  I have seen this done too.  When I was in Monterrey last
year I used my digital camera to take photos of an index in one of the books
they had containing baptismal records.  I did not use the flash and the
results were great.  Most places do not allow you to use the flash on the
digital camera.  We have found that if you take a few "goodies" such as
ball point pens, tablets, paper, folders, etc. that they can use......this will
also open a few doors for you.  Generally the archives are not as well
equiped with supplies as we are here in the US.  I have been to great
archivos that do not even have a computer or printer!  They welcome any
supplies we take! .........No, this is not considered a "mordida" or
bribe....  :-)   .........it is just a way to show our
appreciation for what they help us with.  Of course we always offer to pay
for any copies, etc. and this is usually a very reasonable
amount.

Good luck on your
venture.......take lots of pictures........we will be waiting to hear all about
your trip!

Buena
suerte,

Josie Trevino Trevino
in San Antonio, TX