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:
February 1912Link opens in a new window (including article on 'The Mexican revolution', p. 13, by Ricardo Flores Magón, a Mexican anarchist known, with his brothers, for the 'Magonismo' anarchist philosophy)
May 1912Link opens in a new window (including article 'What is good authority?', p. 39, by Ricardo Flores Magón)
November 1912Link opens in a new window (including article on 'The Mexican struggle' by the anarchist Enrique Flores Magón)
December 1912Link opens in a new window (including 'More about Mexico' by J.F. Moncaleano, former editor of Mexican newspaper 'La Luz', who had been imprisoned by the Madero administration)
February 1913Link opens in a new window (including front page photograph of 'Imprisoned Mexican rebels')
April 1913Link opens in a new window (including article on the 'Mexican situation' following the collapse of the Madero administration)
October/November 1913Link opens in a new window (including article 'Oil means blood', on US interests in Mexico)
General sources
Constitution of the United States of Mexico, 1917-1926Link opens in a new window
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 on Existing Conditions in Mexico, 1924Link opens in a new window
Memorandum written by Ricardo Treviño, a leading member of the Confederación 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.
'The Anglo-Mexican diplomatic situation', Undated [post 1927]Link opens in a new window
Memorandum written by Ricardo Treviño, a leading member of the Confederación 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).
Mexico: Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana (CROM) convention, 1924, 1928Link opens in a new window
Delegate's reports from the Mexican Trade Union Convention
'Calles transfers Mexican Presidency to Portes Gil', 1928Link opens in a new window
English language press release issued by Agencia Mexicana de Prensa (Mexican Press Service), reflecting on the achievements of the administration of Plutarco Elías Calles and the intended plans of the incoming President Gil.
'Mexican labour laws: Sweeping reforms proposed', 1928Link opens in a new window
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.
'Transcendental discurso del Compañero Luis N. Morones', 1928Link opens in a new window
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 Confederación 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.
'A los trabajadores miembros de la CROM, y al pueblo en general - Salud', 1930Link opens in a new window
Poster setting out the policies of Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana, issued by the Central Committee of the organisation (in Spanish).
'To the working people', 1936Link opens in a new window
Statement from the Comité Central, Confederación 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 Confederación de Trabajadores de México (CTM).
Letter regarding Mexican representation at the International Labour Conference, 1936Link opens in a new window
Copy of letter from the Comité Central, Confederación 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 Confederación de Trabajadores de México as the 'official' representatives of Mexican labour at the International Labour Conference.
'Action taken by the Confederation of Mexican workers for the creation of a Pan-American Trade Union Federation', 1938Link opens in a new window
Letter from Vincente Lombardo Toledano, Confederación de Trabajadores de México, 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 Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana (CROM).
Memorandum on the Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana, 1938Link opens in a new window
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".
Circular regarding invitation to International Conference for Latin America in Mexico, 1938Link opens in a new window
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 Confederación de Trabajadores de México, 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.
'Mexican oilfields', 1938Link opens in a new window
British Trades Union Congress memorandum on the Mexican nationalisation of foreign oil companies, including text of telegrams received from the Confederación de Trabajadores de México.
Telegrams regarding the Mexican government's expropriation of oilfields, 1938
From Rodolfo Piña Soria, Confederación de Trabajadores de MéxicoLink opens in a new window, to Sir Walter Citrine, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, thanking the TUC for their expression of solidarity
From Sir Walter CitrineLink opens in a new window, 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
Letter to Comrades of the Workers' Organisations of London, 1938Link opens in a new window
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".
File of ITF Mexican Newsletters including a TUC Circular, 1944-1945Link opens in a new window
Several newsletters from the International Transport Workers' Federation on developments in the transport industry in Mexico.
Ministry of Labour Reports on Mexico, 1959-1963Link opens in a new window
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.
Ministry of Labour / Department of Employment reports on Mexico, 1964-1970Link opens in a new window
Reports relating to housing projects, social security and labour legislation in Mexico.