Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica
The Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica is a cultural institution based in Mexico City, Mexico. It has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent historians, enthusiasts in the Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the after mentioned sciences through research, essays, colloquiums, courses, exhibitions, education and debate.
History
The Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica has its origin in the Academia Hispanoamericana de Genealogía y Herádica, established in Mexico City in 1921 by José Ignacio Dávila Garibi; with a difficult beginning, the institution had to be reorganized in 1941 but without much success.Finally, on 15 May 1943 the Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica was founded by José Ignacio Dávila Garibi with a mission to promote the studies on Genealogy and Heraldry through research, education and exhibition. The motive in founding the Academy was twofold: to raise the professional status of the researcher by establishing a sound system of training and expert judgment in the sciences of Genealogy and Heraldry attaining an appropriate standard of excellence, and to publish some essays in its main publication: Memorias. Behind this concept was the desire to encourage appreciation and interest in the already mentioned sciences.
Fashionable taste in 20th century's fourth decade, Mexico centered on the study of the traditional families and their influence through time. With the passing of time, the Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica came to dominate the genealogical and heraldic scene since the second half of the 20th century.
It's the only Mexican institution in the sciences of Genealogy and Heraldry which belongs to the Confédération Internationale de Généalogie et d'Héraldique and to the Confederación Iberoamericana de ciencias Genealógica y Heráldica.
Founding members
The founding members were five: José Ignacio Dávila Garibi, President; Guilermo Romo Célis, Secretary General; Gonzalo Torres Martínez, Treasurer; Luis García Remus and Manuel Septién y Septién, and allowed for a total membership of 24 Numbered Academicians and some others non-numbered, correspondent and honorary members. The institution was reorganized in 1957.Presidents
| President | Served |
| José Ignacio Dávila Garibi | 1943–1981 |
| Guilermo Romo Célis | 1981–1984 |
| Teodoro Amerlinck y Zirión | 1984–1991 |
| Jorge Víctor Barbabosa y Torres | 1991–2003 |
| Adolfo de Sentis y Ortega, Count de Guadalupe del Peñasco | 2003–2007 |
| Salvador de Pinal-Icaza y Enríquez | 2007 – present |
Other posts
Premio Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica
The Premio Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica is a prize established in 1985 by Guillermo Romo Célis as a recognition of excellence in achievements on published studies on genealogy and heraldry, and it's given during the celebration of the International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences.Among others, this prize has been granted to:
Genealogical records
This institution, in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had contributed during the microfilming process of the main Mexican Catholic Church records, archiving the amount of 72,000 film rolls. Thanks to a contract among the aforementioned institutions, a whole copy of these microfilms were kept in possession of the Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica; nowadays such copies are located in the Archivo General de la Nación, and are available for public consultation under the guidelines and regulations of the same institution.The AMGyH had signed collaboration documents with the historical archives of the Mexican states of Aguascalientes and Michoacán to contribute with the digitalization and preservation of their most valuable files.
Colloquiums
- I Coloquio sobre Arte, Religión y Genealogía. The lectures were presented to general public and were given by:
- I Coloquio Hablemos de Heráldica. The lectures were presented to general public and were given by:
- II Coloquio Hablemos de Heráldica. This event was organized for the exhibition Blasones Virreinales de Hispanoamérica, by Mexico's Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, through the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura. The lectures were presented to general public and were given by:
Courses
- Heráldica General y Novohispana. The course's intention was to present the general knowledge of the Heraldic Science and its peculiarities in Mexico during the Viceroyalty of New Spain; it was coordinated by Virginia Armella de Aspe, at that time Curator of the Museo del Ex-Convento del Carmen and given to general public by Ricardo-Antonio López-Portillo y Lancaster-Jones and Rodrigo-Alonso López-Portillo y Lancaster-Jones.
Exhibitions
- Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica 1943–1968
- Dibujos Heráldicos de Luis León de la Barra
- Blasones Virreinales Hispanoamericanos by the Argentinian heraldic artist Esther de Soaje Pinto
International congresses
The ''XVI Reunión Americana de Genealogía''
The Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica participated along with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, through its Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas, and with the Government of the State of Michoacán, in the organization of the and VI Congreso Iberoamericano de las Ciencias Genealógica y Heráldica; an event that was celebrated in the city of Morelia, on 11–15 October 2010.Publications
The Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica published a series of Memorias through two periods: 8 volumes on the first one ; having published 17 volumes from 1957 until 2005.Since January 2010 the Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica has started to publish an electronic Newsletter: Boletín-e, it's distributed among the Academy members by e-mail in Pdf format.