The Huexotzinco Codex: A Treasure of the Library's Hispanic Collections

In 1531, only 10 years after the Spanish Conquest, indigenous residents of Huexotzinco, Mexico sued representatives of the Spanish colonial government, claiming that they were paying excessive taxes on goods and services. The indigenous peoples submitted the Huexotzinco Codex to the court as a record of taxes paid. The codex is a vibrantly colored, eight-sheet manuscript written on amatl, paper made from tree bark. The colonial court in Mexico ruled in favor of the indigenous peoples, and when the case was later retried in Spain in 1538, King Charles upheld the ruling. This marks the first time an indigenous group used a Western style of law to challenge an injustice!

The spelling of Huexotzinco has changed over the years. The modern spelling is Huejotzingo. Check out the Library's record for the Huexotzinco Codex here: http://lccn.loc.gov/95035990. The codex was part of a collection that was donated to the Library in 1928 by Edward Stephen Harkness. For more information and to view pages of the codex online, visit http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt045.html. A facsimile is also available for viewing in the Hispanic Reading Room.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.