John F. Schwaller

Gilbert M. Joseph reflects on 5 decades of scholarship & mentorship in Latin American history. His CLAH Distinguished Service Award lecture at the 2025 AHA meeting made the case for a more collaborative approach to research & teaching—one that spans disciplines, generations & borders. bit.ly/3YZWslO

Antón Zape, “Un Negro de mucho Precio”: Seeking freedom and honor through royal service in sixteenth-century Panama | The Americas | Cambridge Core Antón Zape, “Un Negro de mucho Precio”: Seeking freedom and honor through royal service in sixteenth-century Panama - Volume 81 Issue 4

Historian @hectorlinares.bsky.social‬ traces Antón’s story through letters as well as legal and administrative records, showing how some Afro-descendants navigated colonial institutions to claim honor, status, and citizenship. 📝 Read more in Vol 81, Issue 4: bit.ly/3DXIucs

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Aztec conquest of the Toluca Valley. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. When the Spanish collected Native historical accounts of the preconquest Toluca Valley for a series of 16th century court cases, the Triple Alliance-Aztec conquest of the region a generation early fea...

The Arizona Archeological and Historical Society will host a zoom lecture by Angela Husler of Chronicle Heritage and Arizona State University, on the topic of the Aztec Conquest og the Toluca Valley.

To register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Study reveals vast Aztec trade networks behind ancient obsidian artifacts Tulane University News and Press Releases

Obsidian in the Templo Mayor -

A team of scientists has analyzed obsidian objects recovered from the Templo Mayor project and subjected them to careful analysis using a sophisticated x-ray technique. For more information see:

news.tulane.edu/pr/study-rev...

Roque Dalton’s 1964 police mugshot. Courtesy of Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen, San Salvador

Founded in 1966, La Pájara Pinta published experimental, sometimes radically innovative poems, essays & short plays that pushed the limits of politics & culture. Among the authors was guerrilla poet Roque Dalton, contributing from exile. His 1964 police mugshot, courtesy of MUPI, San Salvador

Thought Brazil’s “founding fathers” were liberals & abolitionists "ahead of their time"? Think again! 🔍 In "A Tropical Vienna," jjperdez.bsky.social uncovers how German cameral sciences—not enlightened ideals—shaped Brazilian independence. Read more in our latest issue! 🔗 bit.ly/4je4ZJg

The Vault Associate will:

✅ Join the Editorial Board for the year
✅ Receive a $1000 stipend & online subscription to the journal
✅ Work with a faculty mentor from the Editorial Board

Open to doctoral candidates & postdocs (within 3 years of PhD) in Latin American history & related fields.

🗓️ Deadline to apply: June 1, 2025

Full application details here: networks.h-net.org/group/announ...

📣 Call for Applications!

The Americas is now accepting applications for the 2025–26 Vault Associate!

The Vault Associate will curate a guide to a historiographical issue based on articles from The Americas archives, culminating in an original essay published on the journal website.

See a physician at a party, ask her a medical question and she replies "See me in my office." She collects for an office visit; academics will talk your arm off for free.

The Annual Meeting of the Association of Nahuatl Scholars is now some seven weeks away, April 24-26. The list of accepted papers, travel and conference information is now posted on the Association website (scroll down the page for full information):
www.nahuatl.org

A great new issue of The Americas is available, nearly all Open Access:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

There's a new essay by Douglas McRae taking a look at the development of Latin American urban history, as reflected in the pages of The Americas. It's a great teaching tool, and it is Open Access: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Some members of the editorial board feel that this piece will be an award winner. It downplays the influence of the French, recognizing the German contributions to government. BTW, it's OPEN ACCESS. Anybody can read it.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

In addition to that, here's a little piece that I did for Mexicolore regarding Chicomecoatl:
www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/gods/...

It's been quite a 12+ months for me as a "retired" scholar. Three articles and an edited volume all came out in 2024. And now, a small piece that I did about the Franciscans in the journal The Americas: (It's Open Access, so enjoy!)
doi.org/10.1017/tam....

There is a major new study of Native land ownership in Peru at the end of the sixteenth century by José de la Puente Luna. It demonstrates a high degree of Native agency in the process. And it's Open Access, anyone can read it.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

The latest issue of The Americas is out. It has some fantastic articles:
TOC: The Americas, 81:4 (October 2024)
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

The first of the Vault Associate essays in The Americas, by Margarita Martínez-Osorio, is entitled "Histories of Women and Gender in Latin America: A Special Teaching and Research Collection for The Americas" and is now available.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

So, take the bull by the horns and organize it!!

In New York, we had an active New York Latin American History Workshop that would meet, nominally, twice a year. Many fabulous books were workshopped there.

In Mexico, at least for the first 50-60 years, Spaniards avoided building on ancient sites. They just took the stone for re-use.

We hope that their words and insights will offer some comfort as we mourn the loss of these exemplary historians, colleagues, teachers, and friends. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

We are mourning two luminaries in our field: Mary Kay Vaugh and Eric van Young. To commemorate the impact they had on us, The Americas is making their CLAH Distinguished Service lectures freely available for three months. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Missionary Manuscripts Summer Workshop June 2-13, 2025 | Princeton University Library, Dumbarton Oaks, and Library of Congress. Apply by February 15.

Summer program at Princeton, Dumbarton Oaks & Lib. of Congress. Applications due February 15, 2025. "Missionary Manuscripts in Mesoamerican Languages." An intensive two-week summer workshop between June 2 – 13, 2024.
Additional details are found on the website: www.doaks.org/events/pre-c...

Looks like the latest edition of Estudios de Cultura Nahuatl was just published. It has some great work on Cihuacoatl and Tlacotli, Maya roots of polychrome ceramic from Cholula, and fertility images in Morelos.
nahuatl.historicas.unam.mx/index.php/ec...

There is a new number of The Americas available:
TOC 81:3, July 2024
Due to unforeseen problems with the Press, several issues of 2024 have been delayed. Cambridge University Press has promised to return to a normal publication schedule in early 2025.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Manuscript is Most Extensive Example of Maguey Paper in Existence A collection of sermons by sixteenth-century Franciscan missionary Bernardino de Sahagún is rare example from the Nahuas.

Longest maguey manuscript studied at the Newberry Library. It was hiding in plain sight!
www.newberry.org/news/analysi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Curriculum Workshop for Higher Ed: Digital Florentine Codex . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Teaching with the Digital Florentine Codex: Nahua Encyclopedic Knowledge in the Higher Ed Classroom We invite you to join us in this virtual hands-on workshop that showcases the Digital Florentine Co...

The Getty Research Institute is offering a zoom workshop for folks in higher education on how to use the Digital Florentine Codex in their teaching:
getty.zoom.us/meeting/regi...