The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 77, July 1973 - April, 1974 Page: 155

Book Reviews

duced. Although the appellation "crusader" fits Arny rather well, Murphy's
contentions that Amy is a significant figure in the planting of Anglo-Amer-
ican society in the Southwest and that his ideas for taming Indians were
far in advance of his time remain unconvincing.
Northern Arizona University ANDREW WALLACE
Estudios de historia del Noreste. (Monterrey: Sociedad Nuevoleonesa de
Historia, Geografia y Estadistica, 1972. Pp. xix+274. Illustrations,
notes, bibliography, index. 92.25 ps.)
This work is a collection of the papers presented at the Congress of His-
tory of Northeast Mexico commemorating the 375th anniversary of the
founding of Monterrey. Four papers are presented in section one under the
heading "Bibliography and Archives"; eight in the second section, "The
Colonial Epoch"; ana five in the third section, "Since Independence." Some
of the selections have been published elsewhere and obviously have been
summarized for this occasion. Most of the items have copious footnotes and
are the fruit of extensive research. A few are documents presented without
historical evaluation. There are also brief interpretative essays which, un-
fortunately, give little evidence of original thought or research. The organ-
izers of the congress apparently attempted to make the history of northeast-
ern Mexico the main theme, and two-thirds of the participants cooperated.
One very challenging study in the first section raises serious questions
about the lack of trained personnel in the archives of all Mexican states.
As a result of this lack, documents have been lost or destroyed and research-
ers have been thwarted in their studies. Furthermore, the training of li-
brarians and archivists in Mexico is not adequate to fill anticipated future
needs.
Perhaps the main theme of the congress was best expressed by David
Vigness when he stressed the point that "Northeastern Mexico has always
been different from the rest of the country" (p. 181). This difference is re-
flected in the geography of the area, its historical development, in the
numerous efforts to emulate Texas, and to sever its ties with Mexico City.
The latter efforts are discussed in excellent articles on the short-lived Re-
public of Rio Bravo and the Plan of Monterrey.
The most lasting value of this assemblage of frequently too brief papers
is its emphasis on the fact that there is more to the past of Mexico than
just Mexico City. Laborers in Clio's vineyard need to be reminded that
individual states had worthwhile developments and outstanding personages
which often failed to attract national attention. Finally, students of Mex-

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