Agustin Iturbide III, grandson of Emperor Iturbide I, was born in Mexico City during the French occupation of the country in 1863. Desiring a Mexican heir, Emperor Maximilian I, an Austrian by birth, arranged to adopt Iturbide III, then two years old, in 1865. Following the collapse of Maximilian's regime in 1867, Agustin was reunited with his birth parents in Havana, and resided with his mother in the United States until 1875 before leaving to study in Brussels. Agustin remained in Europe for many years before returning once again to attend graduate school in Washington, DC. He was awarded a master's degree in Linguistics from Georgetown University in 1884.
Iturbide returned to Mexico in 1887 to enter the Military Academy in Chapultepec. Although he had aspirations for a storied military career, his outspoken nature was ultimately self-sabotaging. Indeed, his criticisms of the Diaz regime in both a New York newspaper and in personal correspondence resulted in his being court-martialed in 1890. Convicted of insubordination, he was sentenced to one year in prison and was subsequently exiled.
Financially ruined, and grieving for his mother, who passed away during attempts to salvage the family fortune, Iturbide moved to Rosedale to teach Spanish and French at Georgetown University. It was there, however, that he met Louise Kearney, who would become his wife in 1915. The Kearneys were a prominent Washington family that emigrated from Ireland in the late 1700s.
Agustin Iturbide III continued to teach until his death from Tuberculosis in 1925. Louise Kearney lived the rest of her life in a small P Street apartment and became friends with Catholic University procurator Msgr. James Magner, to whom she entrusted this collection in 1957.
The Iturbide-Kearney Family collection consists of seven series. These contain personal information on both families such as correspondence, personal portraits, and official government documents. There are publications on the Iturbide family and their contributions to Mexican independence, as well as personal scrapbooks of Agustin Iturbide III. Finally are the personal papers of Louise Kearney, including correspondence after her husband's death in 1925.
Series one is personal and governmental documents from Agustin Iturbide I, including his diary (dated 1787 to 1793), correspondence during the independence movement (1813 to 1821), and governmental documents from his time as Emperor. In addition, there are three photocopies of documents related to what is often called the Mexican Declaration of Independence, or "El Plan de Iguala". This series is entirely in Spanish.
Series two is comprised of the family correspondence of Iturbide III from 1849 to 1924. Most of these letters pertain both to his time with Emperor Maximilian and his life post-exile, although some do touch upon his court-martial in 1890.
Series three is fairly short and contains but three folders on Mexican politics during the 1870s, including a Mexican political cartoon board game.
Series four contains correspondence and legal documents pertaining to Agustin Iturbide III's largely unsuccessful real estate deals from 1905 to 1921. There are also legal proceedings relating to a California lawyer William H. Holcomb, and to Agustin Iturbide III's attempts at reclaiming land in Mexico after the fall of the Diaz regime.
Series five, Publications, includes collected articles, magazines, and books on the Iturbide family's contribution to Mexican independence.
Series six is the Kearney family papers, and includes correspondence from the first member of the Kearney family to immigrate to the United States, as well as the personal papers of Louise Kearney, including her handwritten autobiography, general correspondence, and her correspondence with Magner regarding donation of the collection to Catholic University.
Series seven, Photos, Portraits, and Scrapbooks, contains family portraits, coat of arms, and personal photos of Agustin Iturbide III and Louise Kearney. Also included are family documents and newspaper clippings pertaining to both Iturbide's time with Maximilian I and to his eventual court-martial.
The Iturbide-Kearney Family Collection consists of two series:
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This collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
This collection was donated in four parts. The initial gift by Louise Kearney to Msgr. James Magner occurred in April 1957. Upon Magner's retirement, he gifted those materials to Catholic University. In 1975, he donated items related to the "El Plan de Iguala," before completing the collection in 1995 with a final donation of personal papers.
Processing completed in September 2012 by Raymond Moore. EAD markup completed in September 2012 by Raymond Moore. EAD revisions in Spring 2014 by Michael J. Dobbs. Finding aid revised in Fall 2014 by Paul Kelly; EAD revised by Paul Kelly and Matthew Proietta. Digital archival object links updated in 2015 by Paul Kelly.
This series contains personal documents of Agustin Iturbide I, including his diary and correspondence from the independence movement in Mexico. Also included are governmental proclamations made by Iturbide I, as well as copies of documents pertaining to the "El Plan de la Iguala." This series is entirely in Spanish.
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Spanish letter to the ambassador in Havana.
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A photocopy of the El Plan de Iguala. An original copy is in secure storage.
Two photocopies of the El Plan de Iguala. An original copy is in secure storage.
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A magazine in Spanish commemorating the centennial of the Mexican Army includes Iturbide correspondence from 1821 concerning the formation of the army.
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Includes personal correspondence and flyers celebrating Agustin Iturbide I from 1919.
Hand drawn prints possibly from a book
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Agustin Iturbide I personal journal during his years in the army as well as miscellaneous Spanish colonial documents.
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A later journal from Agustin Iturbide I, with personal correspondence, in Spanish.
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Typed copy in Spanish of 1812-1813 Journal
Collection of Iturbide family coins from Iturbide I reign as well as military medals dating as late as 1871. Includes original ribbons and a nameplate as well.
This series contains both personal correspondence of Agustin Iturbide III and correspondence from his time as a child with Maximilian I. Also included is an alphabet code he invented as well as text on the Iturbide family history.
This is an alphabet code that Iturbide invented during childhood and a photo taken when he was six months old.
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This folder contains personal correspondence, an essay on the Diaz overthrow in 1910, and family funeral cards
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Handwritten and typed correspondence in Spanish
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This is text in Spanish and English on Agustin Iturbide III's adoption, research for a newspaper article, as well as the article.
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This is a handwritten manuscript on the history of the Iturbide family as well as a typed English version.
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Handwritten history in Spanish by B. Wels.
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Handwritten and typed personal correspondence as well as a typed poem by Jorge Manrique.
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This correspondence pertains to Agustin Iturbide III adoption as well as family documents before his birth and after his escape from Mexico in 1867.
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Photo Print of family statistics in Spanish
This series provides insight into Iturbide III's political beliefs during the Mexican Revolution. It also includes a political cartoon board game that satirizes Mexican politics between the regimes of Maximilian I and Diaz.
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This typed English and Spanish Correspondence chronicles Agustin Iturbide III's opinions on the Mexican Revolution and politics in the country shortly following the revolution.
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This board game political cartoon critiques life in Mexico in between the regime of Maximilian I and Porfirio Diaz regime.
This series contains personal correspondence regarding California real estate deals between Agustin Iturbide III and William Holcomb. Also included are court proceedings concerning these deals as well as claims to land in Mexico that were confiscated following Iturbide III's court martial in 1890.
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Correspondence and legal documents with William Holcomb concerning land purchases in lower California, Mexico.
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Correspondence, handwritten and typed, concerning the land deal as well as telegrams.
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This correspondence concerns the California land purchases as well as investments in the Washington DC Navy-Army club.
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These are contracts and court proceeding concerning the failure of the land deal in California and claims to land in Mexico.
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Telegrams and Correspondence with William Holcomb.
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Correspondence with William Holcomb on Land Purchases in California.
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Spanish correspondence on family land claims in Mexico that was confiscated by Diaz, and claims to the land by Holcomb.
This series contains publications regarding the history of the Iturbide family, their contributions to Mexican Independence, and books owned by Agustin Iturbide III.
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Contains articles on the 1821 independence of Mexico and about Agustin Iturbide I's reign.
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These photo prints and correspondence pertain to the later life of Augustin Iturbide III.
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September edition commemorating the 1821 independence of Mexico, in Spanish.
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A newspaper article on Benito Juarez's death and a 1905 magazine on Agustin Iturbide I.
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An 1863 play in Spanish titled Guerra Estanjera, A series of Independence Postcards from 1903, A 1924 Play on the Iturbide family titled, La Tragedia de Padilla, and a collection of Newspaper clippings on Agustin Iturbide I, from 1823. Also includes a personal letter from 1903
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Typed manuscript of a speech on Iturbide's contribution to the independence movement.
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Personal correspondence, small paper letters
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Undated book in Spanish on the major political leaders of Mexico's independence, including pictures.
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Mexican Biography titled, "Don Agustin De Iturbide y Aramburu".
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April edition in English on the English literature form the 18th century, possibly part of Agustin Iturbide III personal collection.
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Children's Geography book in Spanish, used when Iturbide III was in School.
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Titled "La Guerra de Independencia: Hidalgo-Iturbide" by Francisco Bulnes. Chronicles the independence movement from Fr. Hidalgo's protest to independence under Emperor Agustin Iturbide I.
This series contains the original correspondence of John Kearney, the first member of the family to immigrate to America in 1794, and the personal papers of Louise Kearney, including her handwritten autobiography and correspondence concerning the donation of this collection.
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Handwritten Autobiography and two snapshots in mint condition.
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Correspondence with Msgr. Magner on donating the Iturbide-Kearney collection. Includes photo of the donation ceremony at CUA, and a CUA bulletin from 1957 concerning the donation of the collection.
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A mixture of related Spanish and English correspondence between the Iturbides and the Kearneys.
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Handwritten letter to A.L. Jonesberg in Georgetown.
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John Kearney correspondence in French upon immigrating to the United States. A typed biography of John Kearney, and newspaper clippings and photocopies on Louise Kearney and her marriage to Agustin Iturbide III.
This series contains Iturbide and Kearney family portraits, coats of arms, and newspaper clippings from the life of Agustin Iturbide III. Also of note are certificates awarded to Agustin Iturbide III.
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Hand drawn portrait of Agustin Iturbide I.; Iturbide family coat of arms; Iturbide III, 1915; Alice Green Iturbide portrait; Home of Agustin Iturbide III and mother in Mexico;
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Portrait of James Kearney; Annie E. Kearney; The Kearney home in Georgetown; Portrait of Empress Iturbide; Blanche Kearney, Aunt of Louise; Kearney Coat of Arms
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Iturbide mother personal effects including painting of Agustin.
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Lifetime membership letter and certificate to the American Heraldry Society to Mrs. Agustin Iturbide
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Portrait of Agustin Iturbide I and photo of Agustin Iturbide III
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Two more photos of Iturbide donation, 1977 book in Spanish on Iturbide family
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A complete scrapbook of Iturbide newspaper clippings from Mexican Newspaper about his family, in English as well, many on 1890 court martial, obituaries for his mother 1892, ads for a Mexican Restaurant, centennial prints (full pages), on Mexican Independence.
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This scrapbook includes a 1858 poem on Agustin Iturbide I, articles on a young Agustin Iturbide III, Maximilian heir article (English and Spanish), other articles in Spanish of Iturbide, 1890 court martial, 1925 death and funeral clippings