Before Flying to Zacatecas

Unfortunately for Mercedes and for anyone else doing research in Jalpa, Jalpa's records are very skimpy, probably lost during wars, fires and civil unrest but some of the other municipalities that are nearby (might) have some records for Jalpa. In my research primarily for Nochistlan but also in Jalpa I have found some of Jalpa's records in with Nochistlan, not many......................and Arturo is correct, the best place to do your research is through the family history centers, going to the town you might get some oral history but you won't get much in terms of birth, baptism or marriage records unless you have exact names with the exact birth, baptism or marriage dates.

Good luck Mercedes

----- Original Message ----
From: arturoramos
To: research@lists.nuestrosranchos.com
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 10:35:19 AM
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Before Flying to Zacatecas

Mercedes:

I am sure that a trip to Jalpa would be a great learning experience but as many members will tell you, going to the locality is not necessarily the best way to do genealogical research.

For one, the best genealogical records in Mexico are church records and many priests are very reticent about letting people look at them especially for broad research. Many civil records have been lost or are very disorganized in the towns as well and often the state capitals are the only places where you can find records.

That being said, the Family History Library has films for Jalpa that should probably be where you should begin your search. Just go to http://www.familysearch.org and look up the nearest family history center to you where you can go and order and view the films.

Jalpa, Zacatecas:

Información matrimonial 1864-1875 FHL INTL Film 1511832 Items 3-4
Información matrimonial 1874-1897 VAULT INTL Film 1511824
Información matrimonial 1898-1904 VAULT INTL Film 1511825

Nacimientos 1884-1890 FHL INTL Film 773875
Nacimientos 1891-1895 VAULT INTL Film 773876
Nacimientos 1896-1898 VAULT INTL Film 773877