Society for the History of Discoveries
43^rd Annual Meeting
El Colegio de Jalisco
Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
October 24-27, 2002

"Palacio de Guadalajara" from Atlas Pintoresco e Historico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos by Antonio Carcia Cubas (Mexico: Dubray Sucesors, 1897)

SHD Meeting Attendees Discover Zapopan and Guadalajara, Mexico

On October 24-27, 2002, a total of 52 registrants and 13 guests attended the SHD’s 43rd annual meeting in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Zapopan is one of the most historic communities in metropolitan Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city. This was SHD’s first meeting in Latin America, and it was themed around the Exploration and Discovery of New Spain. The meeting was held at El Colegio de Jalisco, and featured 20 presentations. As SHD’s first themed meeting, many of the presentations focused on explorers in New Spain, including a session on Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca (please refer to program below). Highlights of the conference included a Thursday evening reception in the courtyard at El Colegio de Jalisco, a tour of the Mathes Library, a visit to the Basilica de Zapopan, and a memorable Friday evening banquet, which was followed by Dr. Gabriel Gómez Padilla’s presentation “Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino as Explorer and Cartographer.”

During the meeting, attendees got to experience the fine food and graciousness for which Mexico is justly known. They also experienced the effects of tropical storm Kenna, which soaked the region on Friday but moved out in time for the tours on the weekend. The tour of historical sites in Guadalajara on Sunday enabled attendees to better understand the city’s role in the history of frontier New Spain. 

SHD has many fine people to thank for making this meeting such a success, including local arrangements coordinator Michael Mathes and military historian Medical Surgeon Brigadier General, Retired, Clever Alfonso Chávez Marín of Guadalajara, who helped with meeting logistics. El Colegio de Jalisco also deserves our thanks for providing the meeting venue.