Latin America Research GuideEssential Collections

Essential Collections

Latin America Research Guide

Local Church News

A great resource for the history of the Church in Latin America is the local news sections of the Liahona that were published in various regions of Latin America. Many of these sections are digitized through the Church History Catalog:

Mission Historical Records

Mission historical records are some of the earliest and most comprehensive records that pertain to the beginnings of the Church in each country. Many of these have been digitized and are available through the Church History Catalog. Others can be accessed in person at the Church History Library. Some examples include:

  • Mexican Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1874–1977 (LR 5506 2)
  • South American Mission Manuscript and Historical Reports, 1925 December–1935 August (LR 8458 2)
  • Brazil Sao Paulo North Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1927–1977 (LR 958 2)
  • Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1935 August–1974 December (LR 10745 2)
  • Uruguay Montevideo Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1947 July–1976 March > Volume 3, 1964–1976 March (LR 9621 2)
  • Andes Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1959–1977 (LR 6865 2)
  • Chile Santiago South Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports 1961 October–1977 December (LR 1675 2)
  • Venezuela Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1968–1977 (LR 13796 2)
  • Venezuela Caracas Mission Historical Reports, 1968–1982 (LR 13796 26)
  • Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission Annual Historical Reports, 1978–1982, 1984–2009, 2017–2022 (LR 9813 3)

Other Collections in the Church Archives

The Church History Library and records preservation centers throughout Latin America contain many collections pertaining to the Church in the region. Here is a sample of some useful collections. Many are available for digital access. If there are any questions regarding access of these collections, please use the “Ask Us” form on the Church History Catalog to contact a staff member who can assist you.

Latin America in General

  • Gordon Irving Latin American Research and Reference Files, 1930–2009 (CR 100 1004)
  • F. LaMond Tullis Papers, 1970–1983 (MS 27118)
  • Néstor E. Curbelo Oral History Collection, 1987–2017 (AV 4241)
  • Néstor E. Curbelo historias de la Iglesia en Sudamérica, 1990, 2001, 2005–2011 (MS 33734)

Brazil

  • Documentos históricos e fotografias da Igreja em Brasil, 1929–2012 (BR-01-00001)
  • Joinville Branch Meetinghouse, circa 1930–1932 (PH 768)
  • Church Members in Brazil, 1932–1936 (PH 4435)
  • Histórias Locais do Brasil, 1935–1983 (BR-01-00003)
  • Ray H. Zenger Mission Photograph Albums, 1936–1939 (PH 7926)
  • William Grant Bangerter Papers, 1939–2015 (CR 1094 1)
  • Asael T. Sorensen Papers, 1953–2001 (MS 33542)
  • Walter Spat Diaries, 1956–1964; 1972–1989 (MS 15822)
  • Registros da Área Brasil coleção, 1965–2014 (CR 645 17)
  • Fé a cada passo: o legado do Brasil, circa 1979 (AV 4150)
  • Helio da Rocha Camargo Reminiscences, 2007 (MS 33708)
  • Brazilian Oral History Collection, circa 2010 (OH 7801)

Mexico

  • Moses Thatcher Journals, 1866–1868, 1878–1881 (MS 937)
  • Colección de Agricol Lozano Herrera, 1876–1997 (MX-01-00028)
  • Quejas de la Tercera Convención, enviados a la Primera Presidencia, 1936 April–July (MX-01-00005)
  • Mexico Veracruz Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1963–1977 (LR 5509 2)
  • Horacio A. Tenorio Oriza Papers, 1969, circa 1980–1989, circa 2016 (MS 30842)
  • Como Llego El Evangelio Restaurado al Pueblo de San Marcos, Tula De Allende, Estado de Hidalgo (MS 23361)

Caribbean

  • Becky Fraticelli Local Histories, 1945–2000 (MS 28866)
  • Richard L. Millett Mission Journals, 1977 March–1980 June (MS 16848)
  • A History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Caribbean, 1977–1980, 1992 (MS 13749)
  • Puerto Rico Church History Compiled by Marcia Font de Chavez, circa 1977–2020 (MS 33342)
  • Historical Summary of Church in Puerto Rico, 1994 (MS 18626)
  • Julia H. and Joseph H. Todd Bahamas Collection, 1996–2010 (MS 32092)
  • Edward H. Petersen History of the Church and Temple in the Dominican Republic, 2007–2008 (MS 21121)
  • Breve historia cronológica de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días en el Caribe, 2012 (DO-01-00010)
  • Early Members in the Caribbean Oral History Project (OH 18905)

Central America

  • John F. and Carmen G. O'Donnal Papers, 1878–2001 (MS 31077)
  • Pacific Branch Historical Records, 1941–1985, 1995–1997 (LR 6658 22)
  • El Salvador District Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1949–1967 (LR 2563 2)
  • Costa Rica San Jose Mission Manuscript History (Central American Mission), 1952–1980 (LR 1534 2)
  • Guatemala-El Salvador Mission Mission History, 1962–1973 (LR 3490 22)
  • Costa Rica San Jose Mission History, 1971–1980 (LR 1534 28)
  • Resena historica de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias en Costa Rica, 2000 (MS 17308)
  • A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nicaragua, 2010 (MS 24270)
  • Pioneer in Guatemala (M270.1 O26 1997)
  • Los Mormones En Honduras (MS 23672)

South America Northwest

  • J. Vernon Sharp Missionary Collection, 1925–1990, Andes Mission Journal (MS 28810)
  • Reseña histórica de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias en Trujillo, Perú, 1964 (PE-01-00074)
  • Historia de la Iglesia en Colombia, 1999 (AR-01-00139)
  • Alan K. Manning history of Church in Venezuela, 2000 (MS 16389)
  • History of the Church in Peru (M278.5 H673 1995)
  • History of the Church in Bolivia (M278.4 H673SPA 2004)
  • Historia de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias en Bolivia: relatos de pioneros (M278.4 C975hSPA 2006)

South America South

  • Rodolfo Acevedo Papers, circa 1851–2012 (CL-01-00001)
  • Diarios de Betty Campi, 1946–2017 (MS 31654)
  • Relato de la visita de David O. McKay a Uruguay, 1954 (UY-01-00045)
  • South America South Area historias de pioneros del Area Sudamerica Sur, 1985–1995 (CR 599 6)
  • Historias de Fe en la Patagonia Argentina: Inicios de la Obra Misional (M278.2 F475hSPA 2021)
  • Historia de los Santos de los Últimos Días en Chile / Néstor Curbelo (M278.3 C975hSPA 2009?)
  • Historia de los Santos de los Últimos Días en Paraguay: relatos de pioneros / Néstor Curbelo (M278.92 C975hSPA 2003)
  • Historia de los Santos de los Últimos Días en Uruguay: relatos de pioneros / Néstor Curbelo (M278.95 C975hSPA 2002)
  • Los Mormones en Chile (M278.3 A174mSPA 1991)
  • Nestor Curbelo History Collection (AR-01-00001)