Miguel Venegas (1680–1764) was a Jesuit administrator and historian. He is most known for his book Noticia de la California, a standard geographical, historical, and ethnographic description of Baja California, Mexico—a region he never personally visited.
Miguel Venegas was born in Puebla, New Spain. He received an academic degree prior to joining the Jesuit order, which he did in 1700 in Tepotzotlán. Five years later he was an ordained member and he taught philosophy and moral theology at the Colegio S. Pedro y S. Pablo de México.[1] He suffered from health problems and bodily swellings, which obliged him to retire to the Jesuit ranch of Chicomocelo, where he devoted himself to writing and botany until his death in 1764.
As a historian, he was cautious in his investigations, critical in his selection of sources and concerned with discovering the truth.[1] In his major work on California, he cited Georg Marcgraf and Willem Piso's Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (1648), an important compendium on flora and fauna in Brazil, which circulated widely in northern Europe and beyond.[2]
Published works
Map of Baja California, from the 1766 French edition of Noticia de la California.
In the mid-1730s, he was assigned the task of writing an account of Baja California. This seems to have been, at least in part, to counter the setback to the missionaries' efforts and reputation caused by the Pericú revolt on the southernmost part of the peninsula in 1734. The historian was given access to the missionaries' correspondence and reports, and he was able to exchange letters with them to acquire further information, which he did through the use of questionnaires.
Venegas' 600-page manuscript, Empresas Apostólicas, was completed in 1739. It was sent to Spain, but it languished there rather than seeing publication because it was too detailed with regard to military matters.[3] Another Jesuit historian, Andrés Marcos Burriel, extensively revised Venegas' manuscript in the 1750s, and it was finally published in 1757 as Noticia de la California in three volumes at Madrid. This work by Venegas and Burriel was subsequently translated into English (1759), Dutch (1761–1762), French (1766–1767), and German (1769–1770), and it became the standard source for information about the early Californias. The original manuscript version was published in a facsimile edition in 1979.
Venegas was a prolific writer, also authoring biographical and theological treatises. Among his other works are a manual on how to administer the sacraments, which remained the official ritual for the Mexican branch of the Catholic church (1731), a biography of Juan María de Salvatierra (1754a, 1929) and another biography detailing the life of Juan Bautista Zappa (1754b). Many of these were edited extensively before publication due to Venegas' writing style, which was too lengthy for his fellow Jesuits.[4]
List of books by Venegas
1731. Manual de párrocos, para administrar los santos sacramentos, y exercer otras functiones ecclesiásticas conforme al ritual romano. J. D. de Hogal, Mexico.
1754a. El apóstol Mariano representado en la vida del V.P. Juan María de Salvatierra, de la Compañía de Jesús. Doña María de Rivera, Mexico City.
1754b. Vida y virtudes del V.P. Juan Bautista Zappa de la Compañía de Jesús. Pablo Nadal, Barcelona.
1757. Noticia de la California, y de su conquista temporal, y espiritual hasta el tiempo presente. Viuda de M. Fernández, Madrid.
Translations of Noticia de la California:
1759. A Natural and Civil History of California. James Rivington and James Fletcher, London.
1761–1762. Natuurlyke en burgerlyke historie van California. Johannes Enschedé, Te Haerlem, Netherlands.
1766–1767. Histoire naturelle et civile de la Californie. Chez Durand, Paris.
1769–1770. Natürliche und bürgerliche Geschichte von Californien. Meyerschen Buchhandlung, Lemgo, Germany.
Further reading
Mathes, W. Michael. 1979. "Supplement: Historical-Biographical Introduction". In Obras californianas del padre Miguel Venegas, S.J., by Miguel Venegas, vol. 1. Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Mexico.
Venegas, Miguel. 1929. Juan María de Salvatierra of the Company of Jesus, Missionary in the Province of New Spain, and Apostolic Conqueror of the Californias. Arthur H. Clark, Cleveland, Ohio.
Venegas, Miguel. 1979. Obras californianas del padre Miguel Venegas, S.J. 5 vols. Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Mexico.
References
^ abO'Neill, C. E.; Domínguez (2001). Diccionario histórico de la Compañia de Jesús: biográfico-temático. Rome: Institutum Historicum. p. 3922.
^Neil Safier, "Beyond Brazilian Nature: The Editorial Itineraries of Marcgraf and Piso's Historia Naturalis Brasiliae, in Michiel Van Groesen, The Legacy of Dutch Brazil, New York: Cambridge University Press 2014, p. 171.
^Mathes, W. M. (1997). "Jesuit Chroniclers and Chronicles of Northwestern New Spain". In Gagliano (ed.). Jesuit Encounters in the New World: Jesuit Chroniclers, geographers, educators and missionaries in the Americas, 1549-1767. Rome: Istituto Storico. p. 62.
^Venegas, Miguel (1754). El apóstol Mariano representado en la vida del V.P. Juan María de Salvatierra, de la Compañía de Jesús. Mexico City: Doña María de Rivera. pp. vi.
March 04, 2023
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Miguel Venegas 1680 1764 was a Jesuit administrator and historian He is most known for his book Noticia de la California a standard geographical historical and ethnographic description of Baja California Mexico a region he never personally visited Noticia de la California Contents 1 Biography 2 Published works 2 1 List of books by Venegas 3 Further reading 4 ReferencesBiography EditMiguel Venegas was born in Puebla New Spain He received an academic degree prior to joining the Jesuit order which he did in 1700 in Tepotzotlan Five years later he was an ordained member and he taught philosophy and moral theology at the Colegio S Pedro y S Pablo de Mexico 1 He suffered from health problems and bodily swellings which obliged him to retire to the Jesuit ranch of Chicomocelo where he devoted himself to writing and botany until his death in 1764 As a historian he was cautious in his investigations critical in his selection of sources and concerned with discovering the truth 1 In his major work on California he cited Georg Marcgraf and Willem Piso s Historia Naturalis Brasiliae 1648 an important compendium on flora and fauna in Brazil which circulated widely in northern Europe and beyond 2 Published works Edit Map of Baja California from the 1766 French edition of Noticia de la California In the mid 1730s he was assigned the task of writing an account of Baja California This seems to have been at least in part to counter the setback to the missionaries efforts and reputation caused by the Pericu revolt on the southernmost part of the peninsula in 1734 The historian was given access to the missionaries correspondence and reports and he was able to exchange letters with them to acquire further information which he did through the use of questionnaires Venegas 600 page manuscript Empresas Apostolicas was completed in 1739 It was sent to Spain but it languished there rather than seeing publication because it was too detailed with regard to military matters 3 Another Jesuit historian Andres Marcos Burriel extensively revised Venegas manuscript in the 1750s and it was finally published in 1757 as Noticia de la California in three volumes at Madrid This work by Venegas and Burriel was subsequently translated into English 1759 Dutch 1761 1762 French 1766 1767 and German 1769 1770 and it became the standard source for information about the early Californias The original manuscript version was published in a facsimile edition in 1979 Venegas was a prolific writer also authoring biographical and theological treatises Among his other works are a manual on how to administer the sacraments which remained the official ritual for the Mexican branch of the Catholic church 1731 a biography of Juan Maria de Salvatierra 1754a 1929 and another biography detailing the life of Juan Bautista Zappa 1754b Many of these were edited extensively before publication due to Venegas writing style which was too lengthy for his fellow Jesuits 4 List of books by Venegas Edit 1731 Manual de parrocos para administrar los santos sacramentos y exercer otras functiones ecclesiasticas conforme al ritual romano J D de Hogal Mexico 1754a El apostol Mariano representado en la vida del V P Juan Maria de Salvatierra de la Compania de Jesus Dona Maria de Rivera Mexico City 1754b Vida y virtudes del V P Juan Bautista Zappa de la Compania de Jesus Pablo Nadal Barcelona 1757 Noticia de la California y de su conquista temporal y espiritual hasta el tiempo presente Viuda de M Fernandez Madrid Translations of Noticia de la California 1759 A Natural and Civil History of California James Rivington and James Fletcher London 1761 1762 Natuurlyke en burgerlyke historie van California Johannes Enschede Te Haerlem Netherlands 1766 1767 Histoire naturelle et civile de la Californie Chez Durand Paris 1769 1770 Naturliche und burgerliche Geschichte von Californien Meyerschen Buchhandlung Lemgo Germany Further reading EditMathes W Michael 1979 Supplement Historical Biographical Introduction In Obras californianas del padre Miguel Venegas S J by Miguel Venegas vol 1 Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur La Paz Mexico Venegas Miguel 1929 Juan Maria de Salvatierra of the Company of Jesus Missionary in the Province of New Spain and Apostolic Conqueror of the Californias Arthur H Clark Cleveland Ohio Venegas Miguel 1979 Obras californianas del padre Miguel Venegas S J 5 vols Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur La Paz Mexico References Edit a b O Neill C E Dominguez 2001 Diccionario historico de la Compania de Jesus biografico tematico Rome Institutum Historicum p 3922 Neil Safier Beyond Brazilian Nature The Editorial Itineraries of Marcgraf and Piso s Historia Naturalis Brasiliae in Michiel Van Groesen The Legacy of Dutch Brazil New York Cambridge University Press 2014 p 171 Mathes W M 1997 Jesuit Chroniclers and Chronicles of Northwestern New Spain In Gagliano ed Jesuit Encounters in the New World Jesuit Chroniclers geographers educators and missionaries in the Americas 1549 1767 Rome Istituto Storico p 62 Venegas Miguel 1754 El apostol Mariano representado en la vida del V P Juan Maria de Salvatierra de la Compania de Jesus Mexico City Dona Maria de Rivera pp vi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Miguel Venegas amp oldid 1085396032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
