The Municipal Archives of Valencia date back to the 13th century, with the conquest of Valencia by King Sr. James I in 1238, and the creation of the first local institutions. The two essential positions of this first organization were the CÚRIA, later called JUSTÍCIA, officer in charge of administering ordinary local justice in the city, and the BALL, which administered and managed the king's estate.
The Municipal Archive has been the depository of the historical testimony of the most diverse historical, social, religious, economic, literary and cultural manifestations in Valencia.
Subsequently, in 1245 the institution of the JURATORS was created whose mission was to govern, administer and rule the city, thus establishing the foundations of the future municipal executive power.
A legacy that has been increasing over time and that has required a change of location on more than one occasion, to adapt the archive to social, political conditions and, above all, to the needs of space.
The first location of the Archive was some houses enabled for the establishment of the Curia and its court in Plaça de l'Almoina, opposite the Cathedral, granted by privilege of Jaume I to the City of Valencia on 21 of May 1239, place where the first documents began to be kept.
In 1306, a fire along with the lack of space, determined a new change of location. Thus, Jaume II authorized the City, by means of a privilege dated April 22, 1311, to purchase some houses at the beginning of the current Carrer de Cavallers, on the lot where the Generalitat gardens are currently located .
At the beginning of the 15th century, specifically in 1412, the "Council" decided that a specific space would be created inside the building to store all the most historically important manuscripts of the City, such as "The Book of the Furs" or the " Book of the Consulate of the Sea", with the aim of better conservation.
As the activity of the municipality increased and, consequently, the funds of the Archive, the need to form inventories and give a rational classification to all the documents was considered, given the difficulty that often presented for the Write to search for any type of information requested. An example of this is a book of Notarial Protocols from the year 1484, kept in the Archive, which contains a brief list of "Council minutes" from 1306.
But it is on February 26, 1729 when the Chief Clerk, Mr. Andrés Tinajero, the preparation of a General Inventory of all the documents of the Archive in order to speed up institutional management, although it was not completed until June 1732.
In the middle of the 19th century, due to the dilapidated state in which the Casa de la Ciutat was located, the municipality decided to move it to another place that would cover the political and administrative needs of the city.
The new location chosen was the building on Carrer Reglons that occupied the Real Casa de l'Ensenyament, where part of the municipal offices had already temporarily moved.
The House of Education was an institution founded by the Archbishop Mayoral in the 18th century destined to house on the first floor a school for the education and gathering of girls of distinguished birth; and on the ground floor and main floor he accommodated the poor girls whose education was free.
The process of moving the municipal government to the new location was long and began with the Archives between 1855 and 1856, consolidating in 1935, a period in which the annexes of the Church of Santa Rosa were incorporated by to permanently install in them the Municipal Archive of Valencia and the Historical Museum of the city.
However, again mainly the lack of space, but also the need to adapt to the new communication and information guidelines, made another transfer of the Archive necessary.
On March 16, 1923, a new Archive Regulation was approved to regulate the operating regime and establish the necessary provisions for the conservation, cataloging and study of its funds. And finally, with the arrival of electronic administration, the City Council approved on January 30, 2015, the latest Regulation of the Municipal Archive of Valencia, which contemplates the new technological reality.
Consultations in the Archive, both by the administration itself and by external researchers, are increasingly numerous.
Acquired by the City the Palau de Cervelló, a building located in Plaça Tetuan number 3, the Corporation earmarked it to house the Municipal Historical Archive, officially opening on May 8, 2003. It is a functional and modern building, which houses the written memory of the city and which has the latest technologies in the field of archives.
Regarding the internal activity of the Archive itself, the work of organizing the documentation continues. At the end of the 19th century, specifically in 1894, an Internal Regulation of the Municipal Archives was approved, in which an order was established for the general classification of documents, in addition to establishing a rigorous regime and method for the 'exit and entry of documents, as well as to facilitate a better service.
Classification, arrangement and cataloging of the different collections of the Archive are being carried out: Table of Exchange, Royal Parchments, Claverias, Notarial Documentation, Guilds, Photographic Archive, Court of Commerce, Llotja Documentation, etc. And, in recent years, computerization and digitization tasks have been undertaken, such as the register, civil registry or photographic archive.
Currently, work is being done on the implementation of an electronic filing system that complies with current archival regulations, which entails tasks of expanding the classification table of the documentation. As well as the incorporation of the Archive into the Valencian Online Archive System (SAVEX).
The chronology of this documentation starts in 1226 until the end of the 20th century.
Documentary funds
It is one of the most important in its field, both in Spain and in Europe. Its funds constitute one of the most precious treasures of our collective memory. The documents kept are a historical testimony of the various historical, social, religious, economic, literary and cultural manifestations in Valencia, as well as a main source of historical knowledge.
This legacy of the past has been increasing over time and with the increasing activity of the municipality. All this forms a rich written heritage which, through archiving, is guaranteed to be preserved for future generations.
The documentary collection held by the Municipal Historical Archive is basically the documentation generated by the City Government from 1239 until approximately the 70s of the 20th century, with the exception of some series such as all those related to the city government that continue until practically the present Although the oldest document is a privilege of King Don Jaime from 1226. And it also includes other documentation that has not been generated directly by the municipal government but is strongly linked to it, such as Guild Documentation, of the Commercial Court or Llotja documentation.
It occupies about 8,000 linear meters, arranged in compacts that provide a perfect location, protection and conservation of the documentation. The rooms where the documentation is kept they are controlled with environmental conditions of temperature between 18 and 22 degrees and the degree of humidity located between 45 and 55%, for its perfect conservation. The building is equipped with an internal surveillance system, alarm systems, air conditioning and a fire protection system.
• Supplies
• Books of Provisions (1767-1835)
• Carnes (1290-1827)
• Slaughterhouses (1883-1915)
• Silos and almodins (1869-1917)
• Wheat (1344-1732)
• Administration of Justice (1333-1917)
• Drinking Water (1844-1955)
• Lighting and electrical installations (1870-1957)
• Archives, Libraries, Monuments and Museums (1876-2006)
• Patrimonial archives
• Guilds (SXIV-XIX)
• Commercial Court
• Lótja documentation
• Annexed towns: Benifaraig, Beniferri, Benimaclet, Benimamet, Borbotó, Campanar, Carpesa, Mahuella, Massarrochos, Orriols, Patraix, Poble Nou del Grau, Ruzafa, Villanueva del Grau (1702-1903)
• City Council and Mayor's Office (1700-1918)
• Municipal band and musical associations (1860-1977)
• Charity and health (1774-1916)
• "Pious Works" of the City (1340-1652)
• Hospitals: The Beguines, De la Reina, En Clapers, De Sant Lázaro (1349-1604)
• Epidemics (1888-1916)
• Cemeteries
• Works (1790-1913)
• Graves (1849-1969)
• Corpses (1849-1913)
• Codexes (1329- )
• Ecclesiastical documentation (1342-1904)
• Real Documentation
• Royal scrolls (1226-1696)
• Furs (1301-1564)
• Royal Charters (1430-1840)
• Elections (1738-1907)
• Shows (1816-1915)
• Fairs (1871-1986)
• Railways and trams (1863-1950)
• Festivities (1708-1986)
• Government
• Manual of Councils (1306-1707)
• Chapter Books and Acts (1707- )
• Minutes Municipal Board, Permanent Council, Board of Governors... (1875- )
• Resolutions of the Mayor's Office (1961- )
• Missive Letters (1334-1816)
• Internal government (1862-1918)
• General Court Trials of the Kingdom (1375-1645)
• Insaculation files for the Major Offices (1655-1667)
• Notarial documentation
• Notals (1343-1591)
• Notarial protocols (1365-1691)
• Receivers (1344-1707)
• Treasury
• Claveria Comuna (1365-1678)
• New Market Administration (1470-1731)
• Claveria Censals (1399-1794)
• Claveria del Quitament (1337-1767)
• Negotiation of the City (1561-1719)
• Municipal taxes. The Cisses (1343-1799)
• Court of the Rational (1349-1792)
• Own and Arbitris (1718-1848)
• The Exchange Table (1519-1713)
• Finances-Municipal Treasury (ends SVIII-SXIX)
• Wealth registers (1808-1866)
• Tribunal del Repés (1709-1873)
• Fires (1880-1907)
• Public Instruction (1812-1986)
• General Study (1526-1775)
• University of Valencia (1720-1827)
• Degree Books, Applications for Chairs, Enrollments, Board of Trustees of the University of Valencia (1526-1827)
• Books from the University of Gandia (1547-1772)
• Books of the "Pavordia de Febrer" (1583-1648)
• Primary Education (1812-1919)
• Higher Education (1812-1919)
• Artistic and Literary Education (1846-1913)
• Floods (1884-1906)
• Militias, army and public order
• National Militia (1809-1877)
• Fifths (1726-1929)
• Public works and urban planning
• "Murs i Valls" factory (1380-1875)
• Obra Nova del Riu (1420-1875)
• Books of Sotsobreria de Murs i Valls (1380-1631)
• Urban Police (1722-1986)
• Rural Police (1730-1967)
• Eixample (1874-1956)
• Graphical part
• Photo archive
• Posters
• Maps and plans
• Social reforms (1891-1915)
• Telephones (1884-1918)
• Territory and population. Statistics
• Avehinaments (1349-1611)
• Census (1802-1900)
• Register (1727-1969)
• Civil Registry. births marriages Deaths (1841-1870)
• Street numbering and signage (1859-1978)
Featured Funds
It is a vellum manuscript which contains a compilation of Valencian laws, approved by the Courts between the reigns of James I and Alfonso II, made by the royal notary Bonanat Pedra in 1329.
The "Consulate of the Sea", valuable codex on vellum and compiled by Jaime Gisbert at the request of the Council on June 4, 1407. Collect the founding privilege of the Consult, the usages and laws of medieval maritime trade, resulting in a true code of medieval maritime law. The beautiful miniatures of Domingo Crespí stand out.
Codex in vellum that compiles the regulatory rules of the Mustaçaf trade between 1563 and 1568. The Mustaçaf was an institution created by King Don Jaime to safeguard the ordinances on commercial and craft activities, control of weights and measures , urban police, cleaning and public health.
It was prepared at the request of the City Council by Don Félix Cebrián Aracil between 1692 and 1704. It contains everything related to the development and conduct of the City's representatives in all the public events in which they had to take part. They stipulated the calendar, ceremonies and acts attended by the city's magistrates, disposition and places they had to occupy in religious and civil festivities.
Documents mostly on parchment from Jaume I to Felipe I-II in the case of the Furs and Charles II in the case of the privileges. They are provisions that are granted as a result of a resolution of the Courts in the case of Furs or, adopted solely by the king in the case of privileges without the need to convene Courts granting some grace, exemption or prerogative that others do not enjoy.
It is the most important documentary series of the Archive. They are register books that reflect the acts, agreements and sessions held by the Jury and the advice general from 1306 to 1707. They reflect the economic, political and administrative life of the City. They deal with very disparate matters such as the election, appointment and oath of office, grant of allowances, arrangement of payments, provisions of public order, festivals, provisions, censuses, taxes, levies, etc.
The continuation of the "Manuals of Advice" after the decree of New Plant are the Chapter Books and Proceedings from 1707 to the present. They reflect the reforms introduced in the municipal administration with the abolition of furos.
They collect the appeals announced by the public trumpet of the City of Justice and Juries, with indication of date and place, from 1557 to 1836. These are provisions relating mainly to health, public order and supplies.
Another documentary series to highlight is "Missive Letters". Record books of the correspondence sent by the Juries to other cities, to the monarchs themselves or to different ecclesiastical dignities from 1334 to 1816.
And other register books where the correspondence of the Royal Chancellery (administrative office of the royal court) addressed to the city of Valencia was copied are the Real Cards since 1430 until 1840. They also include some pontifical letters.
Record books of the correspondence sent by the Juries to other cities, to the monarchs themselves or to different ecclesiastical dignities from 1334 to 1816.
And other register books where the correspondence of the Royal Chancellery (administrative office of the royal court) addressed to the city of Valencia was copied are the Real Cards since 1430 until 1840. They also include some pontifical letters.
It collects abundant documentation arranged in several documentary series that represent the activity of the Claveria, an institution that in the provincial era represented the treasury or administration of municipal finances. They are grouped into Claveria Comuna, Claveria Censals and Claveria del removal.
From the 14th century to XVIII includes records of the documents drawn up by the notaries of the city.
It was the first municipal bank, created by King Martí I's privilege on October 20, 1407, to guarantee public and private cash deposits, as well as to avoid irregularities in commercial operations. The "Books of the Exchange Table” they collect all the documentation preserved about it from the 16th to the 18th century. It contains, among other things, the daily seats of the amounts owed to the Table and the cause of the obligation.
In 1499, at the initiative of the Jury, constitutions were drawn up for the creation of a General Study, approved by Alexander VI in 1501 and by Fernando the Catholic in 1502. The municipality was promoter and financial support of the university, appointed to the teaching staff and attended to their government.
It collects, among other things, matriculation and degree books from the General Studies between the 16th and 18th centuries.
It contains information on municipal accounts from the Bourbon period (1766-1835), on the heritage assets of the city and on the conveniences or not on the collection of taxes, as well as on their destination.
supplies It includes several documentary series, such as those related to the provision of wheat or meat in the city.
With important and abundant documentation relating to municipal finances, with various information on ordinances, taxes, contributions, industrial registrations, leases, accounting, etc.
(1709-1873) Municipal inspection commission of the Bourbon era which was entrusted with the control of the markets.
"Books of Encounters”, are records of the people who lived in the City of Valencia and of the oath taken for this purpose from 1349 to 1611.
From 1865, Valencia proceeded to demolish the medieval wall that constrained its growth and some nearby municipal bodies were annexed. In addition, at the beginning of the 20th century, immigration was spectacular due to the industrialization process and the port boom. All this is verified in the Pobles documentation Annexed (1702-1903) and of Register of Residents (1770-1965). The latter is the administrative register where the residents of the municipality and their headquarters are listed data constitute proof of residence and domicile in the municipality.
Registration documentation civil records the facts concerning the civil status of the persons. Includes births, marriages and deaths from 1841 to 1870.
"Walls and Valleys" (14th-19th centuries). Since the conquest of Valencia by James I, he had the obligation to preserve walls, valleys, public roads, etc., ordering in 1251 the contribution of the citizens to the construction, maintenance and repair of those. Later, he gave the city all the walls and valleys, taking care of the conservation and repair of its public works. In 1358 a Túria flood, which overthrew the wall and the bridges, promoted the creation of the Board of Walls and Valleys through real privilege, later called Factory of Walls and Valls, which was dedicated to the construction and repair of walls, moats, towers, bridges, ditches and roads. The documentation generated by the activity of the Factory has generated several documentary series that collect all kinds of news about the works that were carried out in the city every day.
Urban Police, Eixample and Urban Planning it contains documentation referring to public and private works licences, urban reforms, as well as planning and urban management of the city from 1722 to 1986. The most significant of this documentation are the building projects.
The documentation on the Túria river and the ditches, Albufera and Devesa, rounds and paths, walks and arboretums between the middle of the century 19th and early 20th century, the Police documentary series is collected Rural
The Municipal Historical Archive also has one Graphic background what cfill blueprints of the city from different periods, the most outstanding being the plan by Antonio Mancelli (1608) and the plan by Father Tosca (1704). There are also maps and plans of specific areas of Valencia, emblematic buildings and copies of cadastral plans from the 1930s-1940s. The posters 19th and 20th century fault and July fair announcers are also an important part of the graphic background.
The Archive also stands out photographic made up of negatives and positive photographs from the last third of the 19th century to approximately the 80s of the 20th century. Most of the collection belongs to the photographer Vicente Barberà Masip, who worked at the Town Hall during the first third of the 20th century. The photographs show various aspects of the city of Valencia, especially views of buildings or streets, and various political events, public events or festivities in the city.
Lastly, we should mention the existence of documentary sets which, although they have not been generated by the municipal government itself, are strongly related to it and constitute an important testimony in the life of the Valencian municipality. These document sets are as follows.
The Commercial Court. Collect information on supplies, trading companies, leases, shipwrecks, sea protests, bills of exchange, etc. It understood mercantile business in the first instance and its creation dates back to the 19th century, following the promulgation of the first Spanish State Commercial Code in 1829.
The Llotja documentation (18th-19th centuries). It has information about the Board of Trade, with files, orders, offices, acts, deliveries, receipts, etc.
The Guild Documentation (13th-19th centuries). The guilds were corporations formed by teachers, officers and apprentices of the same profession or trade, governed by ordinances or guild statutes, which were approved by the municipal government to defend their interests. In Valencia they achieved great importance, being very numerous in number. A rich collection of documents from the following guilds is kept in the Municipal Archives: gunsmiths, workers, wax makers and spicers, ear runners, long distance runners, tanners, cedars, whippers, walls and valleys, pear trees, platers and tailors.
And, finally, the Hospitals Medieval Hospitals in the Middle Ages had a more welfare function, welcoming the destitute, than purely health care. In the Municipal Archives there is documentation, mostly account books, relating to the following hospitals: saint Látzer (1406-1509) dedicated to the care of lepers, In Clappers (1361-1480), Of the Beguines (1401-1604) i of the Queen (1410-1496).
They are records of the people who lived in the City of Valencia and of the oath taken for this purpose from 1349 to 1611.
From 1865, Valencia proceeded to demolish the medieval wall that constrained its growth and some nearby municipal bodies were annexed. In addition, at the beginning of the 20th century, immigration was spectacular due to the industrialization process and the port boom. All this is verified in the Pobles documentation Annexed (1702-1903) and of Register of Residents (1770-1965). The latter is the administrative register where the residents of the municipality and their headquarters are listed data constitute proof of residence and domicile in the municipality.
Registration documentation civil records the facts concerning the civil status of the persons. Includes births, marriages and deaths from 1841 to 1870.
Since the conquest of Valencia by James I, he had the obligation to preserve walls, valleys, public roads, etc., ordering in 1251 the contribution of the citizens to the construction, maintenance and repair of those. Later, he gave the city all the walls and valleys, taking care of the conservation and repair of its public works. In 1358 a Túria flood, which overthrew the wall and the bridges, promoted the creation of the Board of Walls and Valleys through real privilege, later called Factory of Walls and Valls, which was dedicated to the construction and repair of walls, moats, towers, bridges, ditches and roads. The documentation generated by the activity of the Factory has generated several documentary series that collect all kinds of news about the works that were carried out in the city every day.
It contains documentation referring to public and private works licences, urban reforms, as well as planning and urban management of the city from 1722 to 1986. The most significant of this documentation are the building projects.
The documentation on the Túria river and the ditches, Albufera and Devesa, rounds and paths, walks and arboretums between the middle of the century 19th and early 20th century, the Police documentary series is collected Rural
Understand blueprints of the city from different periods, the most outstanding being the plan by Antonio Mancelli (1608) and the plan by Father Tosca (1704). There are also maps and plans of specific areas of Valencia, emblematic buildings and copies of cadastral plans from the 1930s-1940s. The posters 19th and 20th century fault and July fair announcers are also an important part of the graphic background.
Made up of negatives and positive photographs from the last third of the 19th century to approximately the 80s of the 20th century. Most of the collection belongs to the photographer Vicente Barberà Masip, who worked at the Town Hall during the first third of the 20th century. The photographs show various aspects of the city of Valencia, especially views of buildings or streets, and various political events, public events or festivities in the city.
Lastly, we should mention the existence of documentary sets which, although they have not been generated by the municipal government itself, are strongly related to it and constitute an important testimony in the life of the Valencian municipality. These document sets are as follows.
The Commercial Court. Collect information on supplies, trading companies, leases, shipwrecks, sea protests, bills of exchange, etc. It understood mercantile business in the first instance and its creation dates back to the 19th century, following the promulgation of the first Spanish State Commercial Code in 1829.
The Llotja documentation (18th-19th centuries). It has information about the Board of Trade, with files, orders, offices, acts, deliveries, receipts, etc.
The Guild Documentation (13th-19th centuries). The guilds were corporations formed by teachers, officers and apprentices of the same profession or trade, governed by ordinances or guild statutes, which were approved by the municipal government to defend their interests. In Valencia they achieved great importance, being very numerous in number. A rich collection of documents from the following guilds is kept in the Municipal Archives: gunsmiths, workers, wax makers and spicers, ear runners, long distance runners, tanners, cedars, whippers, walls and valleys, pear trees, platers and tailors.
And, finally, the Hospitals Medieval Hospitals in the Middle Ages had a more welfare function, welcoming the destitute, than purely health care. In the Municipal Archives there is documentation, mostly account books, relating to the following hospitals: saint Látzer (1406-1509) dedicated to the care of lepers, In Clappers (1361-1480), Of the Beguines (1401-1604) i of the Queen (1410-1496).
. They are grouped into Claveria Comuna, Claveria Censals and Claveria del removal.
Services and activities
The staff of the Archive attend to inquiries in person, by telephone (963525478, extension 2651) or by email (archivo@valencia.es).
Citizens have the right to free consultation and/or reproduction of the documentary funds kept in the Municipal Archive in accordance with current legislation; with the exception of documentation that contains data that may affect the privacy of people, the security or defense of the State or the detection of crimes; as established by art. 37.1 of Law 30/1992, of November 26, on the Legal Regime of Public Administrations and Common Administrative Procedure, which basically fall under:
- Documents relating to register, health, personnel, etc., if twenty-five years have not passed since the death of those affected, if its date is known, or in another case, fifty years have not passed since the date of the document.
- Documents relating to technical projects of buildings built before 1986.
Nor will it be possible to consult the documentation whose state of conservation advises against it.
For the rest of the documents not included in the previous sections, consultation is free, and those interested can go directly to the Municipal Archive, located in the Palau de Cervelló, during opening hours to the public (Mornings: from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Evenings: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., except for the months of July, August and December).
A specialized library that is at the service of researchers and whose catalog can be consulted through the website.
Located on the ground floor of the building and equipped with complete technical equipment.
"Treasure of memory" collects a selection of the most representative documents from the Municipal Historical Archive from the provincial, Bourbon and constitutional periods. All of them exhibited next to the models of the different buildings in which the Municipal Archive has been located. A room set in the Columnar Hall of the Llotja, in which we find the Codex of the Consulate and the Table of Exchange, among others. And another interactive room to consult graphic material and restoration processes.
The courtyard of Palau de Cervelló, headquarters of the Archive, hosts the informative activity "Archive Documents", which consists of organizing temporary monographic exhibitions to make the Archive's holdings known.
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Address
Plaça Tetuan 3 (Cervelló Palace)
46003 Valencia
