| Creator: | DeLaGarza Falcon Family and Descendents |
| Title: | Bruno Wolf Jr. Family Collection |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1704 - 1945 |
| Abstract: | The documents span the reigns of five Spanish kings: King Charles II; King Philip V; King Louis I; King Ferdinand VI; and King Charles III. The earliest documents are primarily court records and transcripts. Later documents include materials to support the family’s claim to disputed land holdings in South Texas. |
| Identification: | A2000-044 |
| Extent: | 1 linear foot |
| Language: | English |
| Container: | STA Box 0741, Microfilm, STA Photo File |
| Repository: | South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville |
The descendants of Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon, father of Nueces County's first settler, his namesake, and a captain who explored much of South Texas and Northern Mexico, have preserved and guarded Spanish colonial documents for almost 300 years. The documents have been passed through the generations since they were created in the 18th century where ach generation has added genealogical data and some photos. General Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon was born in 1673, and came from a family whose ancestors date back to the 16th century where they lived in Lepe, Spain. The General came to New Spain as an early pioneer of Sabinas Hidalgo and Nuevo Leon where he served twice as governor. His son, Captain Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon subsequently led expeditions in an area of New Spain known as Nuevo Santander. He was recruited by Jose de Escandon because he was among a small cadre of lieutenants who were willing to lead colonists from Coahuila to to Nuevo Santander. According to historian Felix Almaraz, the captain came to the south banks of the Nueces and found the land attractive. He began applying names to the geography. In 1762 the captain founded his ranco Santa Petronila, near Petronila Creek and established the first successful colony in what would become Nueces County. He also helped establish other settlements along the Rio Grande. Dolores Rodriguez Lerma, a descendent of de la Garza Falcon, and who was born in Camargo, Tamalulipas, Mexico received these papers from her family and was the family historian and keeper of the documents for many years and until her death. She left them to her grandson, Bruno Wolf, Jr. who donated them to the South Texas Archives.
The collection includes official correspondence to Spain from Mexico, then known as New Spain, bearing the signature of Gen. Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon. Original land grants, research supporting their authenticity, letters that document events of the day, a genealogical accounting of the Garza Falcon family tree and 18th century surveys of areas in what is now northern Mexico and South Texas. Wolf's Spanish colonial documents, spanning from 1700 to 1776, are some of the oldest documents housed at South Texas Archives. The collection also includes legal land dispute transcripts, marriage and birth certificates and many photographs of the Wolf Ranch near Laredo. Bruno Wolf Jr. served in the army during World War II, photographs in the collection document his time in France.
Series I Spanish Colonial Documents & Transcripts. 1704-1791 Series II Land Disputes Series III Correspondence, 1933-1948 Series IV Legal Documents Series V Family Genealogy Series VI Photographs
| Access: | Open for research |
| Rights Statment: | Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A& M University-Kingsville. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. |
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Preferred Citation
Bruno Wolf Jr. Family Collection, Collection A1985-018.XXXX, South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Acquisitions
A2000-044 – Gift of Bruno Wolf Jr. and son Karl Wolf
Proccessing Information
Processed by Brian Bingham 2014/05/05 Finding Aid by Matthew Tallant 2015/03/15