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Creator
del Valle, Juan, circa 1500-1563
Call number
MssCol 186616
Physical description
.1 linear feet (1 volume)
Language
Spanish; Castilian
Preferred Citation
"Nos don Juan Valle por la misericordia divina y de la Santa Sede apostólica, primer obispo y protector por su majestad de los naturales de este dicho mio obispado y de su consejo...", Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library
Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
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Juan del Valle (circa 1500-1563) was a Spanish clergyman who served as the first Bishop of Popayán, a city in present-day Colombia, and was royally designated as Protector of Indians for the region. This manuscript, dated 1554, contains del Valle's ratification of Francisco González Grandino as the new General Protector of the indigenous people of Popayán. Along with the ratification, the manuscript features a transcription of a 1551 letter detailing del Valle's appointments as Bishop and Protector of Indians. It provides insight into the treatment of native populations during this era in colonial South America.

Biographical/historical information

Juan del Valle was born Juan Sánchez García around 1500 in Segovia, Spain. He attended the University of Salamanca before being ordained as the first Bishop of Popayán (a city in present-day Colombia) in 1547 by King Charles V. Juan del Valle was also designated Protector of Indians in response to poor treatment of indigenous laborers in Popayán by encomenderos, Spanish settlers who exacted labor and monetary tribute from the native population. Throughout his tenure as Bishop, del Valle defended the rights of indigenous people. He conceived the only diocesan synods at the time, in 1555 and 1558, in which the rights of indigenous people to their own land were doctrinally defended. Additionally, del Valle founded schools for indigenous people in his diocese. In 1554, he appointed Francisco González Grandino, his advisor, as the new General Protector of indigenous people.

Juan del Valle died in 1563 in France.

Scope and arrangement

The three-page folio contains the 1554 ratification of Francisco González Grandino as the new General Protector of indigenous people in Popayán. The appointment was ratified by the first Bishop of Popayán, Juan del Valle (named Juan Valle in the manuscript), who was also royally designated Protector of Indians for the region.

In addition to the ratification, the manuscript features a transcription of a letter, dated May 20, 1551, that details del Valle's appointment as Bishop and Protector of Indians. The letter explains the reasons for his appointment as relayed by King Charles V, and summarizes the role of Protector as someone who investigates poor treatment of indigenous laborers. The letter also details the legal status of the Protector, specifically in contrast to governors and justices.

A printed copy of the text is included with the manuscript.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Purchased from Elena Gallego Rare Books LLC in 2024.

This manuscript was previously held in the private collections of two Colombian intellectuals: Manuel María Buenaventura and later by Andrés Hoyos.

Processing information

Processed by Nathan Evans in 2024.

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328