Southwest USA Genealogy & History

The Family History Center has complied
from the Spanish American Mission. This includes information gathered by the Mission including church members that lived in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas and prior to 1936… Old Mexico.

Microfilm of these original records resides in the LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City. You will need to find a local LDS stake center (main church in your area) and ask for the genealogy library. They will be able to help you with locating records of your ancestors.

These records are stored in what is called the Patron section of the archives.

This link will take you to the page with some names listed. Mexican Genealogy Records 

Remember that when starting your search for your Mexican heritage… that the names in countries outside of the USA are listed differently. Mothers and fathers names are often mixed into a child's name… sometimes a y will be in between names.

  photo credit: matthew.hickey

These are all things you must research within your family first. Find out everything you can about possible maiden names and sir names before you head out to do any digging. Your going to find a lot of similar names in the records… and you will need ways to narrow down your searches.

FamilySearch.org also has an online data base that is free and may help you find vital records of your Mexican Ancestors.  Most civil records only date back to the 1950's in Mexico… to go back any further you will have to contact the local parish or town that your ancestors records may be. This is tedious… so get as many facts from relatives as you can.  Write every thing down… don't chance a failing memory.

Immigration records may be your best source of vital information. It could lead you to one ancestors place of birth which can break down brick walls quickly.

Many Immigration and Naturalization records are available online. Death records and Obituaries can be found through public records. It's very inexpensive to set up an account and have others search for you in places that you can't get to.

You may find your Mexican Genealogy Records here.

The Yuma, Arizona County Fair comes only once a year… it is anticipated by many thousands of local residents.  Several (okay… many several) years ago, one event that was a must do by my father was to have a slice of lemon pie. 

My mother was not a pie baker, and lemon was her least favorite flavor of pie. My dad and I had about the same taste for everything to do with food.  The first booth we hit after paying the fair entrance fee was the Yuma Homemakers Club Pie booth.  The recipe has finally been released and was published in the Yuma County Homesteaders 1978-1952

The Lemon and Fruit Pie Recipes

Pie Crust

3 c flour (sifted)

1 ¼ cup shortening

1 tsp salt

1 egg - well beaten

5 Tbls ice water

1 Tbs vinegar

Mix flour, shortening, salt - add water and vinegar.

Fruit Pies

Each pie contains approximately 3 cups filling. Measure from bucket 12 cups filling into large bowl.  Add lemon juice and sugar to taste to cherry and apricot.  

Cinnamon may be added to apple.   Add one tablespoon BUTTER, cut into bits, per pie.  

One pound of butter makes 32 pies.

Lemon Pie Set Ups
3 c sugar
¾ cup cornstarch
1-teaspoon salt
Put in large baggie and tie.
Meringue
¾ c sugar
Put in small baggie and tie.
Lemon
1 cup lemon juice
3 Tbs grated lemon rind
1 tsp lemon extract
Put wet ingredients in baggie in cup and tie.

Lemon pie set ups, wet and dry, must be frozen until time to use.

Fruit pies and dry lemon set-ups are made in January and February at the Newcomer Building.  Pies are immediately taken to Southwest Meat Co. for freezing and storage until fair time. Dry lemon set-ups to someone's freezer.

Wet ingredients for lemon pies should be done in November early December while acid high in lemons.  Frozen in a home freezer until fair time.

Fruit pies are transferred from Southwest Meat Co to Nancy Jane Bakery each day beginning the day before fair opens.  Pies are baked and ready to be taken to fair grounds around 9:00 a.m.

Pies for Sunday fair may be baked with Saturday Pies.  

Arrangements for baking pies must be made with Buddy Goldsboro, Manager, Nancy Jane Bakery.  Baker paid or given gratuity-CHECK ON THIS.  Decide each fair day how many of each pie to be baked next day leave note in door of bakery after booth closes at night.
Lemon pies made each day of fair at the booth. Shells are baked a week ahead of time and refrozen so they are ready to use.