“The Mexican Revolution and the United States in the Collections of the Library of Congress” tells the dynamic story of the complex and turbulent relationship between Mexico and the United States during the Mexican Revolution, approximately 1910-1920. The site features extraordinary items from many parts of the Library including letters from U.S. President William Howard Taft (1909-1913), photographs, books, manuscripts, and maps. Other materials covering the U.S. invasion of Veracruz in 1914 and the 1916 U.S. incursion in search of Pancho Villa led by General John J. Pershing, original film footage taken during the fighting, and sheet music and recordings of songs sung at the time in the U.S. and, thanks to Arhoolie Records (external link), the marching songs of both Pancho Villa (“Adelita”) and Venustiano Carranza (“Valentina”). This online exhibition closes with items depicting the impact of the Mexican Revolution on the United States and the consequences of the Revolution on the future of Mexican politics. Many of these items are available online for the first time.
Drawn from the vast and unique collections of the Library, the website focuses on both U.S. participation and its understanding of Mexican events and also features key documents and photographs produced in Mexico held by the Library of Congress. In most cases, the single object is only a sample of the rich collections held at the Library, which is the largest library in the world.