Augustin Iturbide III was born to Augustin Iturbide II, son of Emperor Iturbide I, who was a Mexican diplomat in Washington DC. Augustin III was born in Mexico City to Augustin Iturbide II and Alice Green, Dona Rosa, daughter of a prominent American diplomat. His grandfather had led Mexico's independence movement and was emperor for eleven months, 1822-1823 until he was deposed. Augustin was born during the French occupation of Mexico under Emperor Maximilian I. Maximilian's regime though was not strong at all and wanted a Mexican heir due to the fact that he was Austrian and that his regime was supported only by the French Army. At age two, 1865 Maximilian convinced a reluctant Alice Green to sign her son off to Maximilian as his adopted son. Green was completely opposed to the idea and pleaded with the emperor but since the adopted papers were signed by the frantic mother nothing could be done, even by the American embassy. Maximilian's regime collapsed in 1867 and Augustin III was sent with his wife Carlotta to Havana to meet Augustin III's parents. He was then moved to his mother's family homestead until 1875 when he was entrusted to a ship captain to study in Brussels.
His health however, tuberculosis, forced him back to America until he was again shipped to a Catholic school, Oscott, in England. While in Europe he enjoyed the rich luxuries of an exiled royal and even had an Audience with Pope Leo III. In 1884 Augustin III completed his post-graduate education at Georgetown University in linguistics. Three years later he relocated to Mexico to enter the Mexican Military Academy in Chapultepec. His ego however caused many problems for Augustin III's political future; while in Mexico he aspired to become the great military man his Grandfather had been but his remarks to a New York newspaper in 1890 on Porfirio Diaz regime caused him to be imprisoned and court-martialed. The controversy got worse before the court-martial because of a letter he wrote in Mexico condemning the Diaz regime for selling the nation to foreign powers.
The court-martial took place on June 11th 1890, which after an hour deliberation convicted him of insubordination. He was sentenced to a year in prison and was subsequently exiled and lost his Mexican decorations and property. After his release his mother returned to Mexico to straighten out the Family's financial issues. The stress of this resulted in her death; which Augustin never recovered fully from. Augustin returned to his mother's home in Rosedale and became a Spanish and French professor at Georgetown, where he lived the life of cosmopolitan and also tried bringing back his fortune through land deals in California, which failed. His life took a turn for the better in 1915 when he married Louise Kearney, who was twenty years his younger.
The Kearney family was a prominent Washington family that emigrated from Ireland around 1794. The family originally lived in Falls Church, Virginia until their house burned during the Civil War, which afterwards they relocated to Georgetown. The Irish Catholic Patrician married Augustina and they lived together at the Kearney Georgetown home. Augustin III would live the last ten years of his life as a modest college professor until he died penniless in 1925, from his earlier Tuberculosis illness. Louise Kearney lived the rest of her life in a small P Street Apartment and became friends with Catholic University procurator Msgr. Joseph Magner, whom she entrusted this collection too in 1957.
The Iturbide-Kearney Family collection consists of seven series. These series contain personal information on both families; such as correspondence, personal portraits, and official government documents. There are many publications on the Iturbide family and their contributions to Mexican independence. There are also personal scrapbooks that Augustin Iturbide III compiled during his lifetime. Lastly, there are personal papers from Louise Kearney, including correspondence after Augustin III's 1925 death.
The first series of this collection are the personal letters and governmental documents from Augustin Iturbide I. This includes his 1787-1793 personal diary, correspondence during the Independence movement, 1813-1821, and governmental documents from when he was emperor. Also there are three photocopies of the Mexican Declaration of Independence, known in Spanish as El Plan de Iguala. (An original copy of El Plan de Iguala is in secure storage). One last note is this series is completely in Spanish.
The second series is Augustin III personal and family correspondence, 1849-1924. Most of these letters pertain to his time with Emperor Maximilian and his later life after his exile from Mexico. There is some correspondence from the time of his scandal in Mexico. The third series of this collection is fairly short and contains three folders on Mexican politics during the 1870s, including a Mexican political cartoon board game.
The fourth series is correspondence and legal documents to land deals made by Augustin Iturbide III from 1905-1921. Much of these land deals, especially in California were completely unsuccessful. There are also legal proceedings on business done with a local California lawyer, Holcomb. Lastly, there are legal proceedings dealing with confiscated land from Mexico that Augustin III tried reclaiming after the fall of the Diaz regime.
The fifth series is Publication. The sixth series in this collection are the Kearney family papers. This includes correspondence from the first member of the Kearney family to immigrate to the United States. This series also contains the personal papers of Louise Kearney; which includes her handwritten autobiography, correspondence, and correspondence with Msgr. Magner on the donation of the collection to Catholic University. The seventh series contains two boxes. The first box has family portraits, coat of arms, and personal photos of Augustin Iturbide III and Louise Kearney. The second box contains family documents as well as scrapbooks of newspaper clippings that Augustin III collected of his scandal in Mexico as well as his Adoption with Maximilian I.
Overall, this collection will give potential researchers a good look at the lives of the Iturbide family, in particular Augustin Iturbide III and his relationship with a member of one of the oldest and prominent Irish-Catholic families in America, the Kearneys.
The Iturbide-Kearney Family Collection consists of two series:
There are no restrictions on access
This collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
This collection was donated in four parts. The initial donation was by Louise Kearney to Msgr. Joseph Magner in April 1957. When Magner retired he gave part of the collection to the CUA Archives. In 1975 he gave a copy of the Mexican Declaration of Independence, and the rest of the collection was taken from his 1995 donation of his personal papers.
Processing completed in September 2012 by Raymond Moore. EAD markup completed in September 2012 by Raymond Moore.
This series contains the personal correspondence of Augustin Iturbide I. This includes his personal diary and correspondence during the Independence movement in Mexico. This series also has governmental proclamations made by Iturbide I and three copies of the Mexican Declaration of Independence. Lastly, this series is completely in Spanish.
Spanish letter to the ambassador in Havana.
A photocopy of the Mexican Declaration of Independence. An original copy of El Plan de Iguala is in secure storage.
Two photocopies of the Mexican Declaration of Independence. An original copy of El Plan de Iguala is in secure storage.
A magazine in Spanish commemorating the centennial of the Mexican Army includes Iturbide correspondence from 1821 concerning the formation of the army.
Includes personal correspondence and flyers celebrating Iturbide I from 1919.
Hand drawn prints possibly from a book
Augustin Iturbide I personal journal during his years in the army as well as miscellaneous Spanish colonial documents.
A later journal from Augustin Iturbide I, with personal correspondence, in Spanish.
Typed copy in Spanish of 1812-1813 Journal
Collection of Iturbide family coins from Iturbide I reign as well as military medals dating as late as 1871. Includes original ribbons and a nameplate as well.
This particular series contains Iturbide III personal correspondence as well as correspondence from his childhood concerning his adoption by Maximilian I. There is also the alphabet code he invented as well as a text on the Iturbide family history.
This is an alphabet code that Iturbide invented during childhood and a photo taken when he was six months old.
This folder contains personal correspondence, an essay on the Diaz overthrow in 1910, and family funeral cards
Handwritten and typed correspondence in Spanish
This is text in Spanish and English on Iturbide III adoption, research for a newspaper article, as well as the article.
This is a handwritten manuscript on the history of the Iturbide family as well as a typed English version.
Handwritten history in Spanish by B. Wels.
Handwritten and typed personal correspondence as well as a typed poem by Jorge Manrique.
This correspondence pertains to Iturbide III adoption as well as family documents before his birth and after his escape from Mexico in 1867.
Photo Print of family statistics in Spanish
This small series is significant because it gives insight into Iturbide III's political beliefs during the Mexican Revolution. There is also a board game cartoon that critiques the state of Mexican politics in the era between Maximilian I and Porfirio Diaz.
This typed English and Spanish Correspondence chronicles Iturbide III's opinions on the Mexican Revolution and politics in the country shortly following the revolution.
This board game political cartoon critiques life in Mexico in between the regime of Maximilian I and Porfirio Diaz regime.
This series contains personal correspondence concerning California land deals that Augustin Iturbide III made with William H. Holcomb. There are also court proceedings concerning these land deals and claims to confiscated lands in Mexico that were confiscated following Iturbide III's court martial in 1891. *Note this series is completely in English.
Correspondence and legal documents with William Holcomb concerning land purchases in lower California, Mexico.
Correspondence, handwritten and typed, concerning the land deal as well as telegrams.
This correspondence concerns the California land purchases as well as investments in the Washington DC Navy-Army club.
These are contracts and court proceeding concerning the failure of the land deal in California and claims to land in Mexico.
Telegrams and Correspondence with William Holcomb.
Correspondence with William Holcomb on Land Purchases in California.
Spanish correspondence on family land claims in Mexico that was confiscated by Diaz, and claims to the land by Holcomb.
This series contains publications the Iturbide family's contribution to the Independence movement as well as personal books owned by Iturbide III. There are also articles on the family's history as well.
Contains articles on the 1821 independence of Mexico and about Iturbide I reign.
These photo prints and correspondence pertain to the later life of Augustin Iturbide III.
September edition commemorating the 1821 independence of Mexico, in Spanish.
A newspaper article on Benito Juarez's death and a 1905 magazine on Iturbide I.
An 1863 play in Spanish titled Guerra Estanjera, A series of Independence Postcards from 1903, A 1924 Play on the Iturbide family titled, La Tragedia de Padilla, and a collection of Newspaper clippings on Iturbide I, from 1823. Also includes a personal letter from 1903
Typed manuscript of a speech on Iturbide's contribution to the independence movement.
Personal correspondence, small paper letters
Undated book in Spanish on the major political leaders of Mexico's independence, including pictures.
Mexican Biography titled, "Don Agustin De Iturbide y Aramburu".
April edition in English on the English literature form the 18th century, possibly part of Iturbide III personal collection.
Children's Geography book in Spanish, used when Iturbide III was in School.
Titled "La Guerra de Independencia: Hidalgo-Iturbide" by Francisco Bulnes. Chronicles the independence movement from Fr. Hidalgo's protest to independence under Emperor Iturbide I.
This series contains the original correspondence of John Kearney, the first member of the family to immigrate to America in 1794. There are also the personal papers of Louise Kearney, Augustin Iturbide III wife. This includes her handwritten autobiography and her correspondence concerning the donation of this collection.
Handwritten Autobiography and two snapshots in mint condition.
Correspondence with Msgr. Magner on donating the Iturbide-Kearney collection. Includes photo of the donation ceremony at CUA, and a CUA bulletin from 1957 concerning the donation of the collection.
A mixture of related Spanish and English correspondence between the Iturbides and the Kearneys.
Handwritten letter to A.L. Jonesberg in Georgetown.
John Kearney correspondence in French upon immigrating to the United States. A typed biography of John Kearney, and newspaper clippings and photocopies on Louise Kearney and her marriage to Augustin Iturbide III.
This particular series contains family portraits from the Iturbide and the Kearney family. This includes personal photos, all framed, of Louise and Augustin Iturbide III. There are also coats of arms for both families. There is a box of scrapbooks and miscellaneous items as well. The scrapbooks are mainly newspaper clippings throughout Augustin Iturbide III life. Lastly, there are some certificates for Iturbide III.
Blanche Kearney Valentine from Senor Escoba, Student at Georgetown from Chile.
Home of Augustin III and mother in Mexico.
Alice Green Iturbide portrait, framed.
Framed photo.
Blanche Kearney, Aunt of Louise Portrait
Iturbide mother personal effects including painting of Augustine.
Portrait of Empress Iturbide.
Two unmarked perfume bottles.
Framed hand drawn.
Frames, hand drawn.
Hand drawn portrait of Iturbide I.
Early Photograph.
Lifetime membership letter and certificate to the American Heraldry Society to Mrs. Augustin Iturbide
Portrait of Iturbide I and photo of Iturbide III
Two more photos of Iturbide donation, 1977 book in Spanish on Iturbide family
A complete scrapbook of Iturbide newspaper clippings from Mexican Newspaper about his family, in English as well, many on 1890 court martial, obituaries for his mother 1892, ads for a Mexican Restaurant, centennial prints (full pages), on Mexican Independence.
This scrapbook includes a 1858 poem on Iturbide I, articles on a young Iturbide III, Maximilian heir article (English and Spanish), other articles in Spanish of Iturbide, 1890 court martial, 1925 death and funeral clippings