The Conde de Montemar Letters are a unique collection of correspondence that belonged to the Spanish/Peruvian noble family Carrillo de Albornoz y Bravo de Lagunas, counts of Montemar. The Latin American and Caribbean Studies section of the International and Area Studies Library at Illinois is proud to offer unfettered access to this unique collection of eighteenth century letters, which provide a close and unfiltered look into the life and politics of the Limeño elite during the late colonial Spanish Empire. The letters’ topics include the intimate communication of familial matters, vice-royal politics, the relationship with the Church, urban life, and economic activity. In a time of integral changes and reforms at the core of Spanish imperial rule, the collection represents a useful source for scholars focusing on Andean political cultures, Spanish Imperial politics, Peruvian political and economic history, Peruvian-Spanish family history, gender, race, social hierarchy, religion, and other humanistic fields such as historical sociology, historical anthropology, and historical economy.

The Conde de Montemar project is a product of multiple units at the University of Illinois Library. Many people have been involved in this project in one way or another. For more information on the work done to make these letters accessible, as well as the individuals and institutions who contributed to this work, please visit the official project website at: https://quest.library.illinois.edu/Conde-de-Montemar-Letters/