History of the IDIH

Since 1984 the idea arose of founding an institution whose specific purpose was to revive the memory of the history of the Order of Preachers in Mexico, especially in our Province of Santiago. The concern arose from the Provincial Archivist, Fr. Santiago Rodríguez López, helped by Fr. Carlos Amado Luarca. The idea took shape until it became a project that began to take shape when in 1987 Fray Santiago Rodríguez was assigned to the house in Santo Domingo de Querétaro. There, Fr. Esteban Arroyo González joined the idea of founding the Institute.

During the first months of 1988, the project for the Statutes that would govern the life of the Institute was drafted, and it was presented to the then Provincial Fr. Laudelino Cuetos Varela, asking for his approval. On September 30, 1988, the Council of the Province of Santiago de México approved the foundation of the Dominican Institute of Historical Research.

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The Institute was established in the House of NP Santo Domingo in the city of Santiago de Querétaro, where it continues its work. On May 5, 1989, the Provincial Archives are moved to the new headquarters. In 1990 Fr. Carlos Amado Luarca is assigned to join the IDIH. The reconstruction of the convent was carried out and at the end of the first stage the restored cloister was blessed and inaugurated by the Master of the Order Fr. Damián Byrne on September 8, 1991, and the work was completed at the end of the second stage on September 8. December 1994.