The School of Saint Ignatius of Loyola Vizcaínas was established in 1732 by a group of Basques who had journeyed to New Spain during the seventeenth century. From its inception in 1767, the institution was dedicated to the protection and education of girls and widows. Throughout its extensive history, the School has remained active, continuing its legacy as an important educational establishment.

To ensure the preservation of the school’s memory and legacy, the Historic Archive was created. This archive safeguards documents and records dating back to the School’s founding and continues to collect materials up to the present day.

This article aims to detail the development of the Historic Archive and highlight the significance of its documents. The archive encompasses a vast collection, enabling the study of a wide range of topics, including economics, education, sociology, religion, health, and everyday life. The research method employed is historical investigation, which allows for an in-depth understanding of the education provided to girls during the Viceregal period. The documents reveal that while some students chose a religious vocation and became nuns, others received an education that prepared them for marriage.

In 2008, the Historic Archive was registered under UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. Subsequent registrations occurred in 2010 and 2013. Few institutions in Mexico possess all three levels of registration, making this archive exceptional for its documentary value, historical significance, thematic content, and origin. The collection is a well-preserved legacy for future generations. Notably, it remains largely unexplored, offering substantial potential for research and providing an invitation to further study both national history and the institution’s development.