PREFACE
The increasing wealth of unused sources has made the period covered in the present volume shorter than originally planned. \Vhile many of the incidents and e,·ents described and portrayed have pre,·iously been treated in part or in whole, nevertheless, they are here presented with many additional details gleaned from new sources now aYailable. The withdrawal of the missionaries of the College of Qucretaro from the Texas field has rccei,·cd heretofore only passing mention. It is treated fully here for the first time. The same is true with regard to the first attempt at secularization of :\fission Valero, a significant episode ignored until now. An earnest effort has be~n made to present the complete picture of social, economic, and political conditions and to portray realistically the personal considerations :md human emotions that often determine the course of history. The author wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to the Knights of Columbus, under whose auspices the study was carried out; to Rev. Dr. Paul J. Foik, C. S. C., of St. Edward's Uni,·crsity, Austin, for his valuable guidance and constant encouragement; to Dr. Charles \V. Hackett, Dr. Eugene Barker, Miss Winnie Allen, l\Iiss Maurine T. \Vilson, and !\Ir. E. W. Winkler of the University of Texas for useful suggestions, friendly advice, and continued cooperation in checking materials and sources, and to Elisa, his wife, for uncomplaining endurance in checking details. C. E. CASTA~EDA, Latin-American Librarian, The Unh·ersity of Texas.
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