Documentary Relations of the Southwest

The Documentary Relations of the Southwest (DRSW) is a significant archival project that compiles over 1,500 microfilm reels of historical documents, offering a window into the early interactions between European explorers and Indigenous peoples in the American Southwest. Initiated by the Arizona State Museum’s Office of Ethnohistorical Research, the DRSW includes diaries, reports, and correspondence from Spanish missionaries, soldiers, and explorers dating from the 16th to early 19th centuries. These documents provide firsthand accounts of the cultural, social, and political dynamics of the region during the colonial period. The DRSW serves as an essential resource for researchers and scholars interested in the history of the American Southwest, Native American studies, and the colonial history of the United States.