New Books Network Ruth Mandujano López, "Steamships Across the Pacific: Maritime Journeys between Mexico, China, and Japan, 1867–1914" (U Hong Kong Press, 2025)
Apr 9, 2026
Ruth Mandujano López, historian and author of Steamships Across the Pacific, studies Mexico’s trans-Pacific maritime ties, 1867–1914. She discusses voyage-centered storytelling, archival detective work across ports, migration and policy shifts, scientific and commercial trips, and how steamship routes reshaped mobility and networks between Mexico, China, and Japan.
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Start Daily And Build Momentum Like A Steam Engine
- Build writing momentum by working daily and treating the process like firing up a steam engine rather than rowing aimlessly.
- Mandujano López credits Bill French's advice: start, stick to it, and momentum will make the project manageable.
Mexico's Pacific Connections Continued After The Galleons
- Mexican–Asian links persisted after the Manila galleons ended and were reconfigured around steamship routes in the late 19th century.
- Archival silence in Mexico hides connections; researchers must follow records to Hong Kong, San Francisco, Madrid, and regional Mexican archives.
Follow The Records Across Countries And Coasts
- Go beyond central Mexican archives and consult port, state, and foreign repositories to trace transpacific networks.
- Mandujano López followed leads to Salina Cruz, Mazatlán, Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, and Seville to reconstruct voyages.
