"Charity, Honor and Mercy": Gender, Race, and Place in Colonial Mexican Philanthropy.

This article uses two case studies, a charitable foundation that provided dowries to orphans as well as efforts to fundraise for a convent for Indigenous women, to explore how philanthropy functioned in late colonial Oaxaca, Mexico. I argue that in both cases, gendered rhetoric proved essential for constructing compelling reasons for wealthy individuals to donate money. Additionally, both projects were intrinsically connected with material culture--ranging from the physical accoutrements of the lottery drawing to choose a dowry winner, to the geographic location and building structure of the convent. These material properties are still visible in Oaxaca today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]