This research focuses on the study of canvas used as support on Mexican paintings during the 17th to 19th centuries. The study was carried out using as primary source of information two-hundred reports of restoration work produced between 1997 and 2009 in the Painting Restoration Workshop at the National School of Conservation, Restoration and Museology of Mexico (STRPC, ENCRyM-INAH). The records were organized into a database according to a textile analysis sheet, and then interpreted using descriptive statistics. The statistical results oriented the historical research, which employed material, documentary and current living sources. This research revealed relevant data regarding the origin, production, materials, and technology of canvas supports, helping towards their characterization and identification. The use of restoration reports as a primary source of information demonstrates the relevance of the discipline and the importance of an adequate record when preserving cultural heritage.