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Country
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PT
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Name of institution (English)
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Braga District Archive
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Language of name of institution
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por
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Contact information: postal address
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Rua do Abade da Loureira, 4700-356 Braga
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Contact information: phone number
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00351 253 601 082 (general)
00351 253 601 080 (research and reproduction services)
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Contact information: email
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sec@adb.uminho.pt (general)
adb@adb.uminho.pt (research and reproduction services)
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Reference number
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PT/UM-ADB/ASS/SCMBRG
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Type of reference number
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Archival reference number
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Title (English)
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Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga and São Marcos Hospital
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Title (official language of the state)
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Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga e Hospital de São Marcos
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Language of title
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por
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Creator / accumulator
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Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga
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Date(s)
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1408/1974
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Language(s)
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por
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Extent
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c. 3,000 storage units
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Type of material
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Textual Material
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Physical condition
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Satisfactory
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Scope and content
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The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga fonds comprises documents of various kinds, such as statutes, by-laws, meeting minutes, elections of brothers, correspondence, property records, and more, which date back to the brotherhood's creation in 1508 and even before. As the Santa Casa da Misericórdia was founded shortly after the banishment of the Jews of Portugal (1496), its early records contain some references to lands and houses in Braga and its outskirts previously leased to Jews. Also, the "Património" (patrimony) series, the first two "Livros dos prazos primordiais" (Primordial emphyteusis books - PT/UM-ADB/ASS/SCMBRG/P-B/003/0001 and PT/UM-ADB/ASS/SCMBRG/P-B/003/0002) contain records dating back to the early 15th century, a few of them with references to Jews living in Braga. Unfortunately, the poor physical condition of both books makes them unavailable for consultation. However, José Marques identified mentions to two Jews of Braga in these books, namely Abraão Farache and Menahem Galego (see Marques, 1981). The same names appear in another codex with copies of 15th to 17th-century "prazos" (emphyteusis contracts) of houses and plots of land in Braga and outskirts (PT/UM-ADB/ASS/SCMBRG/P-B/003/0003). On March 15, 1477, Abraão Farache rented a house near the gate of the "judiaria" (Jewish quarter) for 35 réis (currency) per year (n.º 12). Menahem (or Menassem) Galego and his wife leased two houses with a well, in the judiaria, adjacent to a building where Abraão Montezinho, also a Jew, lived. The deed date was from April 23, 1491, and the houses had been previously rented to Junca Abadias and his wife Oraboa (n.º 41). Years before, in 1482, Junca Abadias leased a house with a shack and a well in the Jewish quarter (n.º 31).
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Archival history
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The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga fonds was incorporated into the collection of the Arquivo Distrital de Braga in the 1970s, at the time of the integration of the archive and the Biblioteca Pública into the Universidade do Minho.
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Administrative / Biographical history
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The exact foundation date of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Braga is unknown. However, it might have been established in 1513, when its founder, archbishop D. Diogo de Sousa, ordered the construction of a chapel in the Cathedral to serve as his family mausoleum. In 1514, the Misericórdia of Braga was awarded the same privileges and "compromisso" (by-laws) that King D. Manuel had granted to the Misericórdia of Lisbon.
In 1559, the São Marcos Hospital was incorporated into the Misericórdia of Braga. Until then, the Misericórdia was only supported by alms and donations since its "compromisso" prohibited property acquisition. However, the Hospital owned a wide range of properties and incomes that, after 1559, were handed to the Misericórdia.
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System of arrangement
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The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga fonds is arranged in 5 sections – Assistência (Assistance), Culto e Cemitério (Worship and Cemetery), Património (Estate), Recolhimento das Beatas do Campo da Vinha (a convent related to the Misericórdia) and Vida Interna (Intern Life) – and 4 series no-inscribed in sections – Estatutos (Statutes), Eleições e aceitação de Irmãos (Elections and entrance of brothers), Correspondência Registada (Registered Correspondence) and Livros de Termos ou Atas (Books of Terms and Minutes). Records are arranged chronologically.
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Access, restrictions
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The access is limited depending on the conservation condition of the documents.
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Author of the description
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Carla Vieira, 2021
