Manuscritos
Item
Country
BR
Name of institution (English)
National Library Foundation
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Av. Rio Branco 219, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20040-008
Contact information: phone number
0055 (21) 2220-9608
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
Manuscritos
Type of reference number
Call number
Title (English)
Manuscripts
Title (official language of the state)
Manuscritos
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
National Library (Rio de Janeiro)
Date note
11th century/21st century
Language(s)
gre
lat
por
others
Extent
up to 900,000 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Manuscript collection of the National Library in Rio de Janeiro comprises handwritten materials on various topics. It includes numerous manuscripts concerning Portuguese colonial history, Brazil's colonial period, and the Brazilian Imperial and Republican periods. As the section of the Inquisition of Goa is particularly relevant to the history of New Christians, it was described separately (see below).
Several other manuscripts in this collection are relevant to the history of Sephardim and New Christians in Brazil and the Portuguese Empire. Some examples are the following:
I-14,02,018, "Documentos vários de Portugal" (Miscellaneous documents from Portugal): contains letters from Portuguese kings from the 16th to the first decade of the 17th century, some of which with topics related to New Christians in the Portuguese Empire, especially in the 16th century. For instance, a letter from King Sebastião (1554-1578) to Friar Jorge Temudo, archbishop of Goa and president of the Mesa da Consciência e Ordens (Portuguese Royal Court) in India dated February 12, 1572, stating that he had ordered the viceroy of India to send back to Portugal all New Christians living in Portuguese territories in Asia. According to this letter, these New Christians should not be allowed to take offices related to the administration of justice connected to the Royal Treasure in any circumstance (fols. 43v-44). Other letters from King Sebastião to António de Noronha (1464-1551), the viceroy of India (fols. 13v-17v), and the governor of Malacca (fols. 25-25v), in 1572, reiterated the same order. A letter from King Felipe II of Portugal (1527-1598) to the captain of Tangier on August 3, 1583, stated that the latter should provide information about all Jews and Moors who wished to travel to Portugal or Spain; these should only be allowed to do so with the king's permission. The volume contains another letter from King Felipe III of Portugal (1578-1621) to the viceroy of Portugal on May 23, 1612, reinforcing the need to enforce laws forbidding New Christians to have access to military orders (fols. 242v-243). The documents of this collection were described, and some were transcribed and published in Pinto and Vila-Santa (2022).
05,3,007, "Obras do padre António Vieira" (Father António Vieira's Works): contains a proposition presented to King João IV (1604-1656) in 1646, arguing in favour of the extinction of the designation of "New Christian" attributed to the descendants of Jews converted to Christianity.
Several other manuscripts in this collection are relevant to the history of Sephardim and New Christians in Brazil and the Portuguese Empire. Some examples are the following:
I-14,02,018, "Documentos vários de Portugal" (Miscellaneous documents from Portugal): contains letters from Portuguese kings from the 16th to the first decade of the 17th century, some of which with topics related to New Christians in the Portuguese Empire, especially in the 16th century. For instance, a letter from King Sebastião (1554-1578) to Friar Jorge Temudo, archbishop of Goa and president of the Mesa da Consciência e Ordens (Portuguese Royal Court) in India dated February 12, 1572, stating that he had ordered the viceroy of India to send back to Portugal all New Christians living in Portuguese territories in Asia. According to this letter, these New Christians should not be allowed to take offices related to the administration of justice connected to the Royal Treasure in any circumstance (fols. 43v-44). Other letters from King Sebastião to António de Noronha (1464-1551), the viceroy of India (fols. 13v-17v), and the governor of Malacca (fols. 25-25v), in 1572, reiterated the same order. A letter from King Felipe II of Portugal (1527-1598) to the captain of Tangier on August 3, 1583, stated that the latter should provide information about all Jews and Moors who wished to travel to Portugal or Spain; these should only be allowed to do so with the king's permission. The volume contains another letter from King Felipe III of Portugal (1578-1621) to the viceroy of Portugal on May 23, 1612, reinforcing the need to enforce laws forbidding New Christians to have access to military orders (fols. 242v-243). The documents of this collection were described, and some were transcribed and published in Pinto and Vila-Santa (2022).
05,3,007, "Obras do padre António Vieira" (Father António Vieira's Works): contains a proposition presented to King João IV (1604-1656) in 1646, arguing in favour of the extinction of the designation of "New Christian" attributed to the descendants of Jews converted to Christianity.
Archival history
The most historically significant items in the Manuscript collection of the National Library of Brazil come from the Portuguese Royal Library and were brought by the Portuguese royal family in 1808 after the Napoleonic invasion of Portugal. Since then, the collection has been constantly growing. Nowadays, it houses over 900,000 archival units, including personal, institutional and historical archives and literary works, many by renowned Brazilian authors such as Lima Barreto (1881-1922), Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902-1987), and Euclides da Cunha (1866-1909).
Administrative / Biographical history
The original collection of the National Library of Brazil came from Portugal in 1808, when the Portuguese royal family was exiled to Rio de Janeiro following the Napoleonic invasions. Along with their entourage, the royal family carried around 60,000 items from the royal library, including books, manuscripts, maps, prints, coins and medals. By decree of July 28, 1810, the collection was housed in the rooms of the Hospital da Ordem Terceira do Carmo in Rua Direita, currently called Rua Primeiro de Março. On October 29, 1810, a new decree determined that a new library should be created in the catacombs of the Hospital do Carmo. That is the official date of the Royal Library's foundation.
In 1811, a second substantial batch of books arrived from Portugal. In November 1811, the last 87 crates of books arrived in Brazil. Numerous significant donations of private and institutional libraries followed.
In 1821, part of the Portuguese royal family returned to Portugal, mainly taking back manuscripts from the Royal Library. In 1822, by order of the imperial government, the library began to receive a copy of all works, periodicals, and pamphlets printed at the National Printing House, a precursor to what is now the Legal Deposit Law. In 1876, the library finally adopted the name of National Library after being called "Real Biblioteca" (Royal Library) and "Biblioteca Imperial e Pública" (Imperial and Public Library).
In 1883, the library launched its first catalogue, based on the Brunet system (currently called the "old catalogue"), which was widely used in France then. During that period, the collection continued to expand.
In 1891, after the proclamation of the Republic in Brazil, the deposed King Pedro II returned to Portugal. Before leaving, he donated a collection of approximately 100,000 works, which he asked to be named "Collecção D. Thereza Christina Maria" in honour of the empress, his wife. That was the largest donation ever received, and its arrival required renovations and the creation of new facilities to accommodate it.
During the 19th century, the National Library occupied different buildings. In 1905, the foundation stone was laid for the current National Library building on the majestic Avenida Central, now Avenida Rio Branco. The National Library's new building was inaugurated 100 years after the institution was founded. Designed by General Francisco Marcelino de Souza Aguiar, the building has the capacity for one and a half million printed books and an entire collection of manuscripts, prints, and other papers.
In 1811, a second substantial batch of books arrived from Portugal. In November 1811, the last 87 crates of books arrived in Brazil. Numerous significant donations of private and institutional libraries followed.
In 1821, part of the Portuguese royal family returned to Portugal, mainly taking back manuscripts from the Royal Library. In 1822, by order of the imperial government, the library began to receive a copy of all works, periodicals, and pamphlets printed at the National Printing House, a precursor to what is now the Legal Deposit Law. In 1876, the library finally adopted the name of National Library after being called "Real Biblioteca" (Royal Library) and "Biblioteca Imperial e Pública" (Imperial and Public Library).
In 1883, the library launched its first catalogue, based on the Brunet system (currently called the "old catalogue"), which was widely used in France then. During that period, the collection continued to expand.
In 1891, after the proclamation of the Republic in Brazil, the deposed King Pedro II returned to Portugal. Before leaving, he donated a collection of approximately 100,000 works, which he asked to be named "Collecção D. Thereza Christina Maria" in honour of the empress, his wife. That was the largest donation ever received, and its arrival required renovations and the creation of new facilities to accommodate it.
During the 19th century, the National Library occupied different buildings. In 1905, the foundation stone was laid for the current National Library building on the majestic Avenida Central, now Avenida Rio Branco. The National Library's new building was inaugurated 100 years after the institution was founded. Designed by General Francisco Marcelino de Souza Aguiar, the building has the capacity for one and a half million printed books and an entire collection of manuscripts, prints, and other papers.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Access, restrictions
Numerous documents are available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Bibliography
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