PORTUGUESE-BRAZILIAN REFERENCE CENTER

Joined with the Historic Archives and the Library, the Portuguese-Brazilian Reference Center was created in 1998, in the ambit of commemorations for the 500 years of the arrival of the Portuguese to Brazil, with the following purposes: • Collect, organize and allow the access of information of interest for researchers and other professionals regarding subjects related to the formation, expansion and consolidation of the Portuguese world; • Divulge the Portuguese culture among the users of the National Museum of History; • Coordinate the activities of researches developed at the National Museum of History; At the Luís de Camões Room, situated near the Library and the Historic Archives - a noble space at the Museum; works for its restoration were sponsored by the Camões Institute, connected to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Potugal - the Center disposes of a series of CD-ROMS and ample bibliography on the subject concerning the relations between Portugal and Brazil, mainly on the cultural sphere. Circa 1.000 new titles, donated by the Camões Institute and by the National Commission for the Commemorations of the Portuguese Discoveries, that, integrated with the Museums' collection, provide the access to the most recent researches in all the fields of knowledge, enabling the access to important informations concerning the common history of these two countries. Since October 1998, already available to be consulted, CD-Roms of 100 thousand documents about the Brazilian colonial period, whose originals are at the Ultramarine Archives of Lisbon, in a joint partnership in the "Project for the Recovery of the Historic Documentation of Baron of Rio Branco", with the Ministry of Culture.

Camões Institute Room. Inauguration of the Camões Institute Room. Speech by Vera Tostes, Director of the Museum Port of Rio de Janeiro, photo by George Lauzinger, 1867 Calaboose Point, early 20th century Picture of D.João VI Jean Baptiste Debret (1768-1848) Photo: Rômulo Fialdini - Book: MHN - Bank Safra Watercolors of the collection Sophia Jobim Photo: Rômulo Fialdini - Book: MHN - Bank Safra

The Center is expanding the attendance to researchers with the publication of the "Lusotropia" bulletin and opening several other fields. In parternership with the Museum's Library and the financial support of the Camões Institute, researches related to the Museum are being made, such as: • "Calaboose Point and surroundings - a recall of memory" (surveys about their origins have begun) with the purpose to register and study the notable landmarks situated in the joining areas to the Calaboose Point/Castelo Hill, in the late 18th century. It also aims, through the recuperation and articulation of these landmarks (understood mostly as historic buildings), reconstruct the surroundings of the Museum, concentrating the attention to the Calaboose Point and the architectonic complex of the National Historical Museum. • Representation of the Portuguese-Atlantic expansion in the collection of the National Historical Museum (surveys are under way), to permit the basis for data that will articulate the tridimensional assets, archival and bibliographical preserved at the National Historical Museum, of interest for researchers and other professionals. • "Systematic Catalogue of the Sophia Jobim Magno de Carvalho Collection"(project under way). Composed of a tridimensional collection, archival and bibliographical, is one of the most important ones about the history of clothing and costumes that existed in Rio de Janeiro, and comprises over 11 thousand items. The object of this catalogue is to intensify the analysis of each item of the collection, individually or in a group, and, by creating new informations, extend the collection as a source of research in the areas of fashion, design, theatre, cinema and television, shows and fine arts in general. Another line of activity performed by the Portuguese-Brazilian Reference Center is the realization of the Permanent Seminar, with montly meetings with professionals of museums, cultural heritage and similar areas, with the purpose to discuss themes of general interest. Initiated in September 2000, the Permanent Seminar is due to end in August 2001, developing the topic "Museums, Collections and Cultural Heritage". The attendance to these meeting is free, and to participate the candidate must apply, by telephone or e-mail, giving name, professional capacity, area of interest and means of contact. The Portuguese-Brazilian Reference Center has also, among its functions, the divulgation of the Portuguese culture for visitors who frequent the National Historical Museum. For this purpose, the Museum offers a valuable collection available for consultation by the public in general, at the Center or at the Library. There are four sets of collection available: • Publications by the National Commission of the Commemorations of Portuguese Discoveries: one collection comprising circa 300 titles, published by the initiative or in partership with CNCDP .In this collection, a complete series of the publication "Oceans", catalogues and annals of all the events sponsored by the Commission; • Modern Portuguese Litterature: a collection of circa 400 titles, comprising litterary works (romance, poetry and tales) of all groups of modern authors. In this collection, also works of academic studies published in Portugal, having as theme the Portuguese language and litterature. This collection was donated by the Camões Institute. • Classical works about the history of Portugal, including 50 volumes of the collection "Library of the Portuguese Expansion" and "History of Portugal" by Oliveira Marques, and a reasonable number of works dealing over the facts occurred on April 25. Collectiondonated by the Camões Institute. • A small collection about works of electronic support (videos, CD-Roms and CD-Audios), containing some examples of works in modern cinematography and portuguese music. The Portuguese-Brazilian Reference Center, through the program "Researcher Visitor-MHN", is open to discuss the support for research projects that may interest the National Historical Museum - material culture articulated or not to the Brazilian History, museums and cultural heritage. The Center also has interest in divulging works already done related to the subjects above mentioned. The Portuguese-Brazilian Reference Center is open to the public from Mondays though Fridays, from 10am to 5pm, and is coordinated by Prof. Dr. José Neves Bittencourt. For more information call (5521) 550-9257 or e-mail jbitt@gbl.com.br