Honremos a pátria senhores! As Sociedades Portuguesas de Beneficência: caridade, poder e formação de elites na Província de São Pedro (1854-1910)

Abstract

This paper investigates the historical trajetory of the Portuguese Beneficent Societies, from 1854 to 1910, in the cities of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas and Bagé. It discusses their importance as entablishments of hospital assistance crated by Portuguese immigrants, based on the institucional model of Mercy in Portugal, as well as constructors of Portugueses identify. The research approaches the existent relationships between the assistance provided by the institutions and formation of the local upper-class. It evidences how the assistance work, through solidary functions, gift exchanges among institutions and entities, were ptomoters of the social visibility. With a dualist comprehension of charity, sometimes guided by the Christian faith, representing the Catholic concepts, sometimes guided by the power relations, this investigations tried to clarify the Benefit´s Societies representations as groups of support willing for self-approval. Comparision was the methodological perspective to specify simila