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About Gremio
Foundation
Grêmio Literário Português was originally conceived as a Reading room of associative nature, whose establishment ensued from the motivation and encouragement of members of the Portuguese community living in Belém, the capital of the Province of Pará. The foundation dates back to 1867.
According to its first statutes dated from October 27th, 1867 the association was constituted of Portuguese citizens of both sexes with the purpose of providing instruction and entertainment to its associates and subscribers by means of “a selected library” of books on literature, sciences and arts. It also aimed at offering national and international journals and promoting classes on languages and scientific matters to its readers.
The Reading Room provided for three membership categories: associates, signatories and subscribers. Associates had to be Portuguese citizens and entitled to their full rights; signatories and subscribers had to be foreigners, except those who did not reside in the province of Pará.
A system of different fees was established and applied to each membership category. Associates should pay a twenty thousand réis admission fee, besides the amount of one thousand réis in each quarter. Signatories should pay a fourteen thousand réis annual fee, whereas subscribers were charged four thousand and five hundred réis in each quarter.
The members of the three categories could use the library and allocate the books in equal conditions, except those labeled as consultation items, as for example: dictionaries, legislations and newspapers. However, only associates were eligible to vote and be voted for administrative positions, take part in general meetings proposing, approving or rejecting discussed issues.
The constitution of the library
The library was constituted since the very beginning of the institution, by means of donations and purchases of books and journals from the national and international editorial markets. During its earliest years in operation, the library’s main supplier was Antonio Maria Pereira, a book vendor from Lisbon. Works from other bookstores such as Laemmert in Rio de Janeiro and Tavares Cardoso in Belém, were also acquired.
The transportation of books coming from Lisbon used to be performed by European liners, mostly by the English company Booth Line, that by 1866 created a travel liner exclusively meant to link the European ports with those located in the North of the Brazilian Empire. Vessels Augustine, Ambrose, Jerôme, Maranhense and Cearense were the carriers responsible for bringing books sent by Antonio Maria Pereira from Lisbon, straight to the shelves of Gremio Literário Português in Belém – Pará.
The Library, which represented one of the most celebrated and renowned reading places of the capital of the Province of Pará in the 19th , century is now situated at No. 483, Senador Manuel Barata street, and belongs to Grêmio Literário e Recreativo Português do Pará. All works referred in this website may be consulted at the provided address.
