The conception of History in the writing of Vicente de Lemos (1907-1912)

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the conception of History and the historicity of the writings of Vicente de Lemos, in the period from 1907 to 1912. It is about a scholar, who acted as one of the founders of the Instituto Histórico e Geográfico do Rio Grande do Norte. Among the writings, the publication of the Papéis Velhos column in 1907, and Capitães-mores e Governadores do Rio Grande do Norte in 1912. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, several transformations marked society, which began to rethink both national and regional history. In the midst of this, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, state boundaries were also in dispute, mainly with the “Questão de Grossos”. From this question Lemos began to focus on the historiography of North Rio Grande. Thus, we seek to understand his conception of History and the historicity of his writings. For this purpose, publications from 1907 and 1912 are used, as well as works from the period, newspapers and magazines. Being mobilized as a methodology the analysis of the texts and the “evidence paradigm".