I will not forget the land where I was born: the educational legacy of Oliveira Lopes Brothers

Abstract

The tendency to participate with solidarity in the religious and assistance initiatives is a trademark of the Portuguese who returned from Brazil. The major novelty in the second half of the nineteenth century is the conduction of large sums of money towards education, in a framework of philanthropy that was unusual. This inclusion of education in the field of charity was in the concerns of politicians and intellectuals of the time who argued that "only by educating people, nations can achieve its independence, wealth and freedom (...)". Inserted in this context we can find examples that deserve, by their paradigmatic profile, a more detailed attention. After making fortune, Oliveira Lopes and his brother tried to solve problems that seemed without solution in their homeland. This example assumes a synthetizing nature for several reasons. Firstly, because it portraits the typical Brazilian of the end of the nineteenth century that saw education as a fundamental tool to approach Portugal to the international standards. Secondly, because with the well-being of his fellow countrymen and the "notoriety of his hometown" he can diminish the pain of the "abandonment in search of wealth". Thirdly, because his return introduced a new sense and a new rhythm in searching solutions for eternal problems in the field of religion, assistance or education. Finally because, even though they are the minority of Brazilians that achieved fortune, they put their wealth in the service of the country that made them leave in order to try to stop the flux of emigrants.