Enslaved persons -- Emancipation

Scope and Contents This collection consists of a single autographed manuscript letter authored by Brazilian railway engineer Constancio da Franca Amaral, dated May 13, 1888. Addressed to "Sereníssimo Senhor" Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil, the letter expresses profound gratitude to both the Emperor and his daughter, Princess Isabel, for their role in abolishing slavery in Brazil through the Lei Áurea ("Golden Law"), signed earlier that same day. Written from Rio de Janeiro, the letter reflects the immediate...

Scope and Contents This document, dated October 17, 1871, is an official letter from Francisco Ferreira Corrêa, then-president of the province of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It responds to the passage of Law No. 2,040 (the “Law of Free Birth”), enacted on September 28, 1871, which granted freedom to children born to enslaved parents and marked a major step toward gradual emancipation in Brazil. In the letter, Corrêa addresses the law’s potential impact on the agricultural economy, emphasizing the need to shift...