“Where Islands Speak Through Art and History – From the Heart of the Azores to the Diaspora”

Bulletin of the Historical Institute of Terceira Island

The Bulletin of the Historical Institute of Terceira Island serves as the official voice of the Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira, a cultural association founded in Angra do Heroísmo in 1942. First published in 1943, the Bulletin has continued—though with varying periodicity—into the present day. According to its statutes, the publication is devoted to original studies aligned with the Institute’s mission. It also reprints important scholarly works that have become rare and encourages the publication of manuscripts recognized for their historical value.

The Institute’s internal regulations divide the Bulletin into six sections: History; Ethnography and Linguistics; Arts; Documents; Bibliography and Miscellany; and Life of the Institute. In practice, however, History and Ethnography have long formed its intellectual backbone. All submissions must receive prior approval in a plenary meeting of the membership and are formally presented by the Secretary, who assumes special responsibility for the organization and integrity of the publication.

The life of the Bulletin may be understood in three distinct phases.

The first period, from 1943 to 1960, was marked by consistent annual publication and by the strong editorial vision of the Institute’s first president, Luís de Silva Ribeiro, whose influence remained decisive until his death in 1955. During these formative years, founding members contributed significant scholarship, particularly in History—where the works of Henrique Brás, Manuel Meneses, José Agostinho, and Francisco Lourenço Valadão stand out—and in Ethnography, with notable studies by Luís Ribeiro and Frederico Lopes da Silva. This was a period of intellectual cohesion and purpose, when the Institute was shaping not only a publication but a historical conscience for Terceira.

The second period, spanning 1961 to 1976, was less stable. Publication became irregular, issues were sometimes biannual, and one volume encompassed the years 1971 to 1975. The range of contributors broadened, but the overall quality of scholarship declined, and many contributions were produced by individuals outside the Institute’s membership. The sense of collective stewardship that had defined the earlier years weakened, reflecting both internal transitions and broader shifts in cultural life.

The third and ongoing period, from 1976 to the present, marks a renewal. Annual publication resumed, including double issues in 1985 and 1987, alongside a broader reorganization of the Institute and the admission of new members. Contributions once again became predominantly the work of members, with History regaining prominence. Several volumes—particularly those of 1983, 1985, and 1987—were devoted to the proceedings of scientific meetings organized by the Institute, including colloquia on Atlantic history. These issues featured major historiographical essays by distinguished scholars such as Frederic Mauro, Morales Padrón, Luís de Albuquerque, Joel Serrão, Veríssimo Serrão, Borges de Macedo, and António José Telo.

Among the Institute’s own members, the scholarship of Teodoro de Matos, Jorge Forjaz, Avelino Meneses, António Machado Pires, and João Afonso deserves special recognition. A strong editorial line also emerged, committed to the defense and preservation of local and regional heritage, with Álvaro Monjardino playing a leading role in that effort.

The section titled Life of the Institute includes the minutes of general assemblies, reports from presiding officers, activity plans, and numerous other documents related to the Institute’s internal affairs. These records constitute the principal source for understanding the history of this important cultural institution—a chronicle not only of scholarship, but of civic devotion and intellectual continuity on an Atlantic island long accustomed to thinking beyond its shores.

— J. G. Reis Leite (July 2000)

Bibliography

Statutes and Internal Regulations of the Historical Institute of Terceira Island (1985). Angra do Heroísmo: Historical Institute of Terceira Island.
Bulletin of the Historical Institute of Terceira Island (1943–1992). Angra do Heroísmo: Historical Institute of Terceira Island.

From Enciclopédia Açoriana