Benedito Leite Public Library in São Luís do Maranhão
The Benedito Leite Public Library, located in São Luís do Maranhão, is one of the most important public libraries in Brazil and the second oldest in the country. Founded on 3 May 1829, the library is an important centre for cultural and educational preservation.
Since its foundation on 3 May 1831, the library has always welcomed literary and scientific personalities.
The Collection
The collection of the Library, an organ of the State Government linked to the State Secretariat of Culture and Tourism (SECTUR), contains treasures such as the manuscript of Machado de Assis, sent to Arthur Azevedo, the greatest expression of Brazilian theatre, as well as other documents that have been digitised.
Biblioteca Pública Benedito Leite em São Luís do Maranhão
Library structure
The Benedito Leite Public Library is housed in a neoclassical building, built on what used to be called the Campo de Ourique, one of the city’s boundaries in the early centuries. The building was constructed on the site of the Barracks of the 5th Infantry Battalion in 1797.
The building was designed by the Maranhão engineer Antônio Alexandre Bayma and inaugurated on 12 September 1951, during the government of Sebastião Archer da Silva, who promised “not to go down the stairs of the palace without leaving our only public bookshop, to honour our status as a people dedicated to the activities of the mind”.
In classical style, the building has a central dome, semicircular wings and window openings surmounted by pediments.
The columns in the atrium are crowned with Corinthian capitals and inside there are reading rooms for the public and an auditorium on the 4th floor, which has been renovated and modernised. From the terraces on the 4th floor you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city centre.
The library’s collection
The Benedito Leite Public Library has an extensive collection of books, journals, maps, manuscripts, photographs and other historical documents.
The collection is particularly rich in works on the History of Maranhão and the Northeast of Brazil.
Besides books on literature, science, arts and other fields of knowledge, the library has rare and special collections, including works from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Benedito Leite: Literary contributions
Benedito Leite, after whom the library was named in 1958, was an important writer and intellectual from Maranhão. Some of his major works include
- “Rosa de Fogo” – A novel that deals with the social and political issues of the time, reflecting the reality of Maranhão.
- “The Book of Colours” – A work that explores aesthetics and the senses through poetic language.
- “A Moreninha” – Although not written by him, he was one of the authors who adapted and criticised the work, reflecting his influence on the literary environment.
- “Os Filhos da Terra” – A work that discusses the identity and cultural roots of the people of Maranhão.
In addition to fiction, Benedito Leite also excelled in essays and articles, contributing to the reflection on Brazilian literature and culture in his time.
First institutions
The Benedito Leite Public Library was founded on 3 May 1831 by the then President of the Province, Cândido José de Araújo Viana, from a popular and voluntary subscription, and was given the name of State Public Library. Today it houses a collection of books, magazines, arts, Maranhão newspaper collections dating back to Independence (1822) and 18th century manuscripts..
Cultural significance
As a meeting place for journalists, writers, teachers, librarians and other intellectuals, the Benedito Leite Public Library plays an important cultural role in Maranhão and the country.
The famous Conferences of the Popular University of Maranhão were held there, and the Oficina dos Novos, the Civic Society of National Dates and the Maranhão Academy of Letters were founded there.
Addresses
The first home of the Benedito Leite Public Library was the Convent of Carmo, in Rua do Egito, where it was inaugurated on 3 May 1831.
In 1851 the area was incorporated into the Liceu Maranhense. Then, by Law no. 752 of 1 June 1866, it was taken over by the Maranhense Literary Institute.
On 10 June 1872, it passed into the care of the Sociedade 11 de Agosto, with premises on the upper floor of a building in Rua do Egito, where later the State Legislative Assembly functioned.
On 4 April 1883 it was inaugurated in the Church of Sé and returned to the Carmo Monastery in 1886, where it remained abandoned and forgotten.
In 1892 it was transferred to Rua Afonso Pena. Three years later, the collection was moved to the Rua da Paz building, now the Academia Maranhense de Letras, where it was reopened to the public on January 25, 1898 under the direction of Antônio Lobo.
From 1914 to 1927 it returned to the building on Rua do Egito for the ground floor, and then it was moved again to the mansion on Rua da Paz.
Conclusion
The Benedito Leite Public Library is a cultural asset of great importance, reflecting the history and cultural wealth of São Luís do Maranhão and Brazil.
Its homage to Benedito Leite, an outstanding writer and defender of culture, reinforces its role as a centre for the preservation and promotion of literature and education.
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