História, memória e escrita: a trajetória do historiador Monsenhor Chaves

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the life and historiographical production of Joaquim Raimundo Ferreira Chaves, a priest, historian, and intellectual from Piauí who played a significant role in the construction of local historiography in the 20th century. Father Chaves devoted his life to the priesthood while simultaneously engaging in intense intellectual activity through institutions such as the Piauí Academy of Letters and the Historical and Geographical Institute of Piauí. His historical works sought to give visibility to historically marginalized groups, including indigenous people, black communities, women, and the poor, thus expanding the narratives about Piauí’s history. This research discusses his dual role as a priest and historian, questioning how his religious vocation intersected with his historiographical production. The methodological approach is based on bibliographic and hemerographic research, drawing on authors such as Teresinha Queiroz, Iara Guerra, Kamila Silva, Pierre Nora, and José D’Assunção Barros, in addition to analyzing Chaves’s own works. The study reflects on the role of cultural institutions and collective memory in shaping Piauí’s historiography and highlights the relevance of local intellectuals in constructing regional historical narratives.