Dedications to Getúlio Vargas: fragments of a library
See here the dedications of some books from the private library of the former President of the Republic Getúlio Vargas, preserved in the Museum of the Republic
Copy of "The Guidelines of the New Politics of Brazil", by Getúlio VargasMuseu da República
Getúlio Vargas was an avid reader – not only did he read any document in its entirety before registering his signature, but reading, in general, was almost daily relaxation. Its private library includes classics from Literature, Biographies, Law, History and others.
In this story, we present a small sample of the books that Vargas received with dedications from people who knew him, or were his contemporaries.
Biography of Lima Barreto, with a dedication by its author to Getúlio Vargas (1952)Museu da República
The dedications of books offered to a personality of Brazilian public life, as is the case of Vargas, more than talking about the literary choices of the honoree, expose personal relationships, highlight situations, bring light to facts and raise questions.
Dedication of Ivolino de Vasconcelos to Getúlio Vargas (1951)Museu da República
Dedicating a book to someone can reveal the intent of the person making it. What would be behind each dedication in the books given to Getulio Vargas? Friendship? Affection? Admiration? Other interests?
Dedication of the sons Luther, Jandira, Alzira, Manoel Antônio and Getúlio to Getúlio VargasMuseu da República
Luther, Jandira, Alzira, Manuel Antônio and Getúlio, Vargas' sons, knew that their father liked to read about Napoleon Bonaparte.
Dedication of the sons Luther, Jandira, Alzira, Manoel Antônio and Getúlio to Getúlio Vargas Dedication of the sons Luther, Jandira, Alzira, Manoel Antônio and Getúlio to Getúlio Vargas (1931)Museu da República
For this reason, on April 19, 1931, he was given a copy of Drouot et Napoléon for his birthday; vie héroïque et sublime du général Drouot, by William Serieyx (1931).
Anthropologist Gilberto Freyre praised Getúlio Vargas' interest in Brazilian social problems, in the dedication of this copy of his book Nordeste, from 1937.
Brazilian edition of "Decisive moments of humanity", offered to Vargas by its author, the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig. Of Jewish origin, he and his wife Lotte fled the Nazi advance on Europe and moved to Brazil in 1941.
The poet Manuel Bandeira reveals himself to be a "fellow and admirer" of Getúlio Vargas by dedicating the collection Obras poéticas de Gonçalves Dias (1944) to him, of which he was the organizer and author of the notes, chronology and supporting texts.
This copy of Os Lusíadas was given by the director of the Central Penitentiary of the Federal District to Alzira Vargas in 1935, thanking her for her father's visit to the place, which would be one of the main incarceration centers for detainees and political prisoners during the Vargas Era.
Gustavo Capanema was Minister of Education and Health from 1934 to 1945, the occupant who spent the longest time in charge of this ministry in the history of the Republic. In 1936, he dedicated to Getúlio Vargas, "with friendship and respect", this facsimile edition of the Summa Politica.
Biography of Getúlio Vargas, signed by the author André Carrazzoni Biography of Getúlio Vargas, signed by the author André Carrazzoni (1939)Museu da República
In the library there are also books written about Vargas himself, such as this Getúlio Vargas (1939), in the 2nd edition "with several notes and an unpublished chapter", numbered and autographed by the author André Carrazzoni. The boy on the left page is Vargas, aged 12.
Vargas also appears as an author in his own library. This The Labor Government of Brazil (1954) compiles some of his writings. The copy is numbered, but has not received an autograph from its author. The book's editor, José Olympio, confessed to being a fervent Getulista.
Museu da República /IBRAM/SECULT
Director - Mario Chagas
Technical Coordination - Livia M. N. Gonçalves
Communication Sector - Henrique Milen
This story was based on the virtual exhibition "Dedications to Getúlio Vargas: fragments of a library", originally published on the Museu da República's website in 2015. Click here to access it (in portuguese).
Original exhibition credits (2015):
Conception: Valéria Gauz
Research and texts: Valéria Gauz e Carlos Viana
Digitalization: Mariana Ferreira Batista and Anna Beatriz Martins do Nascimento
Google Arts story credits (2022):
Editing and adaptation of texts: Paulo Celso Corrêa
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