The General Postal Agency: public administration, politics and finances in the Brazilian imperial postal system (1829-1888)

• Grant number: 15/11209-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: January 06, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Brazil
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Macchione Saes
• Grantee: Pérola Maria Goldfeder Borges de Castro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/03712-5 - Gathering vassals around the Throne: The Brazilian postal system in the formation of territory, markets and statehood (1829 - 1889) - Comparative approach between Brazil and the United States, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The institutionalization of postal services in Brazil in the nineteenth century occurred simultaneously with European experience, reaching even to get ahead compared to many countries in the Americas. One of the founding milestones of this process was the creation in 1829 of the General Postal Agency, this project object of analysis. Subordinate to the Secretary of State of Empire Affairs, that agency had assignments as supervise, direct and promote the improvement of the current postal practices across the country, in addition to managing the finances of the Post Office of the Court.During the term of the monarchy, the General Postal Agency has undergone various institutional reforms: in June 1831, a decree issued by the Regency abolished the post of Director General, transferring its responsibilities to the Province of Presidents. This post would be restored only in 1844 when, with the movement to revise the liberal reforms known as Return Conservative, was approved new regulations for postal services.In 1861, the Post began to form the 4th Board of the newly established State Secretariat for Agricultural Affairs, Commerce and Public Works, folder whose creation is related to the rationalization process of the State ahead of devices to important economic and social demands that emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century. Falls within this context the broad restructuring of postal services undertaken in 1865 by the Posts General Director, Plínio Luiz de Oliveira.In 1888, was the last reform of the Post Office in the imperial period, with Decree No. 9912-A of 26 March: the document referred for the first time, the monopoly and the responsibility of the State in relation to the carriage of mail and manufacture, issue and sale of postage stamps. The same act changed the structure of the General Board, which was composed of the Central Division, Accounting and Treasury. Based on changes in the organ of the imperial administration, this research project aims to contribute to the studies on the formation of the Brazilian national state to analyze the multiple institutional aspects that characterized the Directorate General of the Empire Post. For this, emphasis is an organizational approach that addresses the structure and functioning of the administrative apparatus, showing the existing links between public institutions, politics and society in nineteenth-century Brazil. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CASTRO, Pérola Maria Goldfeder Borges de. \Gathering Vassals Around the Throne\: the political economy of postal communications in 19th century imperial Brazil (1829 - 1865). 2021. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.