Lima Barreto archive, a memory for the world:

cultural legacy and the preservation of an underground memory

Resumo

This article aims to understand the significance of the inscription of the Lima Barreto Collection, housed in the Manuscripts Section of the National Library, as a UNESCO Memory of the World, through the lens of Pollak's (1989) concept of subterranean memory. This study argues that the Lima Barreto Collection, beyond representing the writer, constitutes a vital social element. It immortalizes a Black individual, descended from enslaved people, who endured significant hardships due to the class and racial prejudice, as well as social vulnerability. The methodology employed involves bibliographic research, which seeks theoretical references on personal archives and their relationship with memory, alongside an understanding of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme. The study concludes that it is essential to highlight the memories of numerous minorities groups that constitute society but are often unrepresented in memory institutions.