Angra do Heroísmo Public Library and Regional Archives receives the estate of Manuel de Sousa Meneses
The Angra do Heroísmo Public Library and Regional Archives has recently received the estate of Lieutenant Colonel Manuel de Sousa Meneses, doctor, military, politician and man of letters, who held various public positions in the context of the administration of the former district of Angra do Heroísmo.
The estate consists of an interesting and valuable collection of handwritten documents, notarial documents, several photographs (family, military campaigns, public events and official visits), records, papers, books, magazines and even newspapers and magazine organised in folds. It was donated to the Angra do Heroísmo Public Library and Regional Archives by António Manuel Goulart Lemos de Meneses, as the representative of the grandchildren of Sousa Meneses.
The manuscripts contain original texts, some unpublished text on the History of the Discovery and Settlement of the Azores and the Azorean emigration to South Brazil, literary creation, studies conducted in the context of his medical practice, genealogical texts and transcriptions of manuscripts in the field of genealogy, among others.
The bibliographic collection includes works related to the development and implementation of the “Estado Novo” ideology.
Manuel de Sousa Meneses was born in Cabo da Praia on the island of Terceira and died in Angra Heroísmo. He graduated in medicine and worked as a military doctor in the Army.
He joined the expeditionary forces that carried out the campaigns in Southern Angola during World War I to prevent the German invasion.
He was part of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps in France where was wounded in combat.
After World War I, he served in the Infantry Regiment No. 22 at the São João Batista Castle in Angra do Heroísmo where he has practiced at the Boa Nova Military Hospital for many years.
In 1937, he became director of the Évora Military Hospital. On the following year, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and was transferred to Lisbon where he was appointed to the position of director of the General Storehouse of Health Materials and later to the position Health Inspector of the 3rd Military Region.
He was transferred to the reserve in 1941 and returned to Angra do Heroísmo. However, he was called back to active duty when the Expeditionary Forces arrived at the Azores to ensure Portuguese sovereignty in the archipelago during World War II. He was appointed Head of the Health Service of the Azores Military Command and later director of the Terra-Chã Military Hospital on Terceira.
He was a supporter of the military coup of May 28, 1926 and of the “Estado Novo” regime. Between 1928 and 1931, he chaired the administrative commission of the General Board of the District of Angra do Heroísmo. He became again president of the General Board of the Autonomous District (1949-1953) and Member of the National Assembly (1949-1953). He was also prefect of the Autonomous District of Angra do Heroísmo (1952-1956).
He was the co-founder and member of the Terceira Historical Institute. His life was dedicated to historical research and he made interesting studies on the History of the Azores, with special emphasis on the period of the discovery and settlement. He also wrote theatre plays (unpublished) and transcribed important genealogical manuscripts.
Manuel de Sousa Meneses was distinguished with the Officer class of the Military Order of Christ and the Military Order of Santiago and Commander class of the Military Order of Avis. He was also awarded the commemorative medals of the Southern Angola Campaigns and the Victory Medal for his action in France during World War I.