Registros de batismo enquanto patrimônio documental: o olhar arquivístico sobre a Paróquia Nossa Senhora das Vitórias – Cacequi/RS

Abstract

The importance of the archives of the Catholic Church, especially in Brazil, is undeniable, where for a considerable period of time it was responsible for the production and storage of documents, such as birth records, through baptismal settlements, marriages and deaths. In this context, the parochial archives are highlighted, which hold important documentary sources. This relevance stands out in the example of the Nossa Senhora das Vitórias parish, in Cacequi city, Rio Grande do Sul state, where baptism books are the only existing records, since there are no books in the city registry office, the records of births and deaths occurred in the locality in the period of September 9, 1933 and July 22, 1941. Based on this fact and that there is no research instrument that facilitates the access to information, this research presents as objective the elaboration of an onomastic index from the year 1932 to 1944. This temporal cut was due to the fact that in 1932 the first records of baptism in the parish began, and 1944 was the year of emancipation of the municipality. Thus, the present study is justified by the importance of the documentary heritage existing in the parish as well as the need for a research instrument that facilitates the localization of information. In order to meet the proposed objectives, research is based, in general terms, on authors who make reflections and dialogue on cultural and documentary heritage and authors of the area, highlighting in this context the seven archival functions, specifically the description and conservation of documents. The research is characterized as qualitative and configures itself as a case study. Thus, a publication containing the onomastic index of the baptismal records of the Nossa Senhora das Vitórias Parish is presented as a product. Therefore, based on the data obtained, it is possible to affirm how relevant the documentation in the parish is, besides perceiving such documentation as documentary heritage not only from the parish, but also from the city and region.