The S. Francisco building stands at this hilltop, overlooking the town of Angra, that, in the past, since the 17th century, was con- nected to the town’s main square through an enclosure of gar- dens, orchards and vegetable gardens. From this conventual building and from the ones before, the Fran- ciscan religious developed a spiritual and assistance action that was decisive for the installation project of these island communi- ties, initiated by the Azores islands settlers in the second half of the 15th century. With the extinction of the religious orders and the departure of the Franciscan monks in the middle of the 19th century, somehow, this role, was moved to the teaching institutions that came later, particularly the “Liceu de Angra”, whose memory stays alive among his students. In 1969, the installation of the Angra do Heroísmo Museum in this space made of it a privileged center for the town, the island and the archipelago memories. São Francisco Building The Memories The S. Francisco Convent in the 16th Century Stones from the early S. Francisco Convent, whose construction started around 1475, found in the walls of the actual building: Arch set with corded carving friezes, in the 15th century style S. Francisco 17th century Azorean sculpture Polychrome and gold upholstered tilde wood Keystone with the carved S. Francisco coat of arms Tombstone of Frei da Conceição Naranjo, preacher, retired teacher and minister of the Província de S. João Evangelista, born in 1610 and deceased in 1679 at Angra town. D. Frei Lourenço de Castro, 14th Angra Bishop, from 1671 to 1678 Oil painting over canvas Stanislau, 18th century Diocese de Angra, SCAH 730 17th century Portuguese tiles panels De Profundis room Columns with figu rative and vegetal motives, c onfiguring a symbolic interest, in the 15th century gothic style. The S. Francisco Order monks arrive to the islands with the settlers, with the prime mission of assisting the people, bodies and souls, providing the religious services, school and arts teach- ing and taking care of the diseased. The Franciscan monks occupy the houses donated by Afonso Gonçalves de Antona Baldaia, close to the Ribeira dos Moinhos, in this town, where there was already a little chapel, dedicated to N.ª Sr.ª da Guia, used then as a start to built their fi rst monastery in this island. Afonso Baldaia, a navigator from the Casa do Infante, who became known as the S. Francisco Old Man, and the fi rst Captain-major, João Vaz Corte-Real, supported this construction and were buried in this fi rst building. The Franciscan convents, founded almost all over the islands of Azores, in a one hundred years period, are incorporated in the Província dos Algarves , having as capitular house the Convent of S. Francis- co de Xabregas, founded in Lisbon, in 1456. The seraphic communi- ty of monastic religious and followers form the Custódia dos Açores After several incidents and quarrels, in the context of promoting this custódia to província, whose key play- ers were two brothers from Flores Island, Fr. Mateus da Conceição and Fr. Diogo das Chagas, at the end of the Spanish domination in Portugal, the Franciscan Angra Convent ascends to head of the Província Fran- ciscana de S. João Evange- lista das Ilhas dos Açores. Some disputes and divergent views occurred again but, at the end, the so called Convento de N.ª Sr.ª da Guia is of good repute and rich treasury in account of its functions in the evangelization, edu- cation and social assistance. Master Frei Fernando da Conceição Naranjo, a man of great determination, education and worldly experience, who had been custodial, provincial and guardi- an of this convent, on account of a progressive lack of space, starts the con- struction of the new building, “for that, monks were sent to Maranhão and Brazil and, being not enough the alms they brought, all the convents of this província gave their contribute”, ( Crónicas da Provín- cia de S. João Evangelista das Ilhas dos Açores , Frei Agostinho de Monte Alverne, c. 1695) The Província de S. João Evangelista , serioulsy strained by internal disputes and differences, is divid- ed between two cus- todies, one in Angra and the other in Ponta Delgada. The Confraria de N.ª Srª das Dores is instituted. This year, in the 1st of October, the N.ª Sr.ª da Guia church is consecrated by the Bishop, D. Lourenço de Castro, after a great procession through the town, followed by three days of praising preaching and magni fi cent festivities, that attracted people from all around the island. After almost one century, life in S. Francisco is troubled again by accusations and persecutions coming from the two political factions in con fl ict around the island in a guerilla warfare: con- stitutional liberals and conserva- tive royalists. On the 13th of August 1823, a group of religious and civilians, twenty all together, seek refu- gee in the convent, persecuted and accused by the population of defending constitutional ideas. Sometimes, other monks were threatened for lack of affection in what concerned the liberal ideas and some have even lost their lives, in confron- tations and ambushes. With the extinction of the religious orders in Portugal, the S. Fran- cisco Convent, where the religious from the S. Francisco Convent of Vila da Praia and from Santo António dos Cap- uchos of Angra Con- vent had been gath- ered, is fi nally extinct- ed and abandoned by the clerics. It will just remain a connection with the Ordem Terceira de S. Francisco. The notorious decree of Mouzinho da Silveira extin- guishes all the convents in Azores, with exception of some where all the reli- gious desiring to follow the cloistered life rules would be grouped. It is also decreed the incor- poration of all the assets in the National Treasury and the rules about the support and religious activities are set and published. threatened for lack of affection in what concerned the liberal ideas and some have even lost their lives, in confrontations and ambushes. The works of what became a harmonious architectonic set, in a privileged location, a top hill over the town, are concluded. The new conventual space grows with the greatness and balance typical of the baroque design, accordingly to the monastic patterns, around a claustrum, with the attached church and two fl oors; capitular room, dining areas and kitchen in the ground fl oor and cells in the fi rst fl oor. From that time, until the present, in the Deo Profundis room, the 17th century tiles panels are still in its place. After three years, already with Frei Pedro da Ressur- reição as provincial, the works in the dorms and workshops is concluded and, with great solemnity, itiscelebratedthelayingof the foundation stone of theactualchurch. The Confraria de N.ª Sr.ª da Guia is con- stituted. Accordingly to the chronicler Damião de Góis, it is in the porch of this little chapel that Paulo da Gama, who had arrived to this islands seriously ill, brought by his brother, Vasco da Gama, upon the return of his fi rst voyage to India, is buried, in plain grave, covered by a marble tombstone with his name on. Coat of arms, with the arms of Moniz, Guedes, Bettencourt and Corte-Real, over the arch of one of the lateral chapels in the N. Sr.ª da Guia church; the chapel was constituted by Guilherme Moniz Barreto and his wife, Joana Vaz Corte-Real, daughter of João Vaz Corte-Real, with whom she had arrived to this island, around 1470. Tombstone in memoriam of Paulo da Gama, placed in the 28th of January 1849 at N.ª Sr.ª da Guia church, by initiative of António José Vieira de Santa Rita, the Civilian Governor of Angra do Heroísmo District between 1848 and 1849. THE CONVENT 1450 - 1834 Father Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade, a liberal minded cleric, remarkable for his work and life, dedicated to teaching and History, was th e fi rst dean of Angra High School (Angra, 1789 – 1847). Oil painting over canvas, 19th century Roofs of the S. Francisco Convent, showing the Weather Station, installed by Dr. José Augusto de Nogueira Sampaio, between 1862-1881. Detail of Angra do Heroísmo panoramic photo 1862-1881. Museum Dr. José Augusto Nogueira Sampaio 1913 – 1930 Seminary students at the claustrum of S. Francisco Convent, at the end of 19th century / early 20th century Dr. José Augusto Nogueira Sampaio, surgeon and scientist, was one of the fi rst and more distinct teachers of A gra High School (Angra, 1827 – 1900) Oil Painting over canvas, 19th century Abraham Abohbot, 1900 Groun d floo r, noble and intermediat e floor plans of the extinct S. Francisco Convent, where had been established the High School and the Diocesan Seminary. Direção de Obras Públicas [Public Constructions Department], Angra do Heroísmo, 20th of October 1862 Seminary students in the claustrum of S. Francisco Convent, in 1895 Manuel Goulart, New Bedford – Mass. 1897 By decree, all the public classes are ordered to join in this convent. The Liceu Nacional de Angra [Angra High School] is created by a decree on the 20th of September. By public notice, in the 18th of June 1946, the District Civil Gover- nor, Francisco de Meneses Lemos e Carvalho, orders that the Liceu de Angra occupies the former Franciscan convent, a command reinforced by a ministerial order of 9th of January 1947. From this year are also the fi rst references to works concerning the installation of the Liceu Nacional de Angra, that took place in the west side; referred are also the students registra- tions and the nomination of Father Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade as Angra High School Studies Director and Dean. This is believed to be the fi rst year of effective teaching. However, is on the 16th of October of this year that a inaugural sitting takes place in which is formally constituted the Liceu de Angra body of teachers. On the 9th of November, after the requalifying works, the classes of the Diocesan Seminary are inaugurated in this build- ing. On the 1st of October, it opens the Weather Station, created in 1862, by demand of Dr. José Augusto Nogueira Sampaio and it will remain there until moving for the tower of Colégio church, in 1881. In this year, the Seminary turns into boarding-school regime. The High School opens the Dr. José Augusto Sampaio Museum, a collec- tion of natural history, to be joined later by a a museum of “gentile art”, the Museum Dr. Corte-Real. By the end of the year, an epidemic typhoid , causing the death of fi ve seminary students, forces the deci- sion of moving the High School to another place. Angra High School moves from S. Francisco to the Visconde de Bettencourt Manor, leaving all the build- ing for the Seminary. In this schoolyear, a bubonic plague forcesthe Seminary to close and the students attend a board- ing-school regime. With the deployem- ent of the Republican regime,the Angra Semi- nary at S. Francisco is closed. THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE SEMINARY 1835 - 1911 Flag of “Liceu de Angra do Heroísmo, 1914” Embroided silk, 20th century (c. 1914) Escola Secundária Pe. Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade Stairway and entrance of the S. Francisco Convent at the time of Liceu de Angra, 1913 – 1930. Teachers of Liceu de Angra, at the convent’s claustrum, in the school year of 1942-43. Seated: “Prof. Virgílio Reis, Dr. Pato François (secretary), D. Cecília Marques, Dr. Cândido Pamplona Forjaz (dean), Dr. Forjaz Lacerda (vice-dean), Pinho de Almeida and Dr. Elmiro Mendes. Standing: Pe. José Ávila, Cónego J.A.Pereira, Dr. Machado Betten- court, Dr. J.M.Mendes (school doctor), Rui Loureiro, Tenente Tavares and Pe. H. Ávila”. Teachers of Liceu de Angra at the convent claustrum, in the school year of 1951-52. Seated: Dr. Elmiro Mendes, (?), (?); Dr. Eliseu Pato François; (?); D. Maria Amélia P. Nunes and Dr. José Firjaz de Lacer- da. Standing: Pe. Dr. Antonino; Pe. Henrique Ávila; (?); Dr. Carlos Limas; (?); Dr. A. Machado Bettencourt; Pe. José Baptista and Dr. Paulo Pam- plona Nunes. Group of teachers from Liceu de Angra, at the convent’s entrance, in the 1960’s. 1st row: Dr.ª Maria José ?, Dr.ª Cristina ?, Dr.ª Armanda Toste Rocha Lourenço, Dr.ª Antonieta Lopes e Dr.ª Octávia ?. 2d row: Dr.ª Ertha Walter, Dr.ª Elsa Mendonça, Dr. Rafael Valadão dos Santos, Dr. Eliseu Pato François, Dr.ª Ivone Amorim, Dr.ª M.ª Helena Melo, (?) and Pe. Dr. Edmundo Machado de Oliveira. 3d row: Dr. Anselmo da Silveira, Dr. José Louro, Pe. José de Lima, Dr. A. Machado Bettencourt, Pe. Dr. Caetano Tomás, Dr. Cândido Pamplona Forjaz, Dr. Heliodoro Lopes and (?). Library. Regiment n.º 22 at the front of N.ª Sr.ª da Guia church, 1916-17 Gymnasium at Liceu de Angra, 1913 – 1930 Dean, Dr. Joaquim Moniz de Sá Corte-Real e Amaral, teachers and students in Liceu de Angra, at the convent’s entrance, in the school year of 1931-32 Teachers and students from the Liceu de Angra at the convent’s entrance, in 1936. Some identified teacher’s: Father José Ávila, Dr. Forjaz de Lacerda, Dr. Joaquim Moniz de Sá Corte-Real e Amaral (dean), Dr. Cândido Pamplona Forjaz, Dr. Eliseu Pato François e Ten.Cor. José Agostinho. “Orquestra Pitagórica”, from Liceu de Angra, directed by Father José Ávila (in the center), at the convent’s claustrum, in the school year of 1935-36. Teachers of Liceu de Angra, at the convent’s claustrum, in the 1940’s. Seated: Dr. Ascenso; Dr. Cândido Pamplona Forjaz; D. Luzia Maia; Dr. Joaquim Sérvulo Correia (dean); Dr. José Forjaz de Lacerda; Dr. Joaquim Moniz de Sá Corte-Real e Amaral e (?). Standing: Cónego J.A. Pereira; Dr. Elmiro Mendes; Dr. Miranda; Dr. Eliseu Pato François; (?) and (?); Father Artur Botelho de Paiva and Ten. Artur Tavares. Reception, class rooms, museum, gymnasium and courtyard, left in vacancy by the Liceu de Angra in 1969. Students at the Liceu de Angra Library, between 1932 and 1938 The Liceu Nacional de Angra do Heroísmo comes back to the convent, counting on with the support of a Terceira’s native for, Dr. António Joaquim de Sousa Júnior, Public Education Minister, for the adaptation works. At the time of the Great War, 200 soldiers of the Regiment n.º 22 are sent to quarter in the convent. By the decree n. 5.096 of January 1st 1919, the Angra Liceu is renamed as Liceu D. João de Castro. In this year, with the decree n. 13.939 of July 14th, the Liceu takes the name of its fi rst dean, Liceu Nacional Pe. Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade. Some bene fi ts are made, opening some windows and building a shower room. In the beginning of this school year, the Liceu’s dean, Dr. Eliseu Pereira Pato François, com- plains about the decay in the convent and claims for new facilities and, at the same time, outstands the role of this school in Angra’s cultural life: The Magistério Primário [ele- mentary school teacher’s train- ing] opens in this space. Finally, the Liceu de Angra moves from the old building of S. Francisco to the new facilities, in the nearby Almeida Garrett Square. “Through jogos fl orais [cultural competitions], conferences, choral singing auditions and thea- tre shows – the Liceu performs an educational work whose range overcomes its students in the sense it reaches their families and the public that loves the things of the Spirit. It is already a tradi- tion, the expectation in the town to listen to the Liceu’s Choir or the student’s recital. In fact, the choral singing auditions enjoy a well deserved fame, for the professional skills of the teacher, Father José Ávila (...), who manages to achieve the most harmonic vocal effects (...)”. Eliseu Pato François – “Liceu Nacional Pe. Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade”. In Boletim de Acção Educativa do Ensino Liceal, n. 49, Lisbon, January 1946. THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE SEMINARY 1913 - 1969 Bettencourt Palace, under restoration and adapta- tion works for Archive and Regional Museum, c. 1951 Dr. Luís da Silva Ribeiro, jurist, politic and intelectual; he was a founding member of Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira (Angra, 1882 – 1955) Maduro Dias, 20th century (c. 1956). Frederico Augusto Lopes da Silva Jr., military, ethnographer and chronicler; he was a founding member of Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira (Angra, 1896 – 1979) Dry pastel drawing over paper Manuel Machado Ávila, 20th century (1950 – 1975). Dr. Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima (c. 1954), historian and a well known collector, was the director of Angra do Heroísmo Museum, from 1948 to 1984 (Angra, 1921 – Lisbon, 1996). Visit of the Ministro das Obras Públicas, Eng.º Eduardo Arantes e Oliveira, at the time of the inauguration of the hydroeletric station of Jardim, in 1955. Exhibition rooms of the Museu Regional de Angra do Heroísmo 1957 – 1969 Margarida Tamegão and local authorities at the inauguration of her exhibi- tion, in 1970. Miss Linda Pfifl e, the USA consul at Azores, with Ema- nuel Félix at the inauguration of an exhibition from contem- porary north american artists at Sala do Capítulo, in this Museum, in 1976. Some views of the long-term exhibition “From Sea and Earth... A Story in the Atlantic”, inaugurated in September of 2000. Study visit to the temporary exhibitions room, in the 1970’s Miss Tulare, escorted by the Museum director, in the Ethnography Room, at Bettencourt Palace, in 1968. Opening of the exhibition rooms in the S. Francisco building, on the 27th of June, 1970. Some rooms of Angra do Heroísmo Museum damaged by the 1980 earthquake. Reopening of the Angra do Heroísmo Museum exhibition rooms, at the moment of Dr. Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima condecoration, in 1981. Works at S. Francisco building and exhibition rooms inaugu- rated on the 27th of November 1997. Visit to the collections of Museu Regional de Angra do Heroísmo, conducted by its director and the president of Junta Geral, Dr. Manuel de Sousa Meneses, in the 1950’s. Inauguration of the Arquivo and Museu Regional de Angra do Heroísmo, by the Presidente da República, General Craveiro Lopes, on the 28th of July 1957. Visit of the Presidente do Conselho, Dr. Marcelo Caetano, to the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo, in the Decorative Arts Room, still installed in the Bettencourt Palace and in the Transports Room, already mounted in the S. Francisco building, in 1970. Dr. Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima and Emanuel Félix, with a group of students from Magistério Primário, in the inner courtyard of Palace Bettencourt, in the 1960’s. Exhibitions of the Schneider-Cannet campaign battery, in the west side, the Infantry Vehicles, in the former conventual kitchen, the Navigation Section, in the former refectory, the Transports, in the Capítulo Room and the Saddle Harnesses, in a north side room. Visit of Dr. António Garrett, during the Comemorações Garreteanas, in 1954. Prominent members of Terceira elite, gathered around the Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira (IHIT), founded with the mission of keep- ing, studying and disclosing the history and local assets and deci- sion makers in the administrative policy of the Junta Geral do Distri- to, work together in the project of creating in this island an archive and a museum. Luís da Silva Ribeiro and Frederico Lopes commit themselves in a spe- cial way, collecting pieces and doc- uments that could form the initial assets of a museum and make it to the point of establishing its organi- zation model and vocation. Under the guardian- ship of Junta Geral, the projects for the crea- tion of the archive and museum are presented to the Republic Gov- ernment and National Parliament. The Arquivo Distrital de Angra do Heroísmo is founded and, in the following year it is the time of the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo, with Dr. Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima as director of both insti- tutions. The installation of the Arquivo Regional de Angra do Heroísmo and the Museu Regional de Angra do Heroísmo starts with the restora- tion works in Betten- court Palace Both institutions are inaugurated for occasion of the Republic President, General Craveiro Lopes, visit to the Azores. However, the exhibition rooms of Museu Regional de Angra do Heroísmo will not open to the public before the Summer of 1960. Left empty the wide space at S. Francisco, the persis- tent director of the Angra do Heroísmo Museum that, for two decades had saved and kept a wide and diver- si fi ed asset, stored in sev- eral places in the town, keeps requesting S. Fran- cisco for the Museum and achieves that goal in this year. The sections of Fine Arts, Ornamental Arts, Numis- matic and Medals reopen to the public, in eight rooms of the noble fl oor. It closes the Ceramics exhibition, whose assets had been largely offered by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. On the 1st of January, the convent and the whole island, are deeply damaged by an earth- quake, causing the dismantling and closing of almost all the exhibi- tions. The rooms of Fine Arts, Numis- matic, Medals, Musical Instru- ments and Ornamental Arts, located on the fi rst fl oor, keep closed but the ground square exhibitions and a new weapon- ry exhibition in the Capítulo room, reopen. Therefore, the process of enrichment of the collections and opening of exhibitions goes on, with dense shows inspired by the role of the tech- nological evolution in the history of Mankind; the precise focus was on the military history and life, with the aim of placing Angra do Heroísmo Museum in the same route of other national and internation- al museums. With the project of the architects Carlos Duarte and José Lamas, the works for restoration, requali fi cation and adap- tation of the former S. Francisco Convent to museum start. The Sch- neider-Cannet room will stand then as a contem- poraneity architectural mark. This renovation is inaugurated on the 27th of November. The work is fi nally concluded with the opening, at the upper fl oor, of the long-term exhibition “From Sea and Earth...A Story in the Atlantic”. On the 27th of June, eight exhibition rooms around the claustrum are inaugurated – west side room, former small refectory room or De Profundis, former large refectory room, former conventual kitchen, two small rooms in the north side and Sala do Capítu- lo – featuring collections of Military History, Weapons and Military Gear, Nautical, Trans- ports and Harnesses. THE MUSEUM 1942 - 2000 “Considering that, in the district of Angra do Heroísmo, there is a large number of objects with of artistic, historical, ethnographi- cal and numismatic value, that are under serious threat of disappearing of being damaged; (...) Considering the multiple requests of the Junta Geral do Distrito Autónomo de Angra do Heroísmo and the Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira; (...) it is created at Angra do Heroísmo a regional museum (...)” Decree nr. 37.358 of March 30th, 1949