Guita and José Mindlin Brazilian Library, Research library in Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Guita and José Mindlin Brazilian Library is a research facility in São Paulo focused on Brazilian literature and historical documents, holding thousands of books and manuscripts. The building provides space for study, historical collections to explore, and areas for events.
In 2002 István Jancsó, then director of USP's Institute of Brazilian Studies (IEB, founded 1962 by Sérgio Buarque de Holanda), and José Mindlin planned a building to house both Brazilian collections. The donation was confirmed on 17 May 2006, and the new headquarters opened on 23 March 2013. Part of the donated set had belonged to bibliophile Rubens Borba de Morais, who left his library to the Mindlins.
The collection preserves landmarks of Brazilian letters: the 1857 first edition of José de Alencar's O Guarani, Machado de Assis's 1866 translation of Victor Hugo's Les Travailleurs de la mer, and a copy of Tu, Só Tu, Puro Amor dedicated to Joaquim Nabuco. Manuscripts include the original of Banguê by José Lins do Rego and 29 diaries of the Condessa do Barral.
Visitors should know the collection is designed for research and not all items may be accessible without advance notice. It helps to ask ahead about what you want to see and plan your visit accordingly.
Part of the donated collection came from bibliophile Rubens Borba de Morais, who left his own library to José and Guita Mindlin before his death. José Mindlin asked his grandson, architect Rodrigo Mindlin Loeb, to design the building. The ground floor holds timeline panels on Mindlin's life and on the library.
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