WOMEN DESCRIBED ON PAPER AND QUILL PEN: EDUCATION AND EVERYDAY FEMALE LIFE IN THE 19TH CENTURY

ABSTRACT

The article analyzes four letters written by Leonarda da Silva Velho, lady of Empress Teresa Cristina, to her daughter, Mariana Velho de Avellar, Viscountess of Ubá, and one letter written to her son, José Maria Velho da Silva. The missives cover the time frame between 1864 and 1869. Taken as personal archives, the intimate writings are examined considering that they can infer based on aspects of female daily life in the 19th century about house management, children’s education, allusions to marriage, family relationships with the parental nuclei, approach to domestic enslavement, among other observable aspects of the matters discussed between letter writers.

Keywords
Personal archives; Letters; Feminine writings; Nineteenth century