Reading and writing in governing men and things. Province of São Paulo – 19th century

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary research considerations about the use of reading and writing by the State, based on a study that mapped the development of educational practices disseminated in the Province of São Paulo between 1836 and 1880. We concentrated on reports of the presidents of the Province of São Paulo as source and object of study. In addition, based on cultural history, more specifically in the writings of Roger Chartier, we present aspects that point to the uses of reading and writing as essential in governing men and things. We used the description of three events, namely, the formation of provincial statistics during the period, the introduction of the police inquiry by the Judicial Reform of 1871, and the use of reading and writing in the moral regeneration of sentenced persons, to show there is promising evidence to deepen the examination of State writings and to consider such hypothesis in future investigations.