Pre-World War II, 1904-1906, 1920-1942
- Component identifier:
- Subseries 4-1
- Content Summary:
-
Papers primarily documenting Braga's business and community interests and activities in Macau from his arrival in 1924 until his return to Hong Kong in 1946.
Braga's early career included working for the Agencia Comercial de Macau, c. 1920s, arranging for the supply of records, gramophones and Edison phonographs from Hong Kong. From 1924-1934 Braga taught English at St Joseph's Seminary in Macau, although there is little documentation of this part of his career in the Braga Papers. From the late 1920s to the early 1930s Braga worked for the Secção da Propaganda (Publicity Information Bureau) in Macau, and he was the Macau correspondent for the Associated Press, c.1929-1946. From 1934 until 1946 Braga was General Manager of the Companhia das Aguas de Macau, although this work is more fully documented in Subseries 4.2.
Also included are letters to Braga from colleagues, business associates, officials and others, as well as carbon copies of many of Braga's own letters or replies. Frequent correspondents include Charles Appel, O.D. Barretto, B. Basto, A.M. Braga, S.W. Cheng, W.L. Gerrard, Herbert Hilscher, Francisco Monteiro, W. O'Neill, Faustino Reis, J.H. Ruttonjee, Manuel Teixeira and J.M. Xavier, as well as various official bodies including the Conselho de Administração Obras dos Portos de Macau (Macau Port Authority) and the Secretaria Geral do Govêrno da Província de Macau (Secretary General of the Provincial Government of Macau).
Braga was an active member of various community groups and organisations, and minute books of the Macao Jockey Club and the Race and Recreation Club of Macao feature in this subseries. He attended many social and community events, such as dinners for visiting dignitaries, as documented by the invitations and other ephemera included here. There is also personal and family correspondence re various matters, including a sequence of letters with his brother A.M. (Tony) Braga regarding the loss of American aviator W.G. Brophy, who was attempting the first flight between Macau and the Philippines, 1931.
There are manuscript and typescript drafts and other papers relating to Braga's research and writings re various historical, economic, social and other matters, ranging from the history of the Portuguese in Macau, relations between the Portuguese and Chinese communities, foreign investment in Macau, the growth of Macau's population, conditions in Macau during World War II and more. There are also papers relating to the development of Braga's library through the acquisition of books, pictures, maps and other works relating to his historical interests.
Other papers include notes, circulars, reports, memoranda, financial documents, legal documents, plans, photographs, newspaper cuttings and other printed material.
[20 files]
- Immediate source of acquisition:
- The bulk of the Braga Collection (including manuscripts, pictures, maps, newspapers, serials, periodicals, monographs and ephemera) was purchased from J.M. Braga in 1966. The component held in the Manuscript Collection at MS 4300 appears to have been formally accessioned as the J.M. Braga Papers in 1975. Several small additions have been made since the original instalment of papers was received. Most of these additions were transfers to the Manuscripts Collection from other collection areas, including a file of newspaper cuttings in May 1975, a set of microfilm reels in 1984, a file of manuscript material in 1985, lists of the Braga Collection in 1994, and two files of assorted printed material and other papers in 2009. As well, several small additions have been made by members of the Braga family. In 1992, various Braga family members donated a copy of the eulogy and order of service for Augusta Braga's memorial service, and in 2002 Angela Braga donated photographs of medals and decorations awarded to J.P. Braga, together with photocopies of early writings of J.M. Braga and eulogies for J.M. Braga and his grandson Michael Braga.
- Subjects:
- History
- Names:
- Braga, J.M. (José Maria)
Contents
Access and use
- Parent Restrictions:
- Available for research.
- Parent Terms of Access:
- Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
- Location of this collection:
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Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: