Francisco Sanches Filho - Paco : memória coletiva da região na Serra Gaúcha, RS - 1889-1931

Abstract

The present essay seeks to find out how Francisco Sanches Filho, known by his nickname "Paco", remains alive in the regional memory, since his life story permeates the social imaginary due to how he chose to lead his life, by acting (i)llegaly, and opposing stablished moral and religious principles. Son of immigrants from Spain, born in the city of Bento Gonçalves, RS, in the same year that the Republic was proclaimed, he was active in politics for many years. Historiography has represented him in a number of ways; as a hero, a villain, a seducer, political canvasser, father. The aim of this study, however, is to verify how these representations contribute to preserve and perpetuate his memory and history. Therefore, the study utilizes bibliographical and documental research, which includes newspaper articles, books, academic studies, websites, blogs, and lawsuits. Concurrently, it uses Oral History as its methodology, with the usage of interviews, which offers a different look at the background of the character, unveiling new historiographical perspectives. The study of his trajectory also contributes to the knowledge of local History, in the economic, religious, political and social fields, including the colonization process of the region and the relations between individuals of different ethnicities. Besides this academic study, an exposition also took place in the Municipal Museum of Veranópolis called "Paco: actuation, representation and memory", in which Sanches' trajectory was interwoven with the history of the city and of the region. It consisted of images, texts and objects, some of which that belonged to the studied character. During the period it was open, June to December 2022, the exhibition, which represents the final product of this study, had a considerable audience of different age groups, both from the region and from other states. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]