Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa FCRB

History and Founding

The Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa (FCRB) is a Brazilian federal cultural foundation established at the former mansion of jurist, journalist, and diplomat Rui Barbosa (1849–1923) in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro. The house became a museum in 1930 and is considered the first house-museum in Brazil. The foundation was formally established by federal legislation and operates under the Ministry of Culture. It combines a house museum, an extensive archival collection, a reference library, and a research centre devoted to Brazilian culture, literature, and law.

Collections and Holdings

The FCRB holds several major archival collections. The Rui Barbosa Archive contains a large volume of personal correspondence, manuscripts, and documentary production by Barbosa. The Arquivo-Museu de Literatura Brasileira (AMLB) houses 124 personal literary archives and over 600 collections from notable Brazilian writers, including Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Clarice Lispector, Fernando Sabino, Machado de Assis, José de Alencar, and João Guimarães Rosa. The Acervo de Literatura Popular em Versos holds over 9,000 cordel literature pamphlets—the largest such collection in Latin America. The foundation also holds the Barbosa de Oliveira Family Collection, registered with UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme, comprising textual and iconographic documents from 1778 to 1965.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

Rui Barbosa was one of Brazil's most prominent journalists and public intellectuals, and his personal archive—including extensive press writings, correspondence, and manuscripts—constitutes a major resource for the history of Brazilian journalism. The AMLB holds materials from writers who also worked as journalists, and the cordel literature collection reflects the popular press tradition of northeastern Brazil.

Access and Usage

The FCRB is located at Rua São Clemente 134, Botafogo, near the Botafogo metro station. Researchers can consult the digital archive of the Rui Barbosa personal collection, access the AMLB by appointment, and use the reference library and bookshop. The foundation also offers lectures, concerts, courses, and seminars. Phone: +55 (21) 3289-4600.