Lembranças e memórias: sujeitos esquecidos Barbacena/ Minas Gerais

Abstract

The city of Barbacena, in the state of Minas Gerais (southeastern Brazil), holds a significant past in its history and memory, having built one of the largest mental hospitals in Brazil. The former Colônia hospital has opened its doors in a memorial context since 1996, especially in its museum of madness (wing of the Colônia hospital), bringing to its visitors stories and memories of the reality experienced by the patients who were once forgotten there. This historical memory will be reconstructed in this work through memories, especially of the subjects involved in the context of the museum. Many of these people refer to memories through photographs, images, documents and objects. These subjects represented in the museum of madness (formerly a wing of the Colônia hospital) were forgotten, mistreated, and considered the scum of Minas Gerais and Brazilian society. People with or without mental illness from various parts of Brazil were admitted to the Colônia hospital to be forgotten there. There were many deaths, mainly due to mistreatment, poor hygiene, cold, carelessness and neglect of the authorities of the time. In addition, there was connivance on the part of society, families, doctors and politicians. Keeping this memory alive is important, because its historical, political and social meanings make us reflect on the contextual and conjectural moment of Minas Gerais society in the last century. This work is of an ethnogeographical nature1 in which its investigative universe (re)emerging from cultural geography considers that experiences, memories, experiences and recollections are relevant in a scientific, academic and social context. The proposed and used methodology is ethnogeographical. We attempted to interview visitors to the museum and also people who work or who worked at the museum. In addition, sources and bibliographical reviews were used, especially in readings on memory and history. The objective of this article is to discuss the importance of preserving the Museum of Madness and its permanence as a place of memory and remembrance. It is justified by the relevance of its historical memory and heritage that has not yet been listed by the competent authorities. It is a place of memory that invites people to reflect. Preserving the museum, which could be a heritage site, means taking care of and ensuring that the history and forgotten individuals of the municipality of Barbacena are not lost (even if this history was negative). Many people from Barbacena do not accept what happened or do not want to remember it. It is important to publicize it and show it to future generations. Places like the Museum of Madness are important drivers of discussions and reflections, because learning from past mistakes is necessary so that they are not repeated.