Established in May 1911 under the initiative of Fidelino de Figueiredo, the institution also included notable figures such as Cristovão Aires (1853–1930), David Lopes (1867–1942), and José Leite de Vasconcelos (1858–1941). Initially known as the National Society of History, it attracted over a hundred members in addition to a significant number of Portuguese and foreign contributors who participated in its journal, the Revista de História . The Society successfully brought together a substantial segment of the historiographical and cultural elite of the period.

Shortly after the 5 October 1910 revolution, Fidelino de Sousa Figueiredo (1889–1967) published a remarkable text titled O Espírito Histórico [The Historical Spirit] (1st ed. 1910; 2nd ed. 1915; 3rd ed. 1920). This work combines an essayistic critique of contemporary Portuguese society with an ideological and moral foundation advocating for a historical spirit imbued with nationalist undertones. History, as posited in the text, was to fulfil a social function aimed at societal reform and “nationalisation.” The idea was to employ history as a core element of Portuguese identity and culture, and as an essential tool for the nation’s social, political, and cultural regeneration. While the social function of history was not a novel concept, having been inspired by thinkers such as Alexandre Herculano (and significantly influenced by Oliveira Martins), its promotion during this transitional regime was particularly noteworthy. Demonstrating awareness of contemporary historiographical developments, Fidelino de Figueiredo also addressed the scientific status of history, producing an advanced theoretical and historiographical treatise influenced by scholars such as Benedetto Croce and Henri Berr.

A notable excerpt from the first edition of O Espírito Histórico (contained in a “Justification” omitted from later editions) reads:

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