Some authors, such as Armando Carvalho Homem, consider Damião Peres to be a historian of synthesis rather than a researcher. However, in several articles written for the Revista de Estudos Históricos, the author demonstrates his research skills, particularly in the collection of articles on the public administration of the island of Madeira during the reign of King Manuel and in the period following the Restoration. In these articles, we observe the use of various documentary sources, with the author drawing on various chancelleries and archival documents, such as the patents in the Funchal City Council, bringing innovation to the overseas historiography of the time. In fact, while some of the articles written by the editor of this publication are mere publications of historical sources or the dissemination of numismatic specimens, others show an intention to clarify certain facts that were previously unclear, using primary sources.

In his article entitled O problema dos governadores gerais da Ilha da Madeira (The problem of the governors-general of Madeira), Damião Peres questions many of the observations made by Álvaro Rodrigues de Azevedo, a professor and leading authority on the history of the island. Damião Peres disagrees with the professor on several points, such as the list of people appointed as governors-general, the name given to the position and the scope of their powers. According to him, the designation of the position took various forms, from general and superintendent of war affairs to governor and then captain general, but never governor general, as Álvaro Rodrigues de Azevedo claimed. Damião Peres also considered that the powers of this official were very limited, almost exclusively military, contrary to his interlocutor’s view.

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