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The documentary publications included works such as Archivo dos Açores [Azores Archive] (12 volumes, 1878-1892), directed by Ernesto do Canto and published in fascicles, Documentos historicos da cidade de Évora [Historical Documents of the City of Évora](1885-1891), organised by archivist Gabriel Pereira, and Elementos para a história do município de Lisboa [Elements for the History of the Municipality of Lisbon] (15 volumes, 1882-1911), compiled by Eduardo Freire de Oliveira, who also served as an archivist in the Municipal Council of Lisbon. As regards studies, the following may be highlighted: Viana do Castelo: Esboço histórico [Viana do Castelo: Historical Outline] (1878) by Luís de Figueiredo da Guerra, which combines knowledge from classical authors with chronicles and medieval and modern treaties, as well as epigraphic, archaeological, and documentary evidence from public and private archives. The previous year, Alberto Pimentel published Memoria sobre a historia e administração do Municipio de Setúbal [ Memoir on the History and Administration of the Municipality of Setúbal] (1877), which holds a wealth of information on the city and the municipality, supported by valuable documentation. Another exemplary work of this more scholarly type, grounded in historical sources, is Gabriel Pereira's Estudos Eborenses [Studies from Évora], published in thematic fascicles between 1884 and 1894.
Thus, the 19th century is noteworthy for the expansion of historical studies, and in the case at hand, for the enhancement of regional and local history. Various authors, including two prominent figures of 19th-century Portuguese culture, A. Herculano and Oliveira Martins, argued at different times that the development of local history was fundamental to writing national history. Oliveira Martins wrote in the preface to a work on Oliveira do Hospital (1893): "I have always considered that one of the main aids to the general history of the country consists of local monographs, where archaeology and history, biographies and traditions are studied, and with documents held in municipal and private archives being freely available." He referred to the ordinance of 8 November 1847, which called on municipal councils to maintain an annual record of the main events in the life of the municipality "whose memory is worthy of preservation," for which they were to appoint a committee composed of councillors or the most apt members of the Municipal Council.
