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Amid the losses of library and archival records that were sustained in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the director-general of the national archive of Portugal, Manoel da Maya, played an inspirational role in salvage and preservation efforts. Maya's determination, dedication, and resourcefulness in the aftermath of the earthquake were exemplary and in the best traditions of practice as an archivist.
In 1755 a massive earthquake and an ensuing fire and tsunami consumed the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. The earthquake was one of the most powerful in history, estimated at between 8.6 and 9.0 on the Richter scale.1 It is alleged to have been the "first modern disaster . . . localized to a specific place and time . . . [and] an international event."2 In the aftermath of the earthquake the actions of a remarkable eightythree-year-old archivist, Manoel da Maya (later spelled Maia), were instrumental in preserving many of the archival and library records of Portugal.3 Maya's actions helped make the task of developing a wellinformed understanding of Portugal's economic, commercial, social, and cultural history prior to 1755 a less complicated one.
The impact of the earthquake's destruction on libraries and archives in Lisbon was lessened greatly by the "extraordinary diligence" Maya displayed.4 At the time of the earthquake Maya was the royal engineer in chief of Portugal and guarda-mor (director-general) of the national archive of Portugal, then known as the Royal Archive of the Tower of Tombo (also referred to by its shortened Portuguese name, Torre do Tombo, or by one of the acronyms by which it has become commonly known, ANTT or IANTT).5
Manoel da Maya (1672-1768) was an important figure in eighteenthcentury Portugal. A member of the Portuguese Royal Academy and a military engineer, he was responsible for some of the most ambitious engineering projects of his time. These included the construction of the Lisbon aqueduct, known as the Aguas Livres, and the reconstruction of Lisbon after the earthquake. Because of Maya's meritorious service to Portugal he was awarded numerous honors, including Fidalgo da Casa Real (Noble of the Royal House) and Cavaleiro da Ordem de Cristo (Knight of Christ's Order). But perhaps one of his greatest and leastknown legacies arose from his dedicated service as director-general of the Torre do Tombo...