National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage
The National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute is a heritage register of the federal government of Brazil. It is responsible for the preservation of buildings, monuments, structures, objects and sites deemed of historic or cultural importance to the country. The presidency of the institute was held by only two individuals over its first forty years. Rodrigo Melo Franco led SPHAN/IPHAN from 1937 until his retirement in 1967; his successor was the architect Renato Soeiro, who led the institute from 1967 to 1979. IPHAN maintains 1,047 sites, which include historic buildings, city centers, and landscapes. It additional lists a growing number of intangible cultural heritage entities.
The federal agency dedicated to the preservation of historic sites Brazil was created in 1933 under the name Inspetoria de Monumentos Nacionais. It was established as a unit linked to the National Historical Museum. IMN was established by Federal Decree No. 24,735 of July 14, 1934. Its main purpose was to prevent the export of historic objects from Brazil to the internationalantiquities trade and the demolition of buildings and monuments as part of the rapid urban reforms in Brazil during the early 20th century.
Serviço do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional
Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional
SPHAN was replaced by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute in 1970. It again underwent various name changes again in 1979; the name IPHAN was reinstated in 1994.
Chronology
1936--Provisional creation of the Serviço do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional
1937--SPHAN established under Article no. 378 of the Constitution of 1937
1946--SPHAN became Departamento do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional
1970--DPHAN became Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional
1979--IPHAN is divided into SPHAN and the Fundação Nacional Pró-Memória
1990--SPHAN and FNPM were merged to become the Instituto Brasileiro do Patrimônio Cultural
1994--IBPC became the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional
Categories
Entities listed by IPHAN are organized under the Livros do Tombo, which includes the:
Livro do Tombo Arqueológico, Etnográfico e Paisagístico: includes cultural objects and practices of archaeological, ethnographic value; landscapes, city centers, and architectural complexes are included in this category.
Livro do Tombo Histórico: includes cultural objects of historical value, such as buildings, landmarks, individuals images, and paintings.
Livro do Tombo das Belas Artes: includes cultural objects of artistic value, generally the fine arts of "non-utilitarian character".
Livro do Tombo das Artes Aplicadas: include cultural objects associated with a "utilitarian function" as opposed to those of the fine arts; the category includes the decorative arts, graphic arts and furniture.