Homeland Representations

Germanic associations in Juiz de Fora

Abstract

In the second half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the city of Juiz de Fora (MG) received immigrants from various locations. Among them, the Germans stood out in numerical quantity and in their cultural and professional manifestations in the municipality. Far from home and speaking a language that made them more restricted, German mutualist associations were instrumental in promoting the identity ties of this community, as well as providers of social security and mutual protection. This article seeks to explore these cultural manifestations of the Germanic community in Juiz de Fora through sources from their former associations and to analyze their relevance to the protection of Germans in faraway lands.