”A REGENERAÇÃO DOS COSTUMES PARTE DO ALTO”: a atuação das Damas de Assistência do Instituto de Assistência á Infá¢ncia do Maranhão (1911-1939)

This study intends to address the performance of the Ladies of Assistance of Maranhaoarticulated to the Institute of Assistance to the Childhood of Maranhao (1911-1939), discussing the role ofwomen in this philanthropic project, its actions and its own speech about poverty and assistance in thistime and place. It discusses the presence of women in assistance works for the poor children of the city ofSao Luis, analyzing the place of the elite women in the "charitable mission" and how it’s articulated thevision in this time-period about women, work and motherhood. The sources used for the study were basedon official documents of the Institute, as well as in the newspapers of the time, as “A Pacotilha”,newspaper co-responsible for uniting the intellectuals in the construction of this Institute.