In the popular imagination, the history of imperial Brazil is usually told through museums, school books and official celebrations. However, there is a silent and passionate network of collectors, researchers and traders who work daily to preserve and value this memory .

Roberto Michetti Moreira is one of these guardians of history. With a degree in History and a specialist in curation and museology, he not only collects documents and objects related to the Second Empire, but also takes his collection to schools, libraries, universities and museums through traveling exhibitions.

Roberto’s passion for the figure of Emperor Dom Pedro II goes beyond the act of collecting. It is a commitment to national memory. And more than that: his work reveals how much collectors and private dealers — like us at Glórias — are strategic partners of cultural institutions . Without them, many pieces would not be rediscovered, contextualized, preserved or passed on to new generations.

Roberto, can you introduce yourself?

My name is Roberto Michetti Moreira, I am 33 years old and I am from Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state. I have a degree in History from the Leonardo da Vinci University Center, and a postgraduate degree in Curatorship, Museology and Exhibition Management; and Museum Management with an emphasis on Culture. As a collector/researcher, I collect pieces and conduct studies on the Brazilian imperial period, with an emphasis on the figure of Emperor D. Pedro II.

What motivated you to collect documents and objects related to Dom Pedro II?

This is an interest that dates back to my school days, when I first came across the image of Emperor Pedro II in my textbook. At first it was nothing special. When I was older, I was once again intrigued when my girlfriend (now my wife) gave me some banknotes that had belonged to her grandfather, including one with the image of the emperor. My favorite. From then on, what began as a small “gathering” of collectible items took shape and became the collection I currently have.

How did the idea of ​​organizing this exhibition come about and what was its main objective?

This exhibition is part of a traveling project that aims to bring culture, with an emphasis on the imperial period and the figure of Emperor D. Pedro II, to schools, libraries, universities, museums, cultural spaces and the like. This project is being developed together with Carol Duenha from Agência SC Turismo e Serviços, who is also my wife. Together, we share the curation, design and organization of all events such as: exhibitions, school dynamics, lectures and others.

In your opinion, what is the role of private collectors in preserving history, especially compared to museums?

Although many people don't know it, the relationship between private collectors, historical preservation and museums is older than it seems. I say this because today's museums have their roots in and emerged from private collections. I'm referring to the famous "Cabinets of Curiosities", so common in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Especially in Brazil, but without getting into the political aspect, it is no secret that cultural institutions have been facing difficulties of all kinds for a long time. In addition to the lack of qualified professionals, there is also the lack of funds to acquire new items and even to maintain their structures. Document collections are constantly being lost in floods, museums catch fire, etc.

In this sense, although they deal with relatively small collections compared to those of museums, private collectors play a fundamental role in preserving such items, being true “guardians of history”.

Have you ever collaborated with museums or academic institutions? How can this exchange of knowledge enrich both collectors and researchers?

Yes! Since July 2019, when we started the project, we have been asked by several schools and cultural institutions to establish partnerships. In addition to lectures recently held at private schools in Florianópolis, which were very enriching experiences for children and young people, I cannot fail to mention the exhibition D. Pedro II in the Newspapers and Pasquins of his time, held at the Santa Catarina Public Library (BPSC); and lastly the exhibition D. Pedro II – 200 years, which, held at the Historical Museum of Santa Catarina – Palácio Cruz e Sousa, was part of the celebrations of the bicentennial of the birth of Emperor D. Pedro II.

For you, what is the most special document or object in your collection, and what is the story behind it?

Well... from the exhibition D. Pedro II – 200 years, and from the collection itself, the scarf that covered the face of Empress D. Teresa Cristina on her deathbed, at the Grande Hotel do Porto; and the poem handwritten by Emperor D. Pedro II in exile, acquired from you, Mathias, has a different meaning, as it generates a very deep reflection about the final years of the emperors, D. Pedro II and D. Teresa Cristina.

Private collectors and public museums are indispensable partners in preserving historical memory

Roberto Michetti Moreira's career reminds us that history is not just found in public collections or museum displays — it also lives in private archives , in small objects that have stood the test of time, and in the actions of those who decide to preserve them.

At Glórias, we believe exactly this: that memory is built in a network, with the attentive eye of collectors, the expertise of researchers and the ethical commitment of specialized dealers. We work so that more people can access, study and be moved by the living history of Brazil and the world. As Roberto's example shows, preserving is also an act of love and responsibility. And, for this, we are together.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Roberto, his wife and all the collectors with whom we have the privilege of exchanging ideas, information and discoveries.

Often, the greatest experts on a subject, character or period are not in academic centers, but rather among private collectors, driven by a deep passion and tireless dedication. They are the ones who reveal details, or even errors , that escape the eyes of books and museums — and for us, who work in the discovery and circulation of historical documents, this partnership is simply essential.

Mathias Meyer, founder of www.glorias.com.br